The Portland daily press., 1866-12-04

a from First Paee1 A9sl
iers, have already been es-
! estimate of military sp-
1869.

NAVY.
.ort of the Secretary of
naval force at this time con-
Hundred and seventy-eight vessels,
with two thousand three hundred and
i,tty-one guns. OF these, one hundred and iii
teen vessels, carrying one thousand and TWEEN.
tV-nine guns, are in commission, distributed
chiefly among seven squadrons. The number
sfmen in the service is thirteen thousand Six
hundred. Great activity and vigilance have
been displayed by all the squadrons, and their
movements have been judciously and efficient
ly arranged in such manner as would pest pro
mote American commerce, and proteet Tue
rights and interests of our countrymen ABROAD.
The vessels unemployed are undergoing re-
pars, or are laid up until their services may be
required Most of the iron clad heet is at
League Island, in the vicinity oil Philadel-
phia n place which until decisive action should
b. taken by Congress, was selected by the Sec
retary of the Navy as the most eligible location
for that class OF vessels. 1t is important that
a suitable public station should be provided for
the iron-clad tleet 1t is intended that these
vessels shall be in proper condition for any
emergency, and it is desirable that the bill ac-
cepting 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 anavy-yard of area sufficient for the wants
OF the Delaware river The Naval Pension
iund amounts to $1i 100000, having been IN
creased ", 100000 during the year. Ihe ex-
penditures of the Department for the tscal
year ending 3Oth june last Were $43, 324,526,
and the estimates for the coming year amount
to 1923 ,56S ,436. Attention is invited to the con-
dition of our seamen, ana the Importance of
Legislative measures for their fehef and I'M
provement. The suggestions in behalf of this
deserving class of our fellow-citizens are earn
estly recommended to the favorable attention
of Congress.
THE POSTAL SERVICE.
The report of the Postmaster General pre-
sents most satisfactory condition of the post
al service, and submits recommendations which
deserve the consideration of Congress- The
revenues of the Department for the year end
ing June 80, 1866, were $14 1886, 1856, and the ex-
penditures $40 352 O79, showing an excess of
the latter of $965,093. In an icipation of this
deficiency, however, a special appropriation
was made by Congress in the act approved Ju-
ly 2S, 1856 Including the standing appropria-
tioD of 100000 for free mail NATTER as legiti-
mate portion Of the revenues yet remaining
unexpended, the actual deficiency for the past
year Is only $685. ,093-a sum within $51 IA of
the amount estimated in the annual report of
1864. The decrease of revenue compared with
the previous year was one and one-fifth per
cent, and the increase of expenditures, owing
principally to the enlargement of the mail SER
vice at 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 nine hundred and twenty-one
miles, an aggregate annual transportation of
seventy-one million eight hundred and thirty
seven thousand nine hundred and fourteen
miles, and an aggregate annual cost including
all expenditures, of $8,410184. The length Of
railroad routes is thirty-tw thousand and
ninety-two miles, and the annual transporta-
ton thirty million six hundred and nine thou
sand four hundred and sixty-seven miles, The
length of steamboat routes is fourteen thou
sand three hundred and forty-six miles, and the
annual transportation three million four hun
dred 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 in
dicates their constantly improving condition
The growing importance of the foreign service
also merits attention. The Post Office De-
partment 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 United States, inasmuch as it
contemplates reduction of the international
letter postage to one half the existing rates: a
reduction of postage with other countries
to and from which correspondence is
transmitted in the British mail or in
closed mails throughout 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 to use all mail communications es-
tablished under the authority of the other for
the dispatch of correspondence, either in omen
or closed mails, on the same terms as those ap-
pIcable to the inhabitants of the country pro-
viding the means of transportation.
THE PUBLIC LANDS.
The report of the Secretary of the Interior
exhibits che condition Of those branches of the
public Service which committed to his SUI
pervision. During the last fiscal wear. four
million six hundred and twenty mine thousand
three hundred and twelve acres of public land
rs r..rI x.l-k
and ninety-two thousand five hundred and six
teen acres of which were entered under the
Homestead act, The policy originally adopted
relative to the public lands has undergone es-
sential notifications Immediate revenue,
and MT their rapid settlement was the cardi-
nal feature of our land system. Long expert
enee and earnest discussion 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 objects of far greater importance to the ma
tional growth and prosperity than the proceeds
OF the sale of the land to the highest bidder in
the open market The presumption laws con-
Ter upon the pioneer who complies with the
terms they impose the privilege Of purchasing
limited portion Of ''unoffered lands" at the
minimum price. The homestead enactments
relieve the settler from the payment of pur-
chase money, and secure him permanent
home upon the condition of residence for a
term of years. This liberal policy invites emf
grafton from the old, and from the more crowd
ed portions of the new world. Its propitious
results are undoubted, and will be more signal
ly manifested when time shall have given to it
wider development.
Congress has made liberal grants of public
land to corporations in aid of the construction
of railroads and other internal improvements
Should this policy hereafter prevail, more strin-
gent provisions will he required to secure a
faithful application OF the fund. The title to
the lands should not pass, by patent or other
wise, but remain in the Government and SUBJ
lect to its control until some portion ofthe road
has been actually built. Portions of them
might then, from time TO time, be conveyed
TO the corporation, but never i'm a greater ratio
to the whole quantity embraced by the grant
than the completed parts bear to the entire
length of the projected improvements. This re-
striction 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 inception of a
subsequent adverse right. A breach of the
conditions which Congress NAV deem proper
to impose should work q forfeiture Of claim to
the lands SO withdrawn but unconyeyed and of
title to the lands conveyed which remain un-
Sold
THE PACIFIC RAILROAD.
Operations On the several lines of the Paci-
fic Railroad have been prosecuted with unex-
ampled vigor and success. Should no unfore-
seen causes of delay occur, it is confidently an
ticipated that this great thoroughfare will be
completed before the expiration of the period
designated by Congress.
THE PENSION LIST.
During the last fiscal yearrthe amount paid
to pensioners, including the expenses of dis
bursement, was thirteen million four hundred
and fifty-nine thousand nine hundred ninety
six dollars; and fifty thousand one hundred and
seventy-seven names were added to the pension
rolls The entire number of pensioners, June
80, 1866, was one hundred and twenty-six thous-
and seven hundred and twenty-five. This fact
furnishes melancholy and striking proof of the
sacrifices made to vindicate the constitutional
authority of the Federal Government, and to
maintain inyiolate the integrity of the Union.
They impose upon us corresponding obligations.
1t is estimated that thirty-three million dollars
will be required to meet the exigencies of this
branch Of the service during the next fiscal
year. as
INDIAN pIIRE