Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1866-12-12

S,Soeuoeu volunteers stationed. ready
respond to the national call large armies can
rapidly organized, equipped and concentrate
fortincataons on the coast and frontier have r,
ceived or arc being prepared for more powe
fui ornaments. Lake surveys and harbor Al
procession.
/ Preparations have been made for the paymel
OF the additional bounties authorized during Il
recent session of Congress, under such reguls
| aons Is viii protect the government from fr au
ana secure to the honorably discharged soldier
the Well earned reward of his aithfulne.s an
| gsllantry.
More than SIXTY thousand manned soliie,
have received artificial limbs or other servicat
apparatus. Forty one national cemeteries, COZ
tanning the remains OF l04 $50 Union soldiers
have been established. The total estimate o
military appropriations 10 SIS, POS 500.
IMPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY.
1t is stated in the report OF the Secretary O
the Navy that the naval force at this time con
slsts of IFS vessels, armed wish S5f guns. O
these one hundred and fifteen vessels. carryip,
one thousand and TWENTY nine 1919 ---a
WOAt." a1 number OF men In the sefvfce IL 10,
500
Great activity and vigilance hare been dis
played by ali the squadrons, and she'r move
ments have been judiciously and efficiently ar
ranged III such . manner as would best promote
American commerce, and protect the rights and
interests OF our countrymcn abroad. The vessels
unemployed are undergoing repairs, or ere lsad
up until their services may be required. Most
OF the iron-clad feet is At League Island, il the
vicinity Of Phela, 3 place which, until 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 per-
tant that suitable publis station should be pro
vid ed for the iron clad feet II 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 fnsi action at an
early date, In order that there may be suitable
public station fer this class of vessels, well as
navy yard of area sufficient Cor the wants OF
the service on Delaware river.
The naval pension fund amosnes to 81 $50 :
600, having been increased 81, $780, 200 during the
yesv.
The expenditures OF the department for the
fiscal year ending the 31th OF Jtsne last were
S43 81 $50, and the estimates for the comm z
Year amount to S24 56S 436.
Attention Is invited TO the condition of our
seamen and the i'm portauee of legislative meas
gestions on behalf Of this deserving dass Of our
fellow citizens are earnestly recommended to the
favorable attention of Congress.
PosTaAsrER GENERALS REPORT
The report of thu Pos.mater eneral presents
most salts factory condition Of the postal serv-
Ice, and submits recommend atoms which deserve
the consideration of Congress.
The revenues of the department for the year
ending June 30 1865, Si4 3S6 $50 and the
expenditures SIS. 52,079, sho wing increase of
the latter of $500, 1913. In anticipation OF this
deficiency. however. special appropriation was
made by Congress in the act approved July IS,
1866, including the standing appropriation of
500 200 for free mail matter, egfimate
portion Of she revenue yet remaining unexpend
ed, the actual deficiency for the past year is only
1895 1913, a sum within SIS TAI of the amount
estimated 10 tho annual report of 1868. The
decrease of revenue compared with the previ-
Gus year, was LIS per cent. and the increased
expsditures, O. ling principally to the enlarge
ment OF the mail service In the south, was II per
cent.
On the aOth Of june last there were in opera
ton 8, $50 mail routes with an aggregate lens tn
of $50 ,a2l miles, with an aggregate annual
transportation of II 1897 ,9I4 miles and an aggre
gate annual cost, including ali expenditures, of
The tenth Of railroad routes is 80, 092 miles and
the annual transportation 81, 60I ,46Z miles;
tho length of steamboat routes is ID 34e miles ,
aud the annual transportation san 90 miles
The mail service 10 rapidly increasing through
out tia whole TRY and its steady extending
in ths southern states, indicates their constantly
ilcprosing condition. Tho growing importance
OF the foreign service also merits attention. The
Pcssefhce Department of Great Britain and our
own have agreed upon preliminary bases for q
new nos.:. convention, which it is believed, will
prove eminently beneficial to the commercial
interests of the United States in futare, and it
ter postage LIZ per cent.upon the existing rates.
q reduction Of postage with all other countries
to and from which correspondence is transmit
ted in the British mail, or in closed mails
through the United Kingdom; the establish
nent Of uniform and reasonable charges for
these and territorial Transit of correspond in
closed mails, aud an allowance TO each Postofics
Department of the right to use all mail comm :
nicstions established under the authority of he
other for dispatch of correspondence, either in
on IA m hf
applicable to the inhabitants of the country
providing the meaGs of transmission.
