The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-12-04

tneir movements nave been JuutClOuslS anu
efficiently arranged In such manner rs would
best promote American commerce and protect
the rights and interests of our conntrymen
abroad. The vessels unemployed are under
going repairs, or are laid up until their ser
vices may be required. Most OF the iron clad
fleet is Mt League Island, in the vicinity Of
Philadelphia, place which, until decisive &C.
ton should be taken by Congress, was selected
by the Secretary Of the Navy rs the most eilgi-
bile location for that class OF vessels. Ii Is I'm
portant that a suitable public station should
be provided for the iron. clad fleet. IL Is in
tended that these vessels shall b" In proper
condition for any emergency, and ii ~ desira-
BILE that the bill accepting Icague Island Tor
naval purposes, which passed the House OF
Representatives at its last session should re-
CeiNe final action ~ IN early period, In order
that there may be q suitable public station for
this class of vessels, az well as naTy-yard OF
area sufficient for the wants OF the service, on
the Delaware river. The Naval Pension luna
amounts 10 Ill 80, 900, having been increased
-, 80 90 during The year. The expenditures OF
the Department for the fiscal year ending 3oth
| June last were *i3, 32i, j26, and the estimates
for the coming year amount 10 500, JG>, i3j. At
tention is invited TO The condition Of our sea-
men. and the importance OF legislative mea-
sures for their relief and improvement. The
suggestions In behalf of this deserving class OF
our fellow -Citizan7 are earnestly recommended
10 the favorable attention Of Congress.
The report of the Postmaslcr-G General pre-
Seuts Il most satisfactory condition oi The pos
tai service, and submits recommendation
which drrrryc the consideration OF Congress
The revenues Of the Department for the year
ending June 81, l>oG, were ti, 3s1.g>G, and the
expenditures 81, So, O79. showing in excess OF
the latter of S'Gj, o93. III anticipation OF this
deficiency, however, special appropriation
was mad" ny Congress III the act approved
July =, l.gG. Including the standing nppro-
priaron of 100000 for free mail matter, as a
legitimate portion of the revenues yet remain
ing uneNprnded the actual deficiency Tor the
1 IyI
OF the amount estimated in the annual report
Of lsGi. The decreasa OF revenue compared
with the previous year was one and onr-hith
per cent, and the increase of expenditures,
owing principally 10 the enlargement OF the
mail service in the South, was twelve per cent.
On the roth of June last there were in opera
ton six thousand niue hundred and thirty
mail routes, with an aggregat" length or one
hundred and eighty thousand nine hundred
and tWpnty-One miles, IN aggregate annual
TRANSFORMATION OF seyenly-on million eight
hundred and thirty seven thousand nine hun
bred and fourteen miles, and IN aggregate an
nual cost, including all expenditures, OF - no.
~. The lcugth OF railroad routes Is tiprty'
Two thousand and nincty-two miles, and the
annual trans portation thirty million SIX nun
drcd and nine thousand four hundred and
sixtv-s"ven miles. The length Of steamboat
routes is fourteen thousand three hundred ana
forty-siX miles and the annual transportation
three million four hundred and eleven thou
sand nine hundred and siXtY-two miles. The
mail service il rapidly increasing throughout
the Who'll" country, and its steady extension IN
the southern States indicates their constantly
lmlroyiug condition. The growing import auCe
Of the foreign service also merits attention.
The Post office Department Of Great Britain
and our own have agreed upon preliminary
basis for 4 new Postal Convention, which il -
believed will prove cminuntly beneficial - The
commercial interests Of the United states, IN
asmuCh rs II coutemplatcsa reduction OF the
international letter postage 10 onc-haif the
| existing rates: a reduction of postage with all
| 81 her countries 10 and from which correspond
! ruCe i transmitted In the British mail, or III
! closed mails through the United Kingdom
| the establishment; OF uniform and reasonable
| charges for The sea aud territorial TRANSIT oil
| CORES puudtuCe in closed mails and an allow
ancc 10 each Post -uiiir" Department OF the
| right 10 use all mail communications ceiab-
! lshrd under the authority OF the other for tho
dispatch OF correspondence. either III open or
| closed mails Oh he same terms n lhosrapplt-
cable 10 thc inhabitants OF the country prorid.
