Bloomsburg democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1867-1869, 1867-12-11

WIS VI vhV uEulyJ uT0 HOW tufe0 times
great as they have ever been in time q
peace; while the discretionary power
vested is the. Executive to add millions :
this Expenditure by Oh increase of tn
army tn tho maximum strength allowed b
the law.
The menacing attitude Of some of IN
warlike bands Of Indians inhabitinu IN
district Of country between the Arknnsa
and Platte rivers, and portions of Dakol
Territory, required the presence of n larg
military force in that region. Instigated B.
real or imaginary grievances, the Indian
occasionally committed acts of barbarou
violence upon emigrants and our frontie
settlements; but general Indian war ha
been providen,ially averted. The Cummis
sioners under the net of Goth July. 1867
were invested with full power to adjust OK
lSt'ng difficulties, negotiate treaties with til,
disatfected bands, and select for them reser
vatons remote from the travelled routes be
tween the Mississippi and the Pacific. The,
entered without delay upon the execution
OF their trust, but have not yet made an,
Official report Of their proceedings 1t is O
vital Importance that our distant tcritorie
should be exempt from Indian outbreaks
and that the construction Of the Pacif,
Railroad, an object of national importance
Should not be Interrupted by hostile tribes
These objects, as well as the material inter
csts aud the moral and intellectual improve
ment OF the Indians, can be most eifectually
secured by concentrating them upon Dor
tons Of country set apart for their exclusive
use: and located at points remote from ON
highways and encroaching white settle
mcnts.
During the last fiscal year seven million
torty-one thousand one hundred and four
teen acres OF public land were disposed Of,
and the cash receipts from sales and fees
exceeded by one-halr million dollars the sun,
realized from those sources during the pre-.
ceding year. The amount paid to pension.
ers, including expenses of disbursements. wa:
slS,6l9, ,9j6, and thrty-six thousand foul
hundred and eighty-two names were added
To the rolls. The entire number of pension.
ers on the Both Of June last was one hun.
dred and 6lty-Gve thousand six hundred and
sevcntyiour. Eleven thousand six hundred
and tiiy-fivc patents and designs wnc issu.
ed during the year ending September 80.
1857, and at that date the balance in the
Treasury to the credit of the Patent fund
was $2S6, GOT.
The report Of the Secretary of the Navy
states that we have seven squadrons actively
and iudiciously employed, under efficient
and able commanders, in protecting the per
sons and property Of American citizens,
maintaining the dignity and power of the
Government, and promoting the commerce
and business interests Of our cOuntrymcn in
every part Of the world. Of the two hun,
dred and thirty eight We. sels conIposing
the present navy Of the United States fifty
six, carrying five hundred aud seven guns.
are in squadron service. During the year
the number of vessels in commission has
been reduced twelve, and there are thirteen
less on squadron duty than there were at the
date of the last report. a large number of
vessels we're commenced and in the course
OF construction when the. war terminated,
and although Congress had made the nee
essary appropriations for their completion,
the Department has either suspended work
upon them or limited the slow completion
Of the steam vessels, so as to meet the con,
tracts fJr machinery made with privote cs-
tab,ishments. The total expenditures Of
the Navy Department for the fiscal year
ending June 80, 1867, were S3O,O34 oil.
No appropriations have been made or re-
quired since the close of the war for the con
stiHetief aud repair efressels, iite ie steam ma
chinery, ordnance, provisions and clothing,
fuel, hemp, &c, the balances under these
several heads having been more than suai-
cient for current expenditures. 1t should
also lie stated, to the credit of the Depart.
ment, that, besides asking no appropria-
tons for the above objects for the last two
years, the Secretary of the Navy, on the
Goth Of September last in accordance with
the act OF May |, 1920, requested the Sec
rotary OF the Treasury to carry to the sur
plus fund the sum Of sixty-iiye millions of
dollars, being the amount received from the
sales of vessels and other war property, and
the remnants of former appropriations
The report of the Postmaster General
shows the business of the Post-oiiice De-
partmcnt and the condition of the postal
service in very favorable light, and the
attention of Congress is called to its prac,-
cable recommendations. The receipts for
the Department Tor the year ending June
So 1857, INCLUDING all spccialapprouriations
for sea and land service and for free mail
matter, were $40, 9-S,693. The expcndi.
lures for all purposes, were 1929, 4S3,
leaving an uncxpended balance in favor of
the Department Of s743, 2l0, which can be
applied towards the expenses of the Depart.
ment for the current year. The increase Of
postal revenue, independent Of specific ar-
preparations for the year 1867, over that of
1865, was ;'SjO,0iO. The increase of rcvc-
nue. from the sale Of stamps and stamped
envelopes was $7S3,40i. The increase of
expenditures for 1867, over those of the
previous year, was owing chiefly to the cx-
tension of the land and ocean mail service
During the past year new postal conventions
have been ratified and exchanged with the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Irc-
land, Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzcr-
land, the North German Union, Italy, and
the Colonial Government at Hong Kong,
reducing very largely the rates of ocean and
land rostascs to and from and within these
countries.
The report Of the Acting Commissioner
Of Agriculture concisely presents the con
dtion, wants and progress of an interest
emnently worthy the fostering care Of Con
gress, and exhibits a large measure of useful
results achieved during the year to which it
refers.
The rc-cstablishment of peace at home,
and the resumption of extended trade, travel
andcommerce abroad, have served to increase
the number and variety of questions in the
Department for Foreign Affairs. None of
these questions, however, have seriously
disturbed our relations with other States.
The Republic of Mexico, having been re-