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR
The report of the Secretary of the Interior ex
hibts the condition of those branches of the
public service, which are committed to his super
vision.
During the last fiscal year 4, % ,3l2 acres OF
puol land disposed OF, ,s92.5i6 acres OF
which were entered under the homestead act
The policy originally adopted relative the pub
lie lands has undergone essential modi ications
Immediate revenue and not their rapid settlement
was the cardinal feature of our land system Long
experience and earnest discussion have resu ted
in the conviction that the early development o
agricultural resources, and the dIffusios of
energetic pc uiation over vast territory, a re
objects of far greater Importance TO naliona
prosperity than the proceeds of sale of land u
the hIghe bidder i'll open market. The pre-
emption laws confer upon the pioneer who com
ply with terms they i'm pose, the privilege of pur
chasing a limited portion of unoffered lands a
a minimum price. The homestead enactmenti
relieve the settler from the payment of purchase
money, and secures HIM perman INT home upoi
The condition of residence Tor term of years. =
This b-rll policy invites INN grafton from old ant
more populous portions of the world. Thus
propitious results are vita be and will be NOR,
5 gualIy manifested when time shall have gwen |
a further development. Congress has made lber
al grants of pubic lands to corporations in aid o
the construction of railroads and other interna
improvements. Should this policy hereafter pre-
vail, more stringent provisions will be required t
secure the faithful application of the fund. TIL,
title TO the lands should not pass by patent O.
otherwise, but remain in the government and sub
ject to its control until some portion of the roa'
has been actually built. Parts OF them might ther
from time to time be conveyed to the corporal on
but never in greater ratio to til whole quantit,
embraced by the grant than the com peted part
bear the entire length of the projected improve
ment. This restriction would not operate TO tn
prejudice of any undertaking conc luded in goo.
faith ard executed VIII reasonable energy, as il i
the practice to withdraw from market the land
falling within the operation of such grants an'
thus to exclude the inception of a subsequent ad
verse right. A breach of the conditions WIN CT
| Congress may dee M proper to impose should worl
forfeiture of claim to the lands so Withdrawn Blu
unConveyed, ana OF title 10 iands conveyed whlcl
remain unsold.
| Operations on the several lines of the Pacfi
Railroad have been prosec uted with uuexample
vgor and success. should no unforeseen cause o
delay occur, it is conf fently anticipated that tn
| great thoroug hfare will be completed before tn
l xpration of the period designated by Congress.
| During the last fiscal year The amount paid t
pen sion RS, including the expenses of dIsburse
| mems 1874 9 1896, and 5o,i77 names wer
! u
pensioners June so, lso6, was LIS, 722- This iac
| furnishes a meIanch oly and striking proof of tn
sacrifices made to vindicate the constitutional au
! thor ty If the federal government, aud to lain
| tain inyiolate the integrity of the Union The
| impose upon us CORES posding obligations. It
estimate ed that $50 ,0o0, goo wilt be ured to
the exigences of this branc of the service durin
| the hext fiscal year.
| Treaties have been concluded with the Indian
| who entered INTO armed opposition TO our Govern
nlent the outbreak of the re oelon, but have no.
| Internationally submitted to authority an
| manifested earnest desire for r newal
| lfiendiy relations
| Patents during the year ending September 3,
| 1866 NUN beriDg S,7l6 for useful inventions an
| designs were issued, and, at that rate, the ba
| auce in the Treasury to the credit of the Patel
| fund is S22S, 0O1.
| The Mississippi river is a subject upon which d
! Com m erce az no country. l recommend 10 Co!
| 9ress such legislation may De necessary tor III
preservation of the levees of the Mississippi rive
| 1t Is matter of general Importance that earl
steps should be taken, not only to add the Ell
| cheney of these barr against destructive inu1
! the free and safe navigation of the great chann
| OF trace and commerce.
| DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
/ The District of Columbia under existing law
| Is not entitled to that representation ia the n
| tional Council which, from our earliest histor
| has been uniformly accorded each Territory
! its. It m aintains peculiar relations 10 Congress
| to whom the constitution has granted the powe
of exercising exclusive legislation over the seat
/ Cover Dment- Oar felow-citizens residing in tn
Districts whose interests thus confited to III
/ special guardianship OF Congress, exceed IN nun