Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1866-12-05

D CT-lI MUuWTeT -NnT
thirty-seTen thonsand nine hun red and four
teeu miles. and an aggregate annual cost. in
Guiding all Expenditure or SS,4l0,lS4 The
length Of railroad routes Is thirty two thousand
and ninety-twO miles, and the annual trans
portation thirty million six hundred and nine
thousand four hundred and sixty-Seven miles.
The length of steamboat routes is fourteen thou-
sand three hundred AMI forty-six niles and the
annual tFanspOrtation three million four hum
dred and eleven thousand nine hundred and
siXty-twO miles The mail service is rapidly in
creasing throughout the whole country, and its
steady extension N the Southern States indi-
Gates their constantly improving condition.
The growing importance of the foreign service
also merits attention. The Post Office De-
partment of Great Britain and our own have
agreed upon a preliminary basis for a new
Postal Convention, which it is believed will
prove emiEently beneficial to the CONNER
eial interests Of the United States, mas
much as it eontemplates reduction of the
international letter postage to one-half
the existing rates; reduction Of postage
with all other countries to and from which
correspondence is transmitted IN the Brit
ish mail, or in closed mails through the
United Kingdom the establishment of
uniform and reasonable charges for the sea
and territorial transit of correspondence
in closed mails; and an allowance TO each
Post Office Department 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 to the inhabitants of the country FRO
Viding the means Of transmission.
INTERIOR.
The report of the Secretary of the Int
rior exhibits the condition of those
branches of the public service which are
committed to his supervision. During the
last fiscal year 4,629.312 acres of public
land were disposed of 1,892,5l6 acres of
which were entered under the homestead
act. The policy originally adopted relative
TO the public lands has undergone essential
notifications. Immediate revenue, and
not their rapid settlement, was the cardinal
feature of our land system. Long expert
ence and earnest discussion have resulted
in the conviction that the early develop
ment of our agricultural resources, and the
diffusion of an energetic population over
our vast territory, are objects Of far greater
importance to the national growth and
prosperity than the proceeds Of the sale of
the land to the highest bidder in open mar
ket. The presumption laws confer upon
the pioneer who complies with the terms
they impose the privilege of purchasing
limited portion of "unoffered lands at the
minimum price. The homestead enact
ments relieve the settler from the payment
of purchase money, and secure him per-
manent home, upon the condition of resi-
dence for term of years. This liberal
policy invites emigration from the old, and
from the more crowded portions of the new
world. Its propitious results are undoubt-
ed, and will be more signally manifested
when time shall have given to il wider
development. .as ~s.aasaJ ..f- i
Congress has made liberal grants of public
land to corporations, in aid of the construction
Of railroads and other internal improvements
Should this policy hereafter prevail more
stringent provisions will be required to secure a
talthtu. application of the fund. The title to tho
lands should not pass, by patent or otherwise
but remain in the government and subject to its
control until some portion Of the road has been
actually built. Portions of them might then,
from time to time, be conveyed to the corpora
ton. but never in greater ratio to the whole
quantity embraced by the grant than the com
Pleted parts bear to the entire length of the pro
Jected Improvement. This restriction would not
operate to the prejudice of any undertaking con-
celyed IN good faith and executed with reason
able energy, as il is the settled practice to with
draw from market the lands falling within the
inception of Subsequent adverse right A breach
of the conditions which Congress may deem
proper to impose should work forfeit of claim
to the lands so withdrawn but unconveyed and Of
title to the lands conveyed which remain unsold.
PACIFIC RAILROAD.
Operations Or the several lines of the
Pacific Railroad have been prosecuted with
yigor and success. Should no
causes of delay occur, it is conf i
IDENTIFY anticipated that this great thorough
fare will be completed before the expiration
of the period designated by.Congres8.
PENSIONS.
During the last fiscal year the amount
paid to pensioners, including the expenses
of disbursement, was thirteen million four
hundred and ffty-nine thousand nine hun
dred and ninety-six dollars and fifty
thousand one hundred and seventy seven
names were added to the pension rolls. The
entire number of pensioners, June 80, 1866,
was one hundred and twenty-six thousand
seven hundred and twenty-five. This fact
furnishes melancholy and striking proof of
the sacrifices made to vindicate the consti-
authority of the Federal Govern
ment; and to maintain inviolate the integ-
rity of the Union. They impose on us cor
obligations. It is estimated
that thirty-three million dollars will be re-
quired to meet the exigences of this branch
of the service during the next fiscal year.
Treaties have been concluded with the Indians,
who, enticed into armed opposition to our Gov
eminent at the outbreak Of the rebellion have
submitted to our authority, and
manifested an earnest desire for q renewal of
friendly relations.
During the year ending September %, 1856.
eight Thousand seven hundred and sixteen pat
ents for useful inventions and designs wereiss
amp at that date the balance in the Treasury to
the credit Of the Patent fund was two hundred
and twenty-egh; thousand two hundred and
dollars ~ Cd. III. .-HI |
THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER.
As a subject upon which depends an i'm
mense amount Of the production and COM
merce of the country, l recommend to |
Congress such Legislation as may be neces-
sary for the preservation of the levees Of |
the Mississippi river. 1t is a matter ofna-
tional Importance that early steps should |
be taken not only to add to the efficiency of
these barriers against destructive inunda- |
tons, but for the removal Of ali distractions |
to the free and safe navigation of that great |
channel of trade and commerce.
THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
The District Of Columbia, under existing |
laws, is not entitled to that representation |