The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1866-12-04

been retained, and, from the dlsDanueu
volunteers standing ready to respond to
the national call, large armies
can be rapidly organized,
equipped, and concentrated. Forti-
ications on the coast and frontier
have received, or are being prepared for
more powerful ornaments; lake surveys
and harbor and river Improvements are
in course of energetic prosecution
Preparations have been made for the
payment of the additional bountles au-
| thorized during the recent session OF
Congress, under such regulations as VIII
} protect the Government from fraud, and
and secure to the honorably discharged
soldier the well earned reward OF MS
faithfulness and gallantry. More than
\ six thousand MANNED soldiers nave re-
ceived artificial limbs or other surglcai
apparatus; and forty-one national GEM
eieries, containing the remains OF lo4,-
\ 526 Uuion soldiers, have already been
The total estimate OF mil
litary appropriationsi is $25, 90, SOY:
|tary Of the Navy that the naval force at
this time consists of two hundred and
seventy-eight vessels, armed with two
thousand three hundred and tifty-one
guns. Of these, one hundred and fifteen
vessels, carrying one thousand and
twenty-nine guns, are IN commission,
distributed chiefly among seven squad
rons. The number of men in the service
is thirteen thousand six hundred. Great
activity and vigilance have been dis
played by all the squadrons, and their
movements have been judiciously and
efficiently arranged in such manner as
would best promote American commerce,
and protect the rights and interests OF
our countrymen abroad. The vessels
unemployed are undergoing repairs, or
are laid up until their services may be
required. Most Of the iron-clad fleet Is
at League Island, in the vicinity OF
Philadelphia, o place which, until de-
cisive action should be taken by Con-
gress, was selected by the Secretary of
the Navy as the most eligible location
for that class of vessels. 1t is impor-
tant that suitable public station should
be provided for the irOn-clad fleet. 1t
is intended that these vessels shall be
in proper condition for any emergency,
and it is desirable that the bill accept
ing League Island for naval purposes,
which passed the House of Representa-
tives at its last session, should receive
final action at an early period, in order
that there may be suitable public sta
tion 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 S11,750,000, having been increased
S2,750,000 during the year. The eX-
pendtures of the Department for the
fiscal year ending 3Oth June last were
S43, ,324, ,526, and the estimates for the
coming year amount to S23, sos ,436. At
tention is invited to the condition OF
our seamen, and the Importance OF leg
islative measures for their relief and
improvement The suggestions i'll be-
half of this deserving class of our fel-
low-citizens are earnestly recommended
to the favorable attention of Congress.
The report of the Postmaster General
presents most satisfactory condition
of the postal service, and submits rec
concentrations which deserve the con-
sideration of Congress. The revenues
of the Department for the year ending
June 3Oth, 1866, were $14 1886, 1856, and
the expenditures S15,352,0 ,079, showing
an excess of the latter of 1906, ,O93. In
authorization of this deficiency, hOwey-
er, a special appropropriation was made
by Congress i'll the act approved July
%. 1866. Including the standing APP
propriation of 100000 for free mail
matter, as n legitimate portion OF the
revenues yet remaining uncXpended, the
actual deficiency for the past year is
only S265. .093-a sum within S5l ,lll 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 in
crease of expenditures, owing principal
ly to the enlargement of the mail ser
vice 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
hundred and eighty thouzand nine hun
dred and twenty-one miles, an aggre-
gate annual transportation OF seventy
one million eight hundred and thirty
seven thousand nine hundred and four
teen miles, and an aggregate annual
cost, including all expenditures, OF SS,-
Il0,ls4. The length of railroad routes
is thirty-two thousand and ninety-two
miles. and the annual transportation
thirty million six hundred and nine
thousand four hundred and sixty-seven
miles. The length of steamboat routes
is fourteen thousand three hundred and
fortv-six miles, and the annual trans
portstion three million four hundred
and eleven thousand nine hundred and
siytytwo miles. The mail service is
rapidly increasing throughout the whole
country, and its steady extension i'll the
South ern States indicates their con-
stan.ly improving condition. The grow
ing Importance of the foreign service al
so merits attention. The Post Office De-
partnent of Great Britain and our own
have agreed upon preliminary basis for
a new Postal Convention, which 1t is be-
lievtd will prove eminently beneficial
to the commercial interests of the
United States, inasmuch as it contem-
plates reduction of the international
letter hostage to one-half the existing
rates; q reduction of postage with all
other countries to and from which cor
res,ondence is transmitted in the
British mail, or in closed mails ,tbrOnGh !
tneUnlted hlngdom; the estaoilsnHent
of uniform and reasonable charges for the
sea and territorial transit of correspond |
encein closed mails; and an allowance
to each Post Office Department of the
right to use all mail communications
established under the authority of the
othes for the dispatch of correspon-
demo, either in open or closed mails,
on the same terms as those applicable
to tie inhabitants of the country pro-
yidiIg the means of transmission.
Tb report of the Secretary Of
the Interior exhibits the condition
of those branches of the pub
lie service which are commit
ted ; his supervision. During the last
fisca year, four million six hundred and
twety-nine thousand three hundred
and relvc acres of public land were
dispaed of, one million eight hundred
and iinety-two thousand five hundred
and xteen acres of which were entered
undo the homestead act. The policy
originally adopted relative to the pub
lie lads has undergone essential modi-
ficatins. Immediate revenue, and not
- The norlina1