The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1866-11-07


ment Of tho additional bounties author
lied during the recent session Of Con-
gross, under such regulations as will
! protect the Government from fraud,
and secure to the honorably-discharge
soldier the well>earned reward Of his
fai'hfulness and gallantry. More than
six thousand manned soldiers have fc-
ccived artificial limbs or other surgical
apparatus; and forty one national ceme-
teries, containing the remains Of lO4,-
526 Union soldiers, have already been
established. The total estimate for mil
itary appropriations is 2o5,eG9.
! It is stated in tie report Of the Sec
retary Of the Navy that the naval force
at this time consists of two hundred
and seventy-eight vessels, armed with
two thousand three hundred and fifty
one guns. Of these, one hundred and
fifteen vessels, carrying one thousand
and twenty-nine guns, are in commits
sion, distributed chiefly among seven
squadrons. The number of men in the
service is thirteen thousand ixhuudred.
Great activity and vigilance have been
displayed by all the squadrons. and
movements have been judiciously and
efficiently arranged in such manner as
would best promote American COM
mcrce, and protect the rights and in
tercsts of our country,nen abroad. The
vessels unemD]oyed are undergoing re-
pairs, or are laid up until their services
may be required. Most Of the iron-clad
fleet is at League Island, in the vicinity
Of Philadelphia, place which, until
decisive action should be take: by Con-
gress was selected by the Secretary of
the Navy as the most eligible location
for that class Of vessels. 1t is important
that suitable station should be provi-
dcd for the iron-clad feet.
It is intended that those vessels shall
be in proper condition for any cmcr-
gency, and it is desirable that tho bill
accepting League Island for naval pur-
poses, which passed the House Of Rep-
sentatives at its last session, should
receive final action at an carly period,
in order that there may be suitable
public station for this class of vessels,
as well as navy yard of area sufficient
for the wants Of the service, on the
Delaware river. The Naval Pension
fund amounts to 11,750,000, having
been increased s2,75U,000 during the
year. Tile expenditures of tho Depart
mentof the fiscal year ending Both June
last were S43, ,324, 526, and the estimates
for the coming year amount to So, ,55S,
1875. Attention is invited to tho conli>
ton of our seamen, and the Importance
f Of legislative measures for their relief
and Improvement. The suggestions in
behalf of this deserving class Of Our fel-
low-c;tizeus are earnestly recommend, 4
to tho favorable attention Of Congress.
The report of the Postmaster Gener-
al presents most satisfactory condition
of the postal service, and submits re-
E Communications which deserve the con-
, sideration of Congress. The revenues
of the Department. for the year ending
June the 30, 1866, were sl4,3sG, ,9S6,
and the expenditures SIS, 1852, ,079 show
, ing an excess of the latter of S9G5, ,093.
In anticipation Of this deficiency, how
) ever, special appropriation was made
by Congress in the act approved July
? 2S, 1866. Including the standing ap-
preparation of 100000 for free mail
matter, as q Legitimate portion Of the
. revenues yet remaining unexpended,
actual deficiency for the past year is
only s264, ,02-a sum within s51, 14l Of
the amount estimated in the annual re-
0 port of 1864. Tie decrease ofrevenue
compared with he previous year was
9 one and one-fifth per cent, and the i'll.
3 crease of expenditures, owing principal.
$ ly to the enlargement Of the mail ser.
: vice in the S .uth, was. twelve per cent
i On the 30th June last there were ii
operation six thousand nine hundred
and thirty mail routes, with en- agsre
j gate length of one hundred and eighty
r thousand nine hundred and twonty-one
= miles, an aggregate annual transporta
@ tion Of scventy-one million eight hlln'
: dred and tliirty-seven thousand nine
| hundred and fourteen miles, and al
aggregate annual cost including al
expenditures, ofS&, Ito, 1S4. The leng!l
of railroad routes is thirty-two thousand
and ninety-two miles, and the annual
transportation thirty million six hun,
dred and nine Thousand four hundred
f and sixty-scven miles. The length o,
steamboat routes, is fourteen thousand
: three hundred and forty-six miles, and
the annual transportation three million
, four hundred and eleven thousand nino
hundred and sixty-two miles. The
mai, service is rapidly increasing
Il rouGhout tie whole country, and its
steady extension in the Southern States
indicates their constantly improving
condition. The growing importance
Of the foreign service also merits atten-