Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1866-12-14
BEDFORD, Pa, FRIDAY. DECEMBER Ia. 1866.

I ~iieALA@ sNAAAANAl 4Ol lltuG NAGSS Ni NESSElS.
/ Is important that suitable public station
should be provided for the iron clad feet.
4 1t Is intended that these vessels shall be in
proper condition for any emergency. and il
is desirable that the bin accepting League
! Island for naval purposes, which passed the
| House of Representatives at its last session
| should receive final action at an early period,
| in order that there may be a 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 $ll, $50, 600
having been increased 81, ,750, 900 during tho
year. The expenditures of the department
for the fiscal year ending 30th June last
were $43, 324, $40, and the estimates for the
coming year amount to $23, ,56S, ,436. At,
/ tenuon Is invited to the condition Of oul
seamen, and the Importance Of Legislative
| measures for their relief and improvement
The suggestions in behalf Of this deservin1 z
! class Of our fellow citizens are earnes tly
recommended TO the favorable attention o.
Congress.
The report of the Postmaster Genera
| present most satisfactory condition of tho
| postal service, and submits recommenda.
tons which deserve the consideration OIL
Congress. The revenues Of the department
for the year ending June 50, 1866. were $I4,
$50, 9S6. and the expenditures SIS, 352, org,
showing an excess Of the latter of S965, ,093.
In anticipation Of this deficiency, however,
a special appropriation was made by Congress
in the act approved July 2S, 1866. Inclu-
ding the standing appropriation Of #700, 900
tor free mail matter, as a legitimate portion
OF the revenues yet remaining unexpended,
the actual deficiency for the past year is only
$500, ,093-a sum within S51, ,l4I 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 principally to the enlargement of the
mail service in the South, was twelve per
cent On the 30th 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 SIX hun
dred and twenty one miles, an aggregate an
nual transportation of seventy enc million
eight hundred and thirty-seyen thousand
nine hundred and fourteen miles, and an ag-
gregate annual cost, including all expendl-
lures, OF S., 40, lS4. The length ofraslroad
routes Is thirty two thousand and ninety two
miles, and the annual transportation thirty
million SIX hundred and nine thousand four
hundred and sixty seven miles. The length
Of steamboat routes Is fourteen thousand
three hundred and forty SIX miles, and the
annual transportation three millions four
hundred and eleven thousand nine hundred
and sixty two miles. The mail service is
rapidly increasing throughout the whole
country, and its steady extension in tie
Southern States indicates their constantly
improving condition. The growing impor-
tance Of the foreign service also merits at
tention. The Post Office Department of
Great Britain and our own have agreed
upon preliminary btssis for n postal conyen-
e=7 l.I - =. L-1;>. al prove eIHfnefitfy
beneficial TO the commercial interests Of the
United States in as much as it c0ntempIates
a reduction OF the international letter pos
tage to oGe half the existing rates: a reduc-
ton Of postage with al other countries to
and nom which spondence Is transmit
ted Ia the British mail, or in closed mails
through the United Kingdom; the establish
ment OF uniform and reasonable charges for
the sea and territorial transit Of corresDon-
dence IN closed mails; and an allowance to
each Post Office Department Of the right to
use all mail communications established un-
der the authority OF the other for the des-
patch OF corresp spondence, either in open or
closed mails, on the same terms as those an
providing the means Of transmission.
The report Of the Secretary oftbe Interior
exhibits the condition Of those branches of
the public service which are committed to
his supervision. During the last fiscal wear
four millions six hundred and twenty nine
thousand three hundred and twelve acres of
public land we're disposed of one million
oIght hundred aad ninety tIIuusduu
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.
Immediate revenue, and not their rapid set
dement, was the cardinal feature of our land
system. Loug experience and earnest dis
cusslon have resulted in the conviction that
the carly 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 national
growth and prosperity than the proceeds of
the sale of the land TO the highest bidder in
open market. The preemption laws confer
upon the pioneer who complies with the
terms they impose the privilege of purchas-
ing a limited portion of "unoiTered land at
the minimum price The homestead enact
ments relieve the settler from the payment
of purchase money, and secure him per-
manent home, upon the condition Of resi-
dence for term Of years This liberal
policy invites emigration from the Old, and
from the more crowded portions Of the New
World. Its propitious results are undoub-
ted. and will be more signally manifested
when time shall have gwen TO 1t wider de-
yei0pment.
Congress has.made liberal grants of public
land to corporations, in aid Of the construc-
ton of ra ilroads and other internal i'm
proyements. Should this policy hereafter
prevail, 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
from time to time, he conveyed to the cor
poration, but never IN greater ratio 30 the
whole quantity embraced by the grant than
the Completed parts bear to the entire length
OF the projected improvement. The restric-
ton would not operate to the prejudice of
any undertaking conceived in good faith and
executed with reasonable energy, as it is the
settled practice to withdraw from market
the lands falling within the operation Of
such grants, and thus to exclude the incep-
ton of a subsequent adverse right A
breech Of the conditions which Congress may
deem proper to impose should work forfei-
ture Of claim TO the lands so withdrawn but
une0nyeyed, and OF title to the lands con-
yeyed which remain unsold.
Operations on the several lines Of the
Pacific railroad have been prosecuted with
yieOr and success Should no