Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1865-12-16
VOLUME 20.


merchandise, in their transit, constitutes
one of the worst forms of monopoly, aud
the evil is increased if coupled with de.
NAL Of the choice Of route. When the
vast extent of our country is considered,
il is plain that every obstacle 10 the free
circulation Of commerce between the States
ought to be eternity guarded against y ap.
propriate Legislation, within the limits OF
the Constitution.
The report of the Secretary of the In
terror explains the condition of the public
lands, the transactions Of the Patent OF.
flee and the Pension Bureau, the manage.
ment Of our Indian affairs, the progress
" ade in the construction of the Pacific
Railroad, aud fur rnishes information in ret
erence to matters Of LEGAL interest in the
District of Columbia. 1t also presepts
evidence Of the successful operation ofihe
Homestead Act, under the provisions Of
which | 100, ,533 acres Of the public lands
were entered during the last Zeal year
more than one fourth Of the whole pumber
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 and dispo.
sal of the lands entered under this ac..
and that payments in cash to the extent Of
from forty TO fifty per cent. will be mado
by settlers, who may thus at any time ac-
quire title before the expiration of the pc.
| riod at which it would otherwise vest.--
The Homestead policy vas established
only after long and earnest resistance
experience proves its wisdom. The lands,
in the hands of industrious setters whose
labor creases wealth and contributes to the
public resources, are worth mere to the
United States than if they had been re.
served as solitude for future purchasers.
The smentable events of the last four
years, and the sacrifices made by the gall
liant men of our army and navy, have
swelled the records of the Pension Bu-
rean to en- unprecedented extent. On the
30lh day of june last, the total number
of pensioners was s59s6, requiring for
their annual pay. exclusive of expenses,
the sum of S9,023,445. The number OF
applications that have been allowed since
that date will require large increase of
this amount for the next fiscal year. The
means for the payment of the stipends due
under existing laws, 10 our disabled SOL
ditrs and sailors, and to the families of
, such as have persisted in the service of tho
country, will no doubt be cheerfuly and
= promptly granted. A Agrateiul people will
net hesitate to sanction any measures hav.
1 ing for their object tho relief Of soldiers
t mutia,ed aud families made latherless in
the efforts 10 preserve our national exist
Q epce.
= The report of the Postma aster General
e present. an encouraging exhibit of the op-
: eratons Of the Post Office Department du.
IS ring the year. The revenues of the last
e year fro Ii tho loyal States aloue exceeded
the maximum annual receipts from all the
e States previous 10 the rebellion, in the sum
1t of Sc .O3S O9l and the annual average
d increase of revenue during the last four
is wears, compared with the revenues Of tho
=. four years Immediately preceding the rs'
% bellion, was SO ,5.3 ,S43
,r Tie reyepues Of the last fiscal year
e. amounted to Sl4 $50 l5S, apd the expen-
I'd diiures to Sl3, ,694 ,72S, leaving a surplus
X of receipts over expenditures Of 1851 ,43O
l. Progress has baen made in restoring the
IN postal service in The Southern Stases. The
al views presented by the Postmaster Gamer
re al against the policy Of granting subsidies
u to ocean aud mail steamship lines upor
ch established routes, and i'll favor oil contlna
IT. lug the present system, which limit: th'
ls- compe usation for ocean service to the post
age earnings, are recommended to ih'
a. careful consideration Of Congress.
he 1t aprears, from the report of the Sec'-
c retary of the Navy, that while, at th
yo, commencement Of the present year, ther
.,-,s al al n
20. Glasses aud descriptions, armed With 3 OO(
it guns and manned by 81 600 men, the nun
its Der of vessels at present in commission
lco III, with $50 guns aud l2l2S men, Is
10. THIS prompt reduction Of the naval forot
on the expenses of the Government have bee
rn. largely diminished, and number Of yes
ere sells, purchased for naval purposes froi
or the merchant marine, have been returne
rn- to the peaceful pursuits of commerce.
of Since the suppression of active ho'til
ties our foreign 'quadrons have been RI
I'D, established, and consist Of vessels muC
ord more efficient than those employed on sr
ties liar service previous to the rebellion. II
ex. suggestion for the enlargement Of the nav
,res Yards, and especially for the establis
nate mept of one in fresh water for ir0n-c
.eu- vessels, is deserving at consideration, as
held also the recommendation for diffare
em- location aud more ample grounds for t
lich, Naval Academy.
and In the repor. Of the Secretary Of Wa
general summary is given Of the militia
,ress compagns of 1884 and 1868, euding
the the suppression of armed resistance to
s,ity national authority in the insurgeat Stat
that The operations Of the general admin
mob. trative bureaus OF the War Departm
any during the past year are detailed, aud
and estimate made of the appropriations t
3i,iOn will be required for military purposes
were the fiscal year commencing the 5oth
irto- of Juoe, 1866. The natloaal mlli'
be- force on the lst Of May, 1868, numbe
rden- l,000,5l6 men. 1t is proposed to red
s best military establishment to peace I