The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1866-12-12
WHOLE No. $50.

Of representatives last session should receiv
final action at an early period, in orde
that there may be a suitable public statio
for this class of vessels, as we'll a. a navy
yard of area sufficient for the wants of tn
service on the Delaware river. .....
The naval pension fund amounts to Sll
10000, having been increased S2,75O,OOt
during the year. The expenditures of tn
department for the fiscal year ending 3Otl
June last, were S43, 1924, ,526, and the esti
mates for the coming year amounts to S24,
568, ,436.
| Attention is invited to the condition o
| seamen, and the importance of legislatiy,
measures for their relief and improvement
The suggestions on behalf Of this deserving
class of our fellow-citizens are earnestl,
recommended to the favorable attention o
congress. ...., r.
The report of the postmaster general
presents most satisfactory condition ol
the postal service, and submits recommen.
dations which deserve the consideration o
congress. The revenues Of the department
for the year ending June 80, 1866, were
S14 ,3S6, 1886, and the expenditures SIS,
352,Q79, showing an increase of the latter
of $685. ,O93. In anticipation of this def.
cheney, however, a special appropriation
was made by congress in the act approved
July %, 1866. Including the standing ap-
preparation of 500, 900 for free mail mat
ter, as legitimate portion Of the revenues
yet remaining unexpended, the actual de-
ficiency for the past year is only 1866, ,O93,
a sum within SIS, l4l, of the amount esti-
mated in the annual report of 1864.
The decrease of revenue, compared with
the previous year, was one and onc-ffth
per cent, and the increase of expenditures,
owing principally to the enlargement of
the mail service in the south, was II per
cent.
On the 3Oth of June last, there were in
operation 6, $3.50 routes, with an aggregate
length of 1870, 1921 miles-an annual trans
portation of II, ,S37 ,9l4 miles, an aggrc-
gate annual cost, including all expcndi-
lures, of SS, ,4lO, 1874. The length of rail-
road routes is 81, ,O92 miles, and the annual
transportation 100000 miles. The
length of steamboat routes is IA 1876 miles,
and the annual transportation 3,4ll ,962
miles.
The mail service is rapidly increasing
throughout the whole country, and its
steady extension in the southern states in
dicates their constantly improving condi-
ton.
The growing importance of the foreign
service also merits attention. The post
Office department of Great Britain and our
own have agreed upon preliminary basis
for new postal convention, which, it is
believed, will prove eminently beneficial to
the commercial interests Of the United
States, as it contcmplates reduction of
the international letter postage to one-half
the existing rates; reduction of postage
with oil other countries to and from which
correspondence is transmitted in the British
mail, or in closed mails throughout the
united kingdom; the establishment of uni
form and reasonable charges for these, and
territorial transit of correspondence in
closed mails, and an allowance to each
postoffice department Of the right to use
all mail communications established under
the authority of the other, for the dispatch
of corresnondannn, A;shn~ -. .r.-- % >ins"ll
| mails, on the same terms as those applica
BILE to the inhabitants of the country pro
| viding the means of transportation.
The report of the secretary of the in
terror exhibits the condition of those
branches of the public service which are
committed to- his supervision.
During the last fiscal year 4, ,629, ,3l2 acres
of public land were disposed of, ,S92, SIC
acres of which were entered under the
homestead act.
The policy originally adopted relative
to the public lands has undergone essen.
tial notifications. Immediate revenue
ov,I thai ovsl cnkf1o,pnn$ Al ,
the cardinal feauture of our land system
Long experience and earnest discussion
have resulted in the conviction that the
early development of our agricultural re
sources, and the diffusion of an energetic
population over our vast territory, are OBJ
jects of far greater importance to the ma
tional growth and prosperity than the pro
ceeds Of the sale Of the land to the highes
bidder in open market. The pre-emptior
laws confer upon the pioneer who com
plies with the terms they impose the priv
ilege Of purchasing limited portion o
unoffered lands at the minimum price
The homestead enactments relieve the set
tier from the payment of purchase money
and secure him permanent home upol
the condition of residence for term o
years. His liberal policy invites emigra
ton from the old and from the more crowd
ed portions of the new world. Its propit
ious results are undoubted, and will b.
more signally manifested when time shal
have given to it wider development.
Congress has made liberal grants of pub
lie land to corporations in aid of the con
struction of railroads and other interna
Improvements. Should this policy here
after prevail, moro stringent provision
will be required to secure faithful appli
cation of the fund. Tho title to the land
should not pass by patent or otherwise, bu
remain in the government, and subject t
its control until some portion of the roa'
has been actually built. Portions Of then
mig then, from time to time, be convey
ed to the corporation, butnever in create
ratio to the whole quantity embraced b.
the grant than the completed parts bear t
the entire length of the projected improve
ment. This restriction would not operat
to the prejudice of any undertaking cor
cluded in good faith, and executed wit
reasonable energy, as it is the settled pra.
; tice to withdraw from market the lano
> falling within the operation Of such grant
and thus to include the inception of a sui
seuuent adverse right. A breach of tt
conditions which congress may deem pr
} per to impose should work a forfeiture {
Q the claim to the lands so withdrawn.
a Operations on the several lines of IL
b. Pacific railroad have been prosecuted wit
/, unexampled vigor and success. Should I
unforeseen causes Of delay occur, it is col
fdently anticipated that this great tho
oughfare will be completed before the e.
piration of the period designated by CO..
J gress. ...A1
During the last fiscal year the amoul
paid to pensioners, including the cxpens
: Of disbursement, was $l3, 3,459,9 ,996, Al
5O,ll7 names were added to the pensit
9 rolls. The entire number of pensione
on June 80, 1866, was l26, ,722. This fa
n furnishes melancholy and striking proof
r the sacrifices made to indicate the cons
i tutional authority of the federal COVER
9 ment. and to maintain inviolate the inte