American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1866-12-12

436, Attention is invited TO the condi-
tion of our seamens and the importance
of legislative measures for their relief and
improvement The suggestions in behalf
of this deserving class of our fellow cit
izens are earnestly recommended to the
favorable attention of Congress.
The report of the Postmaster General
presents a most satisfactory condition of
the postal service, and submits recon-
mendations which deserve the considera-
tion of Congress. The revenues of the
Department. for the yeer ending June 30,
1866, were Sl4 ,3S6,9S6, aud the expen-
ditures SIS, 1852, ,079, showing an excess
of the latter of S965,093. In anticipa-
tion of this deficiency, however, spe>
cial appropriation was made by Congress
in the act approved July %, 1866 In
clud!ng the standing appropriation of
500 900 for free mail matter, as a leSita
innate portion Of the revenues yet remain
ing unexpended, the actual deficiency
for the past year is only S265 5,093-a
sum within S5l ,141 of the amount esti-
mated in the annual report of 1861
The decrease Of revenue compared with
the previous year was one and one-fifth
per cent, and the increase of expendi-
lures, owing principally to the enlarge
ment of the mail service in the South,
was twelve per cent. On the 30th of
June last there were liz operation six
thousand MAE hundred aud thirty mail
routes, with an aggregate length of one
hundred and eighty thousand nine hun
dred and twenty-one miles, an aggregate
annual transportation of seventy-one
million eight hundred and thirty-seven
thousand nine hundred and fourteen
miles, and an aggregate annual cost, in
Guiding all expenditures, of S8,4lO, lS4'
The length of railroad routes is thirty
two thousand aud ninety-two miles, and
the annual transportation thirty million
six hundred and nine thousand four hun
dred and sixty>seven miles. The length
of steamboat routes is fourteen thous nd
three hundred and for.y>six miles, and
the annual transportation three million
four hundred aud eleven thousapd nine
hundred and sixty>two miles. The mail
service is rapidly increasing throughout
the whole country, and its steady exten>
sion in Ike Southern States indicates their
constantly improving condition. The
growing Importance of the foreign ser
vice also merits attention. The Post Office
Department OF Great Britain and our own
have agreed upon plehminary basis tor
a new Postal Convention. which, 1t is
believed, will prove cminently beneficial
to the commercial Interests OF the United
States, inasmuch as it contemplates re
duction o the international letter post
age to one-half the existing rates; re-
duction Of postage with all other countries
to and from which correspondence is
transmitted in the British mai, or in clos
ed mails through the United Kingdom !;
the establishment of uniform and reason
able charges Tor the sea and territorial
transit of correspondence in closed mails
and an allowance to each Post Office De-
partment of the right to use all mail
communications established under the
authority of the other for the dispatch Of
correspondence, either in open or closed
mails, on the same terms as those appli>
cable 10 the inhabitants of the country
providing the means of transmission.
The report of the Secretary OF the In
terror exhibits the condition of tho G
branches to the public service which are
committed to his supervirion. During
the last fiscal year, four ,million six hun
cred and twenty nine thousand three hun
dred and twelve acres of public land wcro
disposed of. one million eight hundred
and ninety two thousand five hundred
and sixteen acres of which were entered
under the homestead act. The policy
originally adopted relative to the public
lands has undergone essential moditica-
tions. Immediate revenue, and not their
rapid settlement, was tho cardinal feature
of our land system. Long experience
and earnest discussion have resulted IN
the conviction chat the early development
of our agricultural resources, AMI the
diffusion of an energetic population over
our vast territory, are objects of far great
er Importance to the national growth and
prosperity than the proceeds of the sale
OF the land to TIE highest bidder in open
market The pre- eemption laws confer
upon the pioneer who complies with the
terms they impose the privilege of pur-
chasing limited portion of " unoffered
lands" at the minimum price. The
homestead enaetments relieve the settler
from the payment of purchase money,
and secure him permanent home, upon
the rendition Of residence for a term OF
years. This liberal policy invites emf
grafton from the old, aud from the more
crowded portions of the new world. 1t:
propitious results are unndoubted. and
will be more signally manifested 'sher
time shall have given to it wider devel
opment. ,...s,tts5..
Congress has made liberal grants Of
public land to corporations, in sid of the
construction of railroads and other inter
fnal Improvement Should this policy
hereafter prevail, more stringent provis-
ions will b required 10 secure a faithfi,
| application of :hc fund. The title to thu
lands should not pass, by patent or 9TH
erwise. but remain in the Government
and subject to ITS control until some por
ton of the road has been actually built
Portions of them might then, from tim'
% time, be conveyed to the corporal ION
but hevcr in greater ratio to the who'll
ouaLtity embraced by the grant than ib'
II