Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1866-12-12

ho itloib VI ANC Y DSlHibolcf OcH
eral presents most satisfactory cen
dition Of the postal service, and sub.
mits recommendations which deserve
the consideration of Congress. The
revenues Of the Department for the
year ending june 80, 1866 were
Sl4,3SG9s6, and the expenditures
Sl5, ,352079, showing an excess Of the
latter Of s965,093. in anticipation OF
this deficiency, however, special APP
preparation was made by Congress in
the act approved July 2s, 1866 In
cluding the standing appropriation Of
S7OO,OOO for free mail matter as q
legitimate portion of the revenues yet
remaining unexpended, the actual de-
ficiency for the past year is only
S265, ,093, a sum within s5l ,l4l of the
amount estimated in the annual report
of 1856. The decrease Of revenue
compared with the previous year was
one and one-fifth per cent, and .he
increase Of expenditures, owing prin-
cipally to the enlargement of the mail
service Of the South, was twelve per
cent. On the 26th of June last there
were in operation $3.50 mail routes,
with an aggregate length Of 1s0,92l
miles an aggregate annual transporta-
tion Of 7l,000,s14 miles, and an ag-
gregate annual cost, including all ex-
penditures, Of s., ,4l0,lS4 The length
Of railroad routes is 32,092 miles, and
the annual transportation 30,609, ,467.
The length of steamboat routes is
l4,346 miles, and the annual trans
portation 3,4l 1862 miles The mail
service is rapidly increasing through
out the whole country, and its steady
extention in the Southern States indi-
Gates their constantly improving con
dition. The growing importance OF
the foreign service also merits at;en-
ton. The Post Office Department of
Great Britain and ourown have agreed
upon preliminary basis for Postal
Convention, which il is believed will
prove eminently beneficial to the COM
mercial interests Of the United States,
inasmuch as il contemplates a reduc-
ton Of the international letter postage
10 one-half the existing rates a re-
duction of postage with all other
countries TO and from which CORE
spondence is transmitted in the British
mail, or in closed mails through the
United Kingdom; the establishment
Of uniform and reasonable charges for
the sea and territorial transit of CORE
spondence in closed mails; and an
allowance TO each Post Office Depart
ment to use all mail communications
established under the authority Of the
other for the dispatch Of correspond
ence, either in open or closed mails, on
the same terms as those applicable to
the inhabitants Of the country provid-
ing 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, 4,629,3l2
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 pub
lie lands has undergone essential modi-
fications. Immediate revenue, and
not their rapid settlement, was the
original feature of our land system.
Long experience and earnest discus
sion have resulted in the conviction
that the early development of our
agricultural resources, and the diffu.
sion Of an energetic population over
our 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 pio-
neer who complies with the terms
they impose the privilege Of purchas-
ing a limited portion Of "unoffered
land at the minimum price. The
homestead enactments relieve the
settler from the payment Of purchase
money, and secure him a 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
signally manifested when time shall
have given to il wider development
Congress has made liberal grants Of
public lands to corporations, in aid of
the construction of railroad and other
internal improvements. Should this
policy horeafterprevail, more stringent
provisions will be required to secure a
faithful application of the fund. The
title to the 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, and from time TO time,
be conveyed TO the corporation, but
never in greater ratio TO the whole
quantity embraced by the grant than
the completed parts bear to the entire
length OF the projected improvement.
The restriction would not operate TO
the prejudice of and undertaking yon-
ccived in good faith and executed with
reasonable eneEty, as it is the settled
practice TO withdraw from market the
lands falling within the operation Of
such grants, and thus to exclude the
inception of a subsequent adverse
right A breach of the conditions
which Congress may deem proper to
impose should work a forfeiture of
claim TO the lands so withdrawn but
unconveyed, and of title to the lands
which remain unsold.
Operations on the several lines of
LLn Hnr.Hn nnilrnnL Ln.n Luu. ....c-n