The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1866-12-05

H.
rons. The number of men in the service is
thirteen thousand six hundred. Great ac-
tivity and vigilance have been displayed by
all the squadrons and their movements have
been judiciously and efficiently arranged in
such manner as would best promote Ameri-
can commerce, and protect the rights and in
terests of our countrymen abroad The YES
sells unemployed are undergoing repairs, or
are laid up until their services may be re-
onired. Most of the iron-clad fleet is at League
Island, in the vicinity of Philadelphia place
which, until decisive action should be taken
Congress was selected by the Secretary of
the Navy as the most eligible location for
that class of vessels. It is important that
suitable public station should be provided
for the iron-clad fleet. It 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 pur-
poses the House of Representatives at its
last session, should receive final action at
early period. in order that there may be a
suitable public station for this class of vessels,
as well as navy-yard of area sufficient for
the wants of the service, on the Delaware
river. The Naval Pension fund amounts to
$11, $3.50, 900, having been increased So, $780,
900 during the year. The expenditures of
the Department for the fiscal year ending
Both June last were $43, 1924, 526, and the es-
Inmates for the coming amour. to $23, $685.
436. Attention is invited to the con-
dition of our seamen, and the Importance of
legislative measures for their relief and i'm
provelnent. The suggestions in behalf of
this deserving class of our fellow-citizens are
IL L. L.. e.,
tention of Congress.
The report of the Postmaster General pre-
sents most satisfactory condition of the
postal service. and submits recommend"
which deserve the consideration of Congress.
The revenues of the Department for the year
ending June 80, 1885, were $14 1886, 1856, and
the expenditures SIS, 352, 079, showing an ex-
cess of the latter of $965,093. In anticipa-
ton of this deficiency, however, special APP
preparation was made by Congress in the act
approved July 20, 1885, Including the stand
ing appropriation of 100000 for free mail
matter, as legitimate portion of the reve
nues yet remaining unexpended, the actual
deficiency for the past year is only $265,09
"a sum within $5i ,141 of the amount esti-
mated in the annual report of 1864. The de-
crease of revenue compared with the previ-
Gus year was one and one-fifth per cent, and
the increase of expenditures, owing princi-
pally to the enlargement of the mail service
in the South. was twelve per cent. On the
30th of June last there were in operation six
thousand nine hundred and thirty mail
routes, with an aggregate length of one hun
dred and eighty Thousand nine hundred and
twenty-One miles, an aggregate annual trans
portation of seventy-one million eight hun
dred and thirty thousand nine hundred
and fourteen miles, and an aggregate annual
cost, including all expenditures, of $8,410,
1874. The length of railroad routes is thirty
two thousand and ninety-two miles, and the
annual transportation thirty million six hum
dred and nine thousand four hundred and
sixty-seven miles, The length of steamboat
routes is fourteen thousand three hundred
and forty-six miles, and the annual transpor
tation three million four hundred and eleven
thousand nine hundred and sixty-two miles
The mail service is rapidly increasing
extension in the Southern States indicates
their constantly improving condition. The
growing Importance of the foreign service
also merits attention. The Post Office De-
partment of Great Britain and our own have
agreed unon a preliminary basis for new
Postal Convention, which it is believed will
prove eminently beneficial to the commercial
interests of the United States, inasmuch as it
contemplates reduction of the international.
letter postage to one-half the existing rates !;
a reduction of postage with all other coun-
tries to and from which correspondence is
transmitted in the British mail, or in closed
mails through the United Kingdom the es-
tablishment of uniform and reasonable char
ges for the sea and territorial transit of cor
respondence in closed mails ; and an allow
ance to each Post Office Department of the
right to use all mail communications estab-
lished under the authority of the other for
the dispatch of correspondence, either in
open or closed mails, on the same terms as
those applicable to the inhabitants of the
country providing the means transmission.
The report of the Secretary of the Inter-
or exhibits the condition of those branches
of the public service which are committed to
his supervision During the last fiscal year,
four million six hundred and twenty
thousand three hundred and twelve acres of
public land were disposed of, one million
eight hundred and ninety-two thousand five
hundred and sixteen acres of which were en-
tered under the homestead act. The policy
originally adopted relative to the public
lands has undergone essential notifications.
Immediate revenue, and not their rapid set
Element, was the cardinal feature of our land
system. Long experience and earnest dis
crssien have resulted in the conviction that
the early development of our agricultural re-
sources, and the diffusion of an energetic
population over our vast territory, are OBJ
jects of far greater Importance to the nation
al growth and prosperity than the proceeds
of the sale of the land to the highest bidder
in open market The presumption laws con-
fer upon the pioneer who complies with the
terms they impose the privilege of purchas-
ing limited portion Of "unoffered lands''
at the minimum price. The homestead en-
actments relieve the settler from the pay
ment of purchase money, and secure him a
permanent home, upon the condition of resi-
dence for q term of years. This liberal poll
cy invites emigration from the old, and from
the more crowded portions of the new world.
Its propitious results are undoubted, and will
be more signally manifested when time shall
have given to it a wider development.
Congress has made liberal grants OF pub
lie land to corporations in aid of the con-
struction of railroads and othsr internal i'm
Improvements. Should this policy hereafter
prevail, more stringent provisions will be
required to secure faithful application of
the fund The title to the lands should not
pass, by patent or otherwise, but remain in
| the Government and subject to its control
until some portion of the road has been actu
ally built. Portions of them might then,
from time to time, be conveyed to the corpo
ration, but never in q greater ratio to the
whole quantity embraced by the grant thar