The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1866-12-12

.ue the year The expenditures of the department
ior the fiscal year ending 30th June last, were 543
324 526; and tie estimate for the coming year amount
to S23, ,5GS, ,436 Attention is invited to the condition
of cur seamen and the importance of legislative meas
ures for their relief and Improvement. The sngges
tons in behalf of this deserving class Of our fellow
citizens is earnestly recommended to the faYorab,
| attention of congress.
! The report of the postmaster general presents
most satisfactory condition of the postal service, auC
submits a recommendation which deserves the con
sideration of congress. The revenues Of the depart
ment for the year ending June g. S66, we're SI4 $50
$780, and the expenditures Sl5 352, ,G29 showing an
excess of the latter Of S965 093. In anticipation Of
this deficiency, however, special appropriation w8s
made by congress in the act approved JGly % 1865
including the standing appropriation Of S70o0eO9 fol-
/ free mail matter legitimate pori0u OF revenue
vet remaining unexpended, the actual deficiency l0r
the year is only $3.50 053, within S51, l4l OF
/ the amount estimated in the annual report OF 1864.
The decrease of revenue compared with the previous
year l.5 per cent and the increase Of expendi,
lures owing principally to enlargement OF the mail
service in the south Il per eeut. On 3Uth OF jHne
last there were iu operation $3.50 mail routes with a
aggregate length of 0,92l miles; aggregate aE-
nuel transportation Of II ,S379lS miles and an a@gre-
gate annual cost including all expenditures, o!
101, $40. The length of railroad routes is 32,032
miles aud the annual transportation so 69, ,46l miles:
the length of steamboat routes is 1876 miles, and
the annual transportation is 3,4ll,9G2 miles. The
mail service is rapidly increasing throughout the
whole country and its steady extension in southern
States indicates their constantly improving condition.
The growing intercourse of foreign service also, ner
its attention. The poStOttce department OF Great
Britain and our own, have agreed upon preliminary
basis for Il postal contract, which, 1t IS believed,
will prove emineaty beneficial to the commercial in
terests of the United Stltes inaSmuch as il conlem-
plates reduction OF letter postage to one-hat the
existing rates also reduction Of postage with other
countries and from which correspondence IS transmit
ted in British mails or enclosed by mail through the
united kingdom, the uniform and reasonable charge
for the and territorial transit OF correspondence
enclosed mails and allowance to each poSlotfce de
partment Of the right to use all mail communications.
The report Of the secretary OF the interior exhibits
those branches ul public service S32 526 acres OF
land we're entered under the homestead at. The
policy originally adopted relative to public lands, has
undergone essential notifications. Moderate revenue
and rapid settlement the cardinal features OF our
land system Long experience and earnest discussion
have resue in the conviction that the Development
of our agricultural resources and the diffusion ot an
energetic population vast GQuutry are Objects
of greater Importance to the national growth ana
prosperity than the proceeds OF the sale o. the auu
to the highest bidder in open market The preempioh
laws confer upon the pioneer, who complies with the
terms they impose. the privilege OF purchasing Inn
tied portion OF land at the minimum. Inc home
stead acts relieve the settler from the paymett OF
purchase money, and secures him a permanent nome
/ condition OF residence Tor Il Germ u 1Adi>.
This liberal policy invites emgratiOn from the oidand
from the more crowded portion Of the new world Its
prnritious results are undoubtcd and will be more
sguav manifest when we shall nave gwen 70 10 q
more wide development. Congress has made liberal
grants of public lands to corporations IL ad OF the
construction of railroads and other internal improve
Imcuts Should this policy hereafter prevail, more
stringent provisions will be required to secure faithful
application of the fund. The title OF lands should not
pas by patent or otherwise but remain in the govern
ment and subject TO its control until some portonot
the road has been actually built. Portions Of them
n,;oht thep from time to time be conveyed to the
cornorafion but never in a greater .ao to the whole
quantity embraced bY the grant than tue completed
parts bear to the entire length OF the proposed I'M
ncovement This restriction would not operate to The
prejudice of any undertaking concerned, in good
nith aud executed with reasonable energy. IS it, is
the settled practice to Withdraw from markets the
lands falling within the operation of such grants D.
thus to include the inception OF subsequent adVVs5
rirb or breach of the conditions which congress ujy
deem proper to impose, should work forfeiture O
claim 10 the lands so Withdrawn, bat convcya"ct
of title the lands convened which remain UnsoId,
Operations the several lines OF the facHc raireat
have been prosecuted with uueXampled N5oF ana ~Ic
cess Should no unforeseen cause OF delay occur, i. is
confidently anticipated that this great thorOughtIrt
will be completed before the expiration OF the peroc
designated bY congress during the last fiscal year
The amoHut Maid to pensioners including the s.x
names we're added to the pension rolls The cu:tr
number af pensioners, June So 1865 was I26, ,Iz2
This fact furnishes melancholy and striking proof c
the sacrifices made to vindicate the constitutional au
thorty of the federal governme and to maiutan in
violate the integrity OF the Union They impose up
| ON MS corresponding obligations 1t is estimated tha
s33 600 o. will be required to meet the eXigenCie
of this branch of the service during the next fsea
year
Treaties have been concluded with the Indians Wit
entered into armed opposition to our government a
Itbe outbreak of the rebellion, and have uucond!Gon
uIly submitted to our authority and manifested al
earnest desire for renewal of friendly relations
During the year ending September Both, 1866 671,
n,teuts for useful inventions and designs s-ueG
Land at that date the balance in the treasury to h
credit of the patent fund was $228 297. As suhjee
upon which depends an immense amount OF the pre-
dpction and commerce of the country, l recomment
10 CONGRESS- such legislation as may be necessary
tho nrosarystion Of the levees of the Mississippi.
i matter of national importance that early step
should be taken not only to add to the efficiency 9
these barriers against destruction and nundaon, ba
for the removal of all Instructions to the free au
safe NAVIGATION of that great channel Of trade al
commerce
The District of Columbia, under existing laws IS no
entitled to that representation in the national council
which from our earliest history has been unItorml
accorded to each territory established from time Il