The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-12-04
VOLUME II-NO. 2f8p

condition Of the postal service. and
submits recommendation which de-
serve the consideration of Congress.
The revenues of the department. for
the year ending June 80, 1866, were
S14. 1856, $50, and the expenditures
SSl5, 3o2, O79, SLOWING an excess of the
latter of 1865, 093 In anticipation
of this deficiency, however, a special
appropriation was made by Congress
IN the Act approved July 2S, 1856.
Including the standing appropriation
OF 100000 for free mail matter as
legitimate portion Of the revenues
yet remaining guneXpended, the actual
deficiency for the past year is only
500, O93; q sum within S51 ,141 of
the amount estimated in the annual
| report Of 1864 The decrease of
revenue, compared with the previous
year, was one and one-ffth per cent,
and the increase of expenditures,
owing principally to the enlargement
OF the mail service in the South, was
twelve per cent On the 30th of June
last, there were in operation $3.50
mail routes, with an aggregate length
OF $50, 92l miles in aggregate, until
transportation of 1887, 914 miles,
and an aggregate annual cost, includ-
ing expenditures, SS,41O.1S4. The
length of railroad routes 80, ,C92 miles,
and the annual transportation is 30
oo9, ACT miles. The length of steam
boat routes is 1896 miles, and
the annual transportation 300,411,-
962 miles. The mail service is
daily increasing throughout the whole
country, and its steady extension in
the Southern States, indicates their
constantly improving condition The
growing Importance of foreign service
also merits attention. The post Office
department of Great Britain and our
own have agreed upon preliminary
basis for a new postal convention,
which it is believed will prove emf
nently beneficial to the commercial
Interests Of the United States, mas
much as it contemplates a reduction
OF internal letter postage to one-half
the existing rates; reduction of
postage with all other countries to
and from which correspondence is
transmitted in the British mail. or in
closed mails, through the United
Kingdom; the establishment of uni
form and reasonable charges for the
sea and territorial transit of cores
pondence in closed mails, and an al
lowance to each post Office depart
ment of the right to use all mail com
munlcatlons established under the
authority of the other for the despatch
of correspondence, either in open or
closed mails, on the same terms as
those applicable to the inhabitants of
the country providing the means OF
transmission.
The report of the Secretary Of the
Interior exhibits the condition of
those branches OF the public service
which are committed to his supervi-
sion. During the last fiscal year, 4, 629,-
ol2 acres of public land were disposed
OF; 1892, SIG acres of which were
entered under the Homestead Act
The policy originally adopted relative
to the public land has undergone
sundry notifications. Immediate
revenue and not their rapid settle
ment was the cardinal feature of our
land system. Long experience and
earnest discussion have resulted
IN the conviction that the early
development Of our agricultural
resources and the diffusion Of an
energetic population over onr
vast territory, are objects of far
greater Importance to the national
growth and prosperity, than the pro-
ceeds Of the sale Of the land to the
highest bidder in open market. The
pre-emption laws confer upon the
pioneer, who complies with the terms
they impose, the privilege of pur-
chasing limited portion Of unofered
lands at the minimum price. The
homestead grants relieve the settler
from payment OF purchase money,
and secure him q permanent home
upon the condition of residence for
term of years. This liberal policy
invites emigration from the old and
from the more crowded portions of
the new world Its propitious re-
suits are undoubted, and Will be more
signalIy manifested when time shall
have beeu given to its wider develop
ment. Congress has made liberal
grants of public lands to corporations
in aid of the constructions of rail-
roads and other internal improve
ments. Should this policy hereafter
prevail, moro stringent provisions will
be required to secure faithful appli-
cation of the funds. The title to the
lands should not pass by patent or