The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1865-12-14

Pacific railroad. ana FURNISHES ihIpIhia-
tion in reference to matters OF local IN
terest in the District of Columbia. 1t
also presents evidence Of the successful
operation of the Homestead Act, under j
the provisions of which l,l6o,535 acres
of the public lands were entered during
the last fiscal vcar-more than one fourth
OF the whole number of acres sold or
otherwise disposed Of during that period
1t is estimated that the receipts derived
from this source are sufficient TO cover
the expenses incident TO the survey ana
disposal OF the lands entered under this
Act, aud that payments in cash TO the
extent of from forty TO fifty per cent
will be made by settlers, who may thus III
anv time acquire title before the eNplra-
ton of the period at which 1t would
otherwise vest. The homestead policy
was established only after long and earn
est resistance; experience proves It's
wisdom. The lands, in the hands OF
Industrious settlers, whose labor creates
wealth and contributes to the public re
sources, are worth more TO the United
States than if they had been reserved as
& solitude for future purchasers.
The lanentahle event. of the last -four
wears, and the sacrifices made by the
gallant men of oar Army and Navy,
have swelled the records OF the PENSION
Bureau to an unprecedented extent Tn
the 3oth day of June last, the total mum
Der of pensioners was So,9s6. requiring
tor their annual pay, exclusive OF eN-
penses. the sum of SI,U23, 40. The
number of applications that have been
allowed since that date will require large
increase of this amount for the next IFS
cal year The means for the payment OF
4 u, l. ,l,,n -
our disabled soldiers and sailors, and to
the families of such rs have persisted IN
the service of their country, will no
doubt be cheerfully and promptly grant
ed 4 grateful people will not hesitate
+ to sanction any measures having for
/ their object the relief of soldiers mutt.
! lated and families made fatherless IN the
! efforts To preserve our national exist
ence.
/ The report of the Postmaster General
I presents an encouraging exhibit OF the
/ operations of the Postoffice Department
during the year. The revenues OF the
past year from the loyal States alone eN-
ceeded the maximum annual receipts
, from all the States previous TO the rebel
/ lion, in the sum of S6,03S, ,O9l and the
/ annual average increase of revenue dur
ing the last four years, compared with
the revenues of the four Years immedi-
ately preceding the rebellion, S3, o33, s4o.
The revenues of the last fiscal year
amounted to Sl4 ,566, l5S, and the ex-
pendtures to S13 3,69i ,92S, leaving sur
plus, Of receipts over expenditures OF
1861 ,430. Progress has been made In
restoring the postal service IN the South
ern States The views presented by the
Postmaster General against the policy
- Il jaS n
ship lines upon established routes, and
in favor Of continuing the present system
which limits the compensation for ocean
service to postage earnings, are recon
mended 10 the careful consideration OF
Congress.
Itappears from the report of the Secre-
tary Of the Navy, that while, at the com.
mencement of the present year, there
were in commission $50 vessels of all
classes and descriptions, armed with
3 900 guns and manned by 81 900 men,
the number of vessels at present in com
mission is III, with $50 guns and L.
lbs men. b. this prompt reduction OF
the naval forces the expenses OF the
Government have been largely diminish
ed and a number Of vessels, purchased
for naval purposes from the merchant
marine, have been returned 10 the peace
ful pursuits OF commerce. Since the
suppression Of active hostilities oul
foreign squadrons have been re sstab
iishcd. and consist Of vessels much more
efficient than those employed on similar
service previous to the rebellion. Inc
, suggestion tor the enlargement OF thu
navy wards and especially for the estab
, lishment of one in fresh water for iron
clad vessels. is deserving of considera
, ,tnssr ff,t-
different location and more ample ground:
, for the Naval Acadamy.
f In the report of the Secretary of Wa
| a general summary is given OF the mill
? tary campaigns of 1861 and 1860, end
ing in the suppression OF armed resist
ance to the national authority in the in
q surgent States. The operations OF tn
general administrative Bureaus of IN
" ar Department during the last year ar
detailed. and an estimate made of tn
4 appropriations that will be required TO
military purposes in the fiscal year con-
mencing the Both day of June, 1866
: The natioral military force on the lst {
:, Nav, 1868. numbered 1000, ,5l6 men.
+ is proposed TO reduce the military estat
a Iishment to a peace footing, comprehend
q ing fftv thousand troops OF all arms
. organized so as to admit Of an enlarg'
i nent by filing up the ranks to eighty
two thousand six hundred, If the circun
stances of the country should require a
q augmentation of the army The volur
= teer force has already been reduced b
the discharge from service of over eigt
: hundred thousand troops, and the d.
:. partment is proceeding rapidly in th
- work of further reduction. The ws
: estimates are reduced from Sol6, 24o, Ia
= 10 s33. sill, 461 which amount, in tt
!, opinion Of the Department, is adequa'
: for a peace establishment. The measure
Of retrenchment in each Bureau an
~ branch OF the service exhibit diliger
- economy worthy Of commendation-
al Reference is also made in the report
= the necessity Of providing for unifor'
il militia system, and to the propriety
- making suitable provision for wounde
"a and disabled soldiers.