Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1866-12-07

Great activity and vigilance have been dis
played by all the sqpdrons, and their move
ments have been itdiciously and efficiently
arranged in such Inner as would best pro-
mote American Co |mcrce, and protect the
rights and interests Of our countrymen a.
broad. The vessels unemployed are under
going repairs, or are laid up until their SER
vices may be required. Most Of the from
clad feet is at League Island, in the vicinity
OF Philadelphia, place which, until decisive
action should be taken by Congress, was Sc
lected by the Secretary of the Navy as the
most eligible location for that class Of YES
sells. It is important that suitable public
station should be provided for the iron-clad
4 feet. 1t is intended that these vessels shall
be in proper condition for any emergency,
and it is desirable that the bill accepting
League Island for naval purposes, which
passed the House of Representatives at its
last session, should receive final action at an
early period, i'll order that their may be a
suitable public station for this class of YES
sells, as well as navy-yard Of area sufficient
for the wants of the service, on the Della
ware river. The Naval Pension fund a.
mounts to $11, $50, 900 having been increas-
ed $2,750, 900 during the year. The ex-
penditures of the Department for the fiscal
year ending Both June last were $43, 1924
526, and the estimates for the coming year
amount to 1923, 56S, 436. Attention is invi-
ted to the condition of our seamen, and the
Importance of legislative measures for their
relief and improvement. The suggestions in
behalf Of this deserving class Of our fellow
citizens are earnestly recommended to the ia
vorable attention of Congress-
The report of the Postmaster General pre-
sents most satisfactory condition of the pos
tai service, and submits recommendations
which deserve the consideration of Congress.
The revenues of the Department for the year
ending June 3d. 1866. were S14, 1856. 1856,
and the expenditures $15, 1853, 079, showing
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 %, 1866 Inclu-
ding the standing appropriation Of $1,000
for free mail matter, as legitimate portion
of the revenues yet remaining unexpended,
the actual deficiency for the past year is only
$265 ,C93-a sum within $51, 141 Of the
amount estimated in the annual report of
1864. The decrease of revenue compared
with the previous year was one and one fifth
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 Both Of June last there were
in operation six thousand nine hundred and
thirty mail routes, with an aggregate length
of one hundred and eighty thousand nine hun
dred and twenty one miles an aggregate an
nual transportation Of seventy-one million
eight hundred and thirty seven thousand
nine hundred and fourteen miles, and an ag-
gregate annual cost, including all expendi-
lures, Of $8,410,1S4. The length Of rail-
road routes is thirty-two thousand and nine
ty-two miles, and the annual transportation
thirty million six hundred and nine thousand
four hundred and sixty-seyen miles. The
| length of steamboat routes is fourteen thou
sand three hundred and forty six miles,
and the annual transportation rhe three mil
lion four hundred and eleven thousand nine
hundred and sixty-two miles The mail SER
vice is rapidly increasing throughout the
whole country, and its steady extension in
the Southern States indicates their constant
ly improving condition The growing i'm
portance of the foreign service also merits
attention. The Post Office Departmentment
of Great Britain and our own have agreed
upon preliminary basis for new Postal
Convention. which it is believed will prove
eminently beneficial to the commercial inter
ests of the United States, inasmuch as it
contemplates reduction Of the international
letter postage to onehalf the existing rates );
a reduction of postage with all other coun-
tries to and from which correspondence is
transmitted in the British mail, or in closed
mails through the United Kingdom the es-
tablishment of uniform and reasonable char
ges for the sea and territorial transit Of cor
respondence in closed mails and an allow
ance to each Post Office Department of the
right to use all mail communications estab-
lished under the authority Of the other for
the dispatch 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 supervision. During the last fiscal year,
four million six hundred and twenty-nine
thousand three hundred and twelve acres Of
public land were disposed Of, one million
eight hundred and ninety two thousand FIVE
hundred and sixteen acres of which were en-
tered under the homestead act The policy
originally adopted relative to the public lands
has undergone essential notifications. I'm
mediate revenue, and not their rapid settle
ment, was the cardinal feature Of our land
system. Long experience and earnest dis
cussion have resulted in the conviction that
the early development Of our agricultural
resources. and the diffusion Of an energetic
population over our vast territory, are OBJ
jects of far greater Importance to the nation
al growth and prosperity than the proceeds
of the sale Of the land to the highest bidder
in open market. The presumption laws con-
fer upon the pioneer who complies with the
terms they impose the privilege Of purchasing
limited portion of s'unofered lands" at the
minimum price. The homestead enactments
relieve the settler from the payment of pur-
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