The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1866-12-07

for their relief and Improvement The suggeS-
tiOns in behalf of this deserving class of our fell
favorable attention of Congress.
|. = PosroFFIcE DEPARTMENT
The report of the Postmaster General
presents a most satisfactory condition of
the postal service, and submits recommen-
dations which deserve the consideration of
Congress. The revenues of the Department
for the year ending June 80, 1866, were
ST., 1856, 9S6, and the expenditures SIS, 352,-
079, showing an excess of the latter of
$685., O93.5 In anticipation Of this defcien-
cy, however, a special appropriation was
made by Congress in the act approved July
%, 1866. Including the standing appro-
as a legitimate portion of the revenues yet
remaining urexpended, the actual deficit
for the past year is only. $3.50, 093-a sum
within Sol ,14l of the amount estimated In
the annual report of 1864. The decrease
| of revenue compared with the previous
year was one and one-ffth per cent, and
the increase of expenditures, owing princi-
| pally to the increase of the mail service In
| the South, was twelve per cent. On the
| Both of June last there were in opera
| ton $3.50 mail routes, with an aggregate
| length of one hundred and eighty thousand
nine hundred and twenty-one miles, an ag-
| gregate annual transportation of seventy
enc million eight hundred and tllirty-seven
| thousand niue hundred and fourteen miles,
! and an aggregate annual cost, including all
expenditures, of SS,41O,IS4. 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 thousand three hundred
4 - = i IL
pOrtation three million four hundred and
eleven Thousand nine hundred and sixty
| two miles. The mail service is rapidly in
creasing throughout the whole country, and
| It's steady extension in the Southern States
| indicates their constantly improving con-
| dition. The growing Importance of the
foreign service also merits attention. The
| PostOffice Department of Great Britain and
| our own have agreed upon a preliminary
| basis for a new Postal Convention, which it
| is believed will prove eminently beneficial
to the commercial interests of the Uni
| ted States, inasmuch as it eontem-
plates reduction of the international let
| ter postage to one-half the existing rates
a reduction of postage with all other
i countries to and from which cOrrespon-
dence 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 correspondence in
closed mails; and an allowance to each
IiPostOffice Department of the right to use
all mail communications established under
| the authority of the other for the dispatch
mails, on the same terms as those appli-
| cable to the inhabitants of the country pro-
| viding the means of transmission. ,az-
| iaHir'-2 INTERIOR. t "'-
| The report Of the Secretary of the Inte-
rior 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 disA0sod of, 1892, SIG 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 20 the national growth and
prosperity than the proceeds OF the sale of
the land to the highest bidder in open mar
| lzet. The pre-Sahptionr laws confer upon
the pioneer who complies with the terms
they impose the privilege of purchasing a
II limited portion of .funofered lands at the
lninimuTn price. The homestead enact
ments relieve the settler from the payment
of purchase money, and secure him a per-
manent home, upon the condition of resi-
| dence for a term of years. This liberal
policy invites emigration from the old, and
Il from the more crowded portions of the new
world. Its propitious results are undoubf-
ed, and will be more signally manifested
when time shall have given to it a wider
/ development. ...a5s... IA ..,.,.f
u Congress has made liberal grants of public
land TO corporations, IN aid of the construction
of railroads and other internal improvements.
II Should this policy hereafter prevail more
stringent provisions will be required to secure q
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
con4rol uhtii some portion Of the road has been
from time to time, be conveyed to the corpora
ton. but never in q greater ratio 20 the whole
5ieted parts bear to the tire isnglh If the bro
Jeeted Improvement, This restriction w9ula not
oaiRed in ~ Sl5 and 8 se S With aso
able energy, as II is the settled practice 70 with
| draw from market the lands falling within the
Operation of such grants, and thus to exclude the
iHceptiohof a subsequeut adverse right. A breach
| Of the conditions which CONGRESS may deem
70 the lands 50 withdrawn but uneonveyed, and Of
I tiaeto the lands conveyed which remain unsold.
Iivrs s PACIFIC RAILRoAD. as -.
| Operations on the several lines Of the
Pacific Railroad have been pTosecuked with
J. unexampled gigoF and success. Should no
unforeseen causes ef delay occur, it is conf
IDENTIFY anticipated that this great thorough
fare will be completed before the expiration
of the period designated by Congress. = +.
T. = l. g. PENSIONS. sfraqz5
u During the last fiscal year the amount
paidlto pensioners, ineluding the expenses
} OF. disbursement, was thirteen million four
hundred and fifty -niDe thousand nine hun
dred and ninety-six dollars - and fifty
thousand one hundred and seventy-seven
names were added to the pension rolls. The