! inc 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 10 his SUI
| prrN l>ion. During the last fiscal year, four
| million six hundred and twenty .nlnc thou.
| sand three hundred and Twelve acres of public
| land were disposed OF, one million eight nun
| drtd and niutty-two thousand five hundred
! and sixteen acres OF which We're entered under
| the homestead act. The policy originally
| adopted relative 10 the public lands has I'M.
! d"rgonr essential notifications. Immediate
| revenue, 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 carly de-
v"lop,ucut of our agricultural resources, and
! the diffusion of an energetic population over
| our vast territory, are Objects oi Tar greater
| ilnpOrtaucc 10 the national growth and pro.
| spcrity than The proceeds OF the sale OF the
| land to the highest bidder in open market.
| The pre- -emption laws confer upon the pioneer
| n.
| privilege OF purchasing Il limited portion OF
| "uuofi.rcd lands At the minimum price
! The homestead cnaCtinenis relieve the settler
| from the payment of purchase lnO:4eN. ana &C.
| cure him Il permanent home, upon the condl
| ton of residence for a term OF years. This
| liberal policy invites emigration from the Old
| aud from the more crowded portions of ths
| New World lis propiiious results are un,
doubled and Will be more signallv maniicsteC
| when time shall have given 10 IL a wider de
! yrlopment.
Congress has made liberal grants Of public
land To corporations. III aid OF the constrUc
ton OF railroads and other internal improve
mpntS. Should This policy hereafter prevail
more stringent provisions viii be required IL
SECURE Il faithful application OF the fund. Ih'
little TO the lands shCuld not pGSs, by patent oi
otherwise but remain III the Government ant
subject 10 its control until some portion OF th'
road has been actually built. Portions OF
| them might then. from time 10 time, be con
| yeyed 10 the corporation, but never In
| greater ratio TO the whole quantity embraced
| by the grant than the completed parts bear tt
the entire length of the projected improve
mcnt. This restriction would not operate Il
the prejudice Of any undertaking conceived II
good faith and executed with reasonable en-
ergS, a. il is the settled practice 10 WIthdra"
from market the lands falling within the ope
| ration Of such grants, and thus IL exclude tht
| incrprion Of Il subsequent adverse right.
| breach OF the conditions which Congress may
deem proper 10 impose should work forfeit
/ ure OF claim 10 the lands 50 Withdrawn bui
| unConNeyed, and Of title 10 the lands conveyed
| which remain uESOld.
| Operations on the several lines OF the Paci
! fiC railroad have been prosecuted wltE uneS
ampled yigor and success. Should no uniore
| seen causes of delay occur. IL Is confidently an
| ticipated that this great thoroughfare viii b.
completed before the expiration Of the period
| designated by Congress.
| During the last fiscal year the amount paic
| to pensioners, including the expenses OF dls
| bursement, was thirteen million four hundred
| and fifty nine thousand nine hundred and nine
| ty-six dollars; and fifty thousand one hun
bred and seventy seven names were added Il
| the pension rolls. The entire number OF pen
sioners June So 1866, was one hundred ant
| twenty-six thousand seven hundred and tTen
| ty.iy.o This fact furnishes melancholy ant
| striking proof OF the sacrifices made 10 NIndi
| cate The institutional authority OF the l. euc
| raj Government, and I" maintain ihNiolate tR'
integrity OF the Union. They impose upon u:
| CORES bonding obligations. Its q tlmated tina
thirty three million dollars will be required Il
meet the exigencies of this branch OF the ser
| vice during the next fiscal year.
| Treaties have been concluded with the In
| dians who, enticed into armed opposition tt
! our Government NJ The utbreak OF tho rebel
| lion, have Internationally submitted 10 otil
| authority ana manifested an earnest desire fol
| "A renewal of friendly relations.
| During the year ending September 80, 1866
| eight thousand seven hundred and sixteen pa
| tents for useful inventions and designs were
| issued and at that date the balance in tn.