The Elk advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Elk Co., Pa.) 186?-1868, 1866-12-13

forty-one national cemetries, containing
the remains of 104,526 Union soldiers,
have already been established. The to-
tai estimates Of military appropriations
is $25 ,2Qj, ,GG9 .
SECRETARY wELLEs ON THE NAVY.
1t is stated in the report OF the Secro-
tary Of TIE Navy that the naval force at
this time consists of two hundred and
seventy eight vessels, armed -N'ith-two
thousand three hundred and fifty eight
guns. OF these, Que hundred and lit.
teen vessels, carrying enc thousand
and twenty.ninc guns, '9r5 in commia,
sion, distributed chiefly among seven
squadrons. The number of men in the
service is thirteen thousand six hun
dred. Great activity and vigilance have
3cen displayed by Iil the squadrous
and-their movements have been judi
.ciously and efficiently arranged N such
manner as would best prom ote Amer.
lean commerce, and protect tho rights
and interests Of our countrymen abroad.
The vessels employed are undergoing
repairs, or are laid up until their servi-
ces may be required
THE LEAGUE ISLAND IRON CLAD NAVY
YARD.
Most fthe iron clad feet is at League
Island, iu the vicinity Of, PHILADELPHIA,
a place which, until decisive action
shonld be taken by Congress, was select
ed 10y The Secretary of he navy, as the
7 most eligible location tor that class Of
yesscis. 1t is important that suitable
FubGc station should be provided for the
irou clad l!eet. 1t is intended that these
vessels shali be in proper condition for
any emergency, and it is desirable that
the GiI. accepting League l'!and for na-
val PURPOSES which passed the House
Of Representatives at its Inst session,
should receive Enal action at an early
period, III order that there may be asui-
table pty,.n Station for this class Of 7ns
sells, q. wei as navy yard OF area sufici-
ent for the wants Of the service. ON the
Delaware rlver. The naval pension fund
amotuts 10 3II,7G0,000 having been in
creased 81 l,IG0,UU0 during the year
The expenditures OF the Department Tor
the fiscal year ending '3Oth June last
were $43 ,324, ,526 and the estimates for
the coming year amount 10 223, JG&, t3G.
| Attention is Invited to the condition of
our geamcn, and The importance Of legis.
latiye measures for their relief and im-
proyement. The suggestions in behalf
Of this deserving class Of our Eeilnw, citi-
zens are earnestly recommended 10 the
favorable attention Of Congress.
POSTMASTER GENERAL RANDALL S RE.
PORT. .... r
The report Of the Post Master Gene
rel presents a most satisfactory condition
of the postal ao:vicc, and submits recon-.
mendations which deserve the consider
alton Of Congress The revenues of the
Department Tor the year ending June
80, 1856, were $i4.3S6,9S6, and the
expenditures $685., 2,C70, showing an
excess Of the latter of 1868, ,Q93. In
anticipation Of this deficiency. however,
special appropriation was made by Con
dress in the act approved July %, 1866.
Including the standing appropriation Of
100000 for free mail matter, as a leg
itimate portion. Of the revenues yet re-
manning unexpended, the actual deici,
cncy for the past year is only $3.50, 5,O93,
sum within $5l, ,l4l Of the amount es.
timated in the annual report Of 1861
The decrease Of revenue compared with
the previous year was one and oueiiith
per cent, oud the increase Of eEpendi,
lures, owins principally to tho eniuage-
mcnt OF the mail service Of the South,
was twelve per cent. On The Z0th Of
June last there We're in operation SIX
thousand uiuc hundred and thirty mail
routes, with an aggregate length OF one
hundred and eighty thousand n;ae hun
drel aud t@c4ty.ouo miles al aggregate.
annual transportation otae2eu'y0uo mil.
lion eight hundred and iourta3n lajles,
and an aggregate annunl cost, inclI ling
all ezpen,utu:os, Of &5,tl0, Ash The
length Of railcoaI routes is tllrty-two
thousand aud niucty-two miles, aud the
annual transportation thirty million six
hundred and ulu3 thousand four hun
dred and six, seven miles. Tho length
Of steamboat routes is fourteen thousand
three hundred and forty,six miles, and
the annual transportation three million
four hundred and eleven thourand nine
hundred and sixty-two miles, The mail
service IS rapidly increasing throughout
the whole country, aud its steady exten.
sion in the Southern States indicates
their constantly Improving condition
The growing Importance Of the foreign
service also merits attepti2n. The Post
Office Department of Great Britain and
our own have agreed upon preliminary
basis for Il new Postal Convention, which
IL is belieyed will prove eminently bens.
fetal to the commercial interests of the
United States inosmuch as it contem
plates a reduction of the International
letter poeta e to one.half the existing
rates rad9ctou Of postage with all