The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1866-12-11
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ne UufHU6r OI IneH III TIE service Is To-
600. Great activity and vigilance have
been displayed by all the squadrons, and
their movements have been judiciousIy
and efficiently arranged in such a manner
as would best promote American commerce,
and protect the rights and interests of our
countrymen abroad. The vessels uneln-
ployed are undergoing repairs, or are laid
up until their services may be required.
Most of the iron-clad feet is at League
Islant, in the vicinity of Philadelphia a
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. 1t is i'm
portant that suitable public station should
be provided for the iron-clad fleet 1t is
intended that these vessels shall be 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 its last session,
should receive iina action at an early pc.
riod, in order that there may be a suitable
public station for this class of vessels. as
well as a navy-yard of area sufficient for
the wants of the service, on the Delaware
river. The Naval Pension fund amounts
to $l1 10000, having been increased
S2,750,000 during the year. The expena
ditures Of the Department for the fiscal
year ending 30th June last were $43,324,-
526, and the estimate for the coming year
amounts to $23,568,436. Attention is
invited to the condition of our seamen, and
the importance of legislative measures for
their relief and improvements. The sug-
gestions in behalf of this deserving class Of
our fellow-citizensa are earnestly recommend
ed to the favorable attention of Congress.
/ The report of the Postmaster General
presents a most satisfactory condition of
the postal service, and submits recommen-
dations which deserves the attention uf
/ Congress. The revenue for the Depart
ment for the year ending June 80, 1866,
were S14386,086, and the expenditures
l5,352,079, showing an excess of che lat
ter of $965,093. In anticipation of this
deficiency, however a special appropria,
ton was made by Congress in the act 1tJ-
proved July %, 1865. Including the
standing appropriation of $40 1000 for free
mail matter, as a legitimate potion of the
revenues yet remaining unexpended, the
actual deficiency for the past year IS only
S265,093-a sum within $5l,14l of the
amount estimated in the annual report of
1864. The decrease of revenue, cornpated
with the previous year, was one-ffth per
cent, and the increase of expenditures, ow-
ing principally to the enlargement of the
mail service in the South, was twelve per
cent. On the 3Oth of June last there was
in operation six tn usand nine hundred and
thirty mali routs with an aggregate length
| of one hundred and eighty thousand
nine hundred and twenty-cne miles, an
aggregate annual transportation Of seventy,
one million eight hundred and thirv seven
thousand nine hundred and fourteen miles.
and an aggregate annual cost including all
expenditures of $8,410,l84. The length
of railroad routes is 32,O92- miles, and the
annual transportation 30,609,467 miles.
The length of steamboat routes is 1896
miles, and the annual transportation 3,4ll,-
962 miles. The mail service is raradiy in
crasing throughout the whole couutrY. AMI
Its steady extension III the Southern States
indicates their constantly improving con,L!,,
ton. The growing importance Of 4 e
foreign service also merits attention. The
Post Office Department Of Great Britain
and our own have agreed upon preliulina-
ry basis for new Postal Convention,
which it is believed will prove eiuinently
beneficial to the commercial Interest Of the
! United States, inasmuch as it contempIates
a reduction of the international letter post
age to one half the existing rates; rcduc.-
ton OF postage with all other countries to.
and from which correspondence IS trans
mitted in the British mail. or inc,ase mails
through the United Kingdom; tie estab-
lIShment of uniform and reasonable charges
Tor the sea and territorial tranSi, of CORE
spondence III each Post Office d partment
OF the right to use all mail comm nicatbra<
established under the authority oi the uth.r'
for the dispatch of correspondence, either
IN open or closed mails, on tlys terms as
those applicable to the inhabiTtrts of the
country providing the means of transmission.
The report of the Secretary OF he Eltelior
exhibits the condition Of those branches of
the public service which afe committed to
bis supervision. Durings,the list fiscal 7esr
4,629,3l2 acres of public land were dis
posed Of l,S92,5I6 acres Of which were
entered under the Homestead act The
policy originally adopted relative to- the
public lands has undergone essentio mod
lhcatlons. Immediate reyenne, and not
Their rapid settlement, was the earlina
features of land system. Long experience
and earnest discussion have resuIte,i 10 the
conviction that the early Development of
our agricultural resources, and tfrs diffusion