The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1866-12-13

three hundred and ffty-one guns OF
these, one hundred and fifteen vessels, car
rying one thousand and tweuty-aline guns,
are In commission, distributed chiefly
among seven squadrons. The number Of
men in the service is thirteen thousand six
hundred. Great activity and vigilance
have been displayed by all the squadrons,
and their movements have been iudicious-
ly and efficiently arranged in such manner
rs would best promote American COM
merce, and protect the rights and interests
of our countrymen abroad. The vessels
unemployed are undergoing REPAIRS or
are laid up until their services may be re-
quired. Most of the iron-cad fleet is at
League Island, In the vicinity of Philadcl-
phia, place which, until decisive action
should be taken by Congress, was selected
by the Secretary of the Navy as the most
eligible location for that class of vessels
II Is important that a suitable public sta
lion should be provided for the iron-clad
fleet. 1t is intended that these vessels shall
he 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 lis
last session, should receive final action ~
an early period, in order that there maybe
a suitable public station for this class of
vessels, as well as II ngvy-ynrd OF area
sufficient for the wants of the service. on
fund amounts 10 $l1, 100000, having bccn
increased S2,7hO, 900 during the year. Tho
Expenditures of the Department for the fis-
cal year ending 30h June last. were Sl3,-
| 32I, ,526, and the estimates Tor The coming
year amount to $23,5GS, 43G. Attention ~
invited 10 the condition Of our scanlen. and
the importance of Legislative measures for
their relief and Improvement Tho sug-
gestions in behalf of this deserving class
of our fellow-citZens are earnestly recon-
mended to the favorable attention of Com
gress.
The report of the Postmaster acnoral
presents most satisfactory condition Of
the postal service, and submits recommen-
,datlons which deserve the consideration Of
Congress. The revenues ofthe Depattment
for the year ending juno 80 1864, wer9
S14, 1856, 1886, and the expenditures sl5,35g.-
O19, showing an excess of the latter of
$780, O92. In anticipation of this deficiency,
+ however, special appropriation was mado
, by Congress in the act approved July 2S
1906 including the standing apnropria-
alton of 100000 for free mail matter. as a
legitimate portion of the revenues vet re-
naming uneXpended, the actual deficiency
for the past year is only 500, ,O93-a sum
within Sol, ,l4l of the amount estimated in
me annual report of 1894 The decrease
OF revenue compared with the preyiouA
year was one and one-fif1h per cent, and
the increase of expenditures owing prin-
clpally TO the enlargement of the mail SER
vice III the South, was twelve per cent. On
the 3Oth of June last, there were in opera-
ton six thousand nine hundred and thir,v
man routes, with an aggregate length OF
; one hundred and eighty thousand nine
huhdred ana twenty.one miles, an nggre-
gate annual transportation of seventv-one
million eight hundred and thirtv-seven
Thousand nine hundred and fourteen miles.
anu an aggregrfe annual cost, including
all expenditures ofSS,4IOlIs. The Ienpth
or railroad routes is thirtv-two thousand
and ninety-two miles, and the annual
transportation thirty million six hundred
ana hlne thousand four hundred and sixty
seven miles. The length of steamboat
routes is fourteen thousand three hundred
ana forty-siN miles, and the annual trans
) portation three million four hundred and
eleven thousand nine hundred and sixty-
TWO miles. The mail service is rapidly in
creaslng throul hout the whole country,
, ana its steady extension in the Southern
, STATES indicates their constantly improving
condition. The growing importance ofthe
foreign service also merits attention The
, Post Office Department of Great Britain
ana our own have agreed upon prelimin-
arY nasls for new Postal Convention, which
it is believed will prove eminently bene-
hclal TO the commercial interests of the
United States, inasmuch as it contemplates
reduction OF the international letter pos
tnge 10 onc-half the existing rates; a re-
duction of postage with all other coun-
tries to and from which correspondence IL
transmitted in the British mail, or in clos
, ed 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 10 use all mail communications
established under tile authority of the 9TH
er for the dispatch of correspondence,
either in open or closed mails, on the samo
terms as these applicable TO the inhabi-
= fants of tho country providing the mean;
! of transmission.
The report of the Secretary Of the Interi-
or exhibits the condition of those branches
= of the public service which nre committed
? to his supervision. During the last fiscal
; year, four million six hundred and twenty
= nine thousand three hundred and twelve
ncres of public land were disposed of, one
: million eight hundred and ninety-twO
! thousand five hundred and sixteen acres
2 OF which were entered under tho home
stead act. The policy originally adopted
relative to the public lands has undergone
, essential notifications. Immediate re-
venue, ana not their rapid settlement was
the cardinal feature of our land system
Long experience and earnest discussion
! have resulted in the conviction that tho
early development of our agricultural re-
sources. and the diffusion OF ain energetic
I population over our vast tcrritory, are OIL
Jects of far greater Importance to the ma
ional growth and prosperity than the pro-
! ceeds of the sale of the lands Ia the highest
bidder in open market. The preemption
. 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 home
: stead enactments relieve the settler from
the payment of purchase money, and Sc
cure him permanent home. upon the con-
dition of residence for term of years.
This policy invites emigration from the
old, and from the more crowded portion Of
, the new world. Its propiuous results are
= lundoubted, and will he more signally
a manifested when time shall have given to
II wider development.
Congress has made liberal grants Of pub
lie land to corporations, in aid Of the con-
: struction ofrailroads and other internal
improvements. Should this policy here
/ after prevail, more stringent provisions
! will be required to secure faithful ap-
! plication of the fund. The title to tho
lands should not pass, by patent or other
wise, but remain in the Government and
subject TO its control until SomQ Y,orffOn saf