North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1866-12-12

class of vessels, as well as navy-yard of
area sufficient for the wants of the service,
on the Delaware river The Naval PEN
sion fund amounts to $ll.75O,OOO having
been increased $2,75O,000 during the
year. The expenditures of the Depart
ment for the fiscal year ending 3Oth of
June last were 43,324,526 and the esti-
mates for the coming year amount to $685..
| 568,436. Attention is invited to the con-
dltion of our seamen, and the Importance
7 tof legislative measures for their belief and
improvement. The suggestions in behalf
of this deserving class OF our fellow citizens
are earnestly recommended to the favcra-
bic attention of Congress.
The report of the Postmaster General
presents most satisfactory condition Of
the postal service, and submits recommen-
dations which deserve the consideration of
Congress The revenues of the depart
ment for the wear ending June 80, 1866,
were 5 4,336,9S9, and the expenditures
l5,352,O79, showing an excess of the lat
ter ofs965,O93. In anticipation of this
deficiency, however, a special appropria-
tion was made by Congress in the act ap.
proved July %, 1866. Including the
standing appropriation of 100000 for
free mail matter, as Legitimate portion
OF the revenues yet remaining unexpend-
ed, the actua' deficiency for the past year
is only S265, 5,093- sum within S5I,I4I
OF the amount estimated in the annual re-
port 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 en-
lai G. ment of the mail service in the South,
was twelve per cent. On the 3Oth of
June last there were in operation six thou
sand nine hundred and thirty mail routes,
with an aggregate length of one hundred.
and eighty thousand niue hundred and
twrnty-one miles, an aggregate annual
transportation ofseyehty one million eight
hundred and thirty seven thousand nine
hundIed and fourteen miles, and an
aggregate annual cost, including all ex-
pendtures, Of S8,4l0,1s4. The length
OF railroad routes is thirty two thousand
and ninety two miles, and the annual
transportation thirty million six hundred
nine thousand four hundred and sixty
miles. The length of steamboat routes is
fourteen thousand three hundred and
forty SIX mites, and the annual transporta--
tion three million four hundred and eleven
thousand nine hundred and sixty two
miles. The mail service is rapidly in
creasing throughout ,he whole country,
and It's steady extension in the Southern
States indicates their constantly improving
condition. The growing importance of
the foreign service also merits attention.
The Post Office Department of Great Brit
ain and our own have agreed upon a pre-
limnary basis for a new Postal Conven-
ton, which it is believed will prove emf
nently beneficial to the commercial inter
tcreSts of the United States, inasmuch as
1t contemplates reduction of the interna-
tional letter postage to one half the exist
ing rates; reduction of postage with all
other countries to and from which cores
pondence is transmitted in the British
mail, or In closed mails through the Uni
ted Kingdom the establishment of uni
form and reasonable charges for the sea
and territorial transit Of correspondence
| in closed mails aud en- allowance to each
Post Office Department of the right to
use all mail communications established
under the authority Of the other for the
despatch of correspondence, either in open
or closed mails. on the same term as those
applicable to the inhabitants ofthc country
providing the means Of transportation.
The report of the Secretary of the In
| terror exhibits the condition of those
branches of tie public service which are
committed to his supervision. During
the last fiscal year four million six hun
dred and twenty-nine thousand three hun,
dred and twelve acres of public land wers
disposed Of one million eight hundred and
ninety-two thousand five hundred and six
| teen acres ofwhich were entered under
the homestead act. The policy originally
adopted relative to the public lands has
undergone essential notifications. Immc-
diate revenue, an'i not their rapid settle
ment, was the cardinal feature of our land
system. Long experience and earnest
discussion have resulted in the conviction
that the early devel"pement of our agri-
cultural resources, and the diffusion Of an
energetic population over our vast terrific
ry, are objects of far greater in poitance
to the national growth and prosperity than
the proceeds of the sale of the land to the
high st bidder in open market. The
pre-empti"n laws confer upon the pioneer
who complies with the terms they impose
the privilege of purchasing a limited
portion OF 'unotfered lands" at the mini
mum price. The homestead enact.nents
relieve the settler from the payment of
purchase money, and secure him perma-
nent home, upon the condition OF residence
for term of years. This liberal policy
invites emigration from The old, and from
the more crowded portions OF the new
world, Its propitous resulte are undoubt-
cd. and will be more signally manifested
when time shall have given to it wider
: Development.
Congress has made liberal grants of