The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1866-12-04


of the mail service in the South was twelve
per cent. On the 3Oth of June last, there
were in operation six thousand nine hun
dred and thirty mail routes with an aggre-
gate length of one hundred and eighty
thousand, nine hundred and twenty one
miles, an aggregate annual transporta-
ton of seventy-one million eight hun
dred and thirty-seven thousand, nine
hundred and fourteen miles and an aggre-
gate annual cost, including all expendi-
tures,of So, ,4l0, 1874. The length of railroad
routes, Is thirty-two thousand and ninety
two miles, and the annual transportation,
thirty million six hundred and nine thous-
and, four hundred and sixty seven miles.
The length of Steamboat routes is four.
teen thousand, three hundred and forty
six miles, and the annual transportation
three million four hundred and eleven
thousand nine hundred aud sixty-two
miles. The mail service is rapidly
increasing throughout the whole country
and its steady extension in the Southern
States indicates their constantly impro-
wing condition. The growing i'm mportance
of the foreign service also merits atteu-
ton. 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 com
mercial interests of the United States,
lnasmuch as it cOntemplates reduction
OF the international letter postage to one
halt the existing rates; reduction of
postage with all other counties to and
from which correspondence is transmit
ted In the British mail, or in closed
mails through the United Kingdom the
SfOHlSc &c II
charges for the sea and territorial transit
OF correspondence in closed mails; and
an allowance to each Post Office Depart
ment of the right to use all mail commu-
nications established under the authority
of the other for the dispatch of cores
pOndeuce, either in open or closed mails,
on the same terms as those applicable to
the inhabitants of the country providing
the means of transmission.
The report of the Secretary of the
Interior exhibits the condition of those
branches of the public service which
are committed to his supervision. Du-
ring the last fiscal year, four mil
lions, six hundred and twenty.nine
thousand, three hundred and twelve
acres of public land were disposed of, one
million eight hundred and ninety two
Thousand five hundred aud sixteen acres
of which were entered under the homes
tead act. The policy originally adopted
relativeto the public lands, has undergone
essential notifications. Immediate reve-
nue. and not their rapid settlement, was the
cardinal feature of our land system. Long
experience and earnest discussion have
resulted in the conviction that the early
developement of our agricultural resour-
ces and the diffusion of an energetic
population over our vast territory, are
objects 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
e-empuon laws confer upon the pioneer
who complies with the terms they impose,
the privilege of purchasing limited nor
ton of ''unoffered lands at the minimum
price. The homestead enactmeuts relieve
the settler from the payment of purchase
money, and secure him a permanent
home upon the condition of residence for
a term ofyears. This liberal policy invites
emigration from the old and from the
more crowded portions of the new world.
Its propltlons results are undoubted, and
will be more signally manifested when
time shall have given to it wider
developement.
Congress has made liberal grants of
public land to corporations, in aid of the
construction of railroads and other inter
nal improvements. Should this policy
hereafter prevail, more stringent provi-
sions will be required to secure n faithful
application of the fund. The title to the
lands should not pass, by patent or 9th.
erwlse, but remain in the government and
subject to its control until some portion
of the road has been actually built. Por-
tons of them might then, from time to
time, be conveyed to the corporation, but
never in a greater ratio to the whole
quantity embraced by the grant than the
completed parts bear to the entire length
of the projected improvement. This re-
strlction would not operate to the preju-
dice 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 subse.
quent adverse right. A breach of the
conditions which Congress may deem
proper to impose, should work forfeiture
of claim to the lands so withdrawn but
unconveyed, and of title to the lands con-
veyed which remain unsold.
Operations on the several lines of the
Pacific Railroad have eenprosecuted with
unexampled vigor and success. Should no
unforeseen causes of delay occur, il is
confidently anticipated that this great
thoroughfare will be completed before
the expiration of the period designated
by Congress.
During the last fiscal year, the
amount paid to pensioners, including
the expenses of disbursement, was thir-
teen million four hundred and fiItv-
nine thousand nine hundred and nine
ty-siX dollars; and fifty thousand one
hundred and seventy-seven names
were added to the pension rolls. The
entire number of pensioners, June Both,
1866, was one hundred and twenty-six
thousand seven hundred and TWENTY
two. This fact furnishes melancholy
and striking proof of the sacrifices
made to vindicate the Constitutional
authority of the Federal Government,
and to maintain inviolate the integrity
of the Union. They impose upon us
obligations. 1t is esti-
mated that thirty-three million dollars
Will be required to meet the exigencies
of this branch of the service during the
next fiscal year.
Treaties have been concluded with
the Indians who, enticed into armed
opposition to our Government at the
outbreak of the rebellion, have uncop-
ditiOnally submitted to our authority
and manifested an earnest desire for IA
renewal of friendly relations.
During the year ending September
goth, 1856, eight thousand seven hun
dred and sixteen patents for useful in
ventions and desig gns were issued, and,
at that date, the balance in the Treas
ury to the credit of the patent fund, was
two hundred and twenty-eight thou
sand two hundred and ninety-seven
dollars.
As subject upon which depends an
immense amount of the production and
of the country, 1 recommend
to Congress, such legislation as NAV