Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1867-12-04

tary Of the Interior furnishes Interesting
information in reference TO the import
ant branches Of ihr public service. collect
cd within his department The tnenacing
attitude of some warlike bands OF Indians
inhsbitinR the district Of country between
the Arkansas and Platte Rivers and por-
tiOns OF Dakotsh Territory, required the
presence Of large military force in that
region. Instigated BY real orirnsginsry
grievances, the lndisns occasionally com.
mitied acts of barbarous violence upon en-
igrants and our frontier settlement but
general Indian war has been providentislly
ayerted. The Commissioners under the act
Of The 20 u July. 1867. were invested with
full poacr 10 adjust the existing difficulties
negotiate treaties With the disaffsctcd
bands, ana select for them reservations re-
mote from travelled routes between the
Mississippi and the Pacific. They
entered without delay upon the execution OF
their trust, but have not made any official
report Of their proceedings. II is Of vital
importance that our distant boundaries
| should DO exempt from sudden outbreaks,
| and that the construction Of the Pacific
Railroad, an object Of national importance,
should not be interrupted by hostile tribes.
These objects, rs we'll as the material
| interests and moral and intellectual improve
| ment Of the Indians, can be most eiiectualiy
gained by concentrating them upon portions
of country set apart for their exclusive use,
and located at points remote from highways
and cncrcaching white settlements.
PACIFIC RAILROAD.
| Since the commencement Of the session
Of the Thirty Ninth Congress, five hundred
| and ten miles OF road have been construct
cd on the main lire and branches of the
Pacific Railroad. The line from Omaha is
| rapidly approaching the eastern base Of the
| Rocky Mountains, while the terminus Of
the last section OF constructed road in Cali
tornia, erected BY the Government on the
9th of October last, was but eleven miles
distant from the summit Of the Sierra Ne
vada Remarkable energy has been cvInced
by the companies officers, and the strongest
assurance is given that the completion Of
the road from Sacramento to Omaha will
not be deferred long.
PUBLIC LANDS.
During the last fiscal year, 7,O41,ll4
acres Of public lands we're disposed OF, and
cash receipts from sales and fees exceeded
by one-half million dollars the sum realized
from these sources during the preceding
year.
PENSIONS.
| The amount paid pensioners, including
expenses OF Disbursements was { Is, 6l9, 1855.
and SO, 1872 names were added to the rcll.
The entire number Of pensioners on the
30th OF June last was 55,474.
PATENTS.
| Eleven thousand six hundred and fifty
five patents and designs were issued during
the year ending September 80, 1867. and
At that date the balance in the Treasury TO
the credit Of the Patent Office fund was
$3.50 07.
The report Of the Secretary of the Navy
states that we have seven sqnadrons active
ly and judiciously employed, under efficient
and able commanders, in protecting thu
persons 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 23s
vessels composing the present Navy Of the
United States, Of, carrying 507 guns, are in
squadron service. During the year the
number Of vessels in commission has been
reduced ~, and there are Is less on squad
ron duty than there were 1t the date Of the
last report. A large number Of vessels were
commenced and in course Of construction
when the war terminated; and although
| Congress has made the necessary appropri
atoms for their completion, tho Department
has either suspended work upon them. or
limited the slow completion Of steam YES
| sells SO as to meet contracts for machinery
made with private establishments. The
total expenditures Of the Navy Depart
ment fer tho fiscal year ending June 80,
1867, were .3l ,34o,0ll. No appropri-
atoms have been made or required
since the close Of the war for the con-
struction and repair Of vessels, for steam ma
| chinery ordnance, provisions, clothing. fuel,
hemp, &c., the balance under these several
heads having been more than sufficient for
rent expenditures. II should also be stated TO
the credit OF the department that besides asking
| no appropriations tor the above objects for the
last two years, the Secretary Of the NAVY, on
| the 3oth Of September last, in accordance with
the act Of May LIST, 1870, requested the Secretary
to carry TO the surplus fund the sum OF sixty
| i've millions Of dollars being the amount re-
ceived from the sales of vessels and other war
property, and remnants OF former approprin
tions.
Pesr OFFICE DEPARTMENT.
The report OF the Postmaster General shows
| the business CT the Post Office Depart ment and
condition OF the postal service in a very favora.
| bic light. ana the attention o. Congress. is call
| ed TO its practical recommendations. Receipts
| Of the Depa, iment fer the year ending June
| 3otn. 1867. including al special app opriations
| for sea and land service, aud for free mail mat.
| ter, were slg.91S.5s3 Expenditures for all
purposes, were tle, 235. ASS, leaving nexpended
| balance in taTor OF the Depar ment OF seven
hundred and forty three thousand two hundred
| aud ten dollars. which can be applied towards
the expenses OF the Department for the current
year. The increase of postal revenue indepcnd-
ent OF specific nppropriat ons for the year 1857,
| over that of lsb6 was eight hundred and MY
Thousand and forty dollars. The increase OF
revenue from the sale OF stamps and stamped
envelopes was seven hundred and eighty three
thousand four hundred and four dollars. The
Increase of expenditures of 1867 over those OF
the previous year OWING ehie lis to extension
o! land and ocean mail ecrvice. During the past
year new postal conventions have been rati
fed and exchanged with the United Kingdom
Of Great Britain and ireland. Belgium Neither
land, Switzerland North German Union, Italy
and the Colonial Government at Hong Kong
reducing very largely the rates Of ocean and
land hostages 70 md from and within those
countries.
AGRICULTURE.
TIE report ofthe Acting Commissioner OF Ag
riculture coneisey presents the condition, wants
and progress of an interest cminently worthy OF
tho fostering care Of Congress and exhibits .
large measure Of useful results achieved during
the year to which II refers. The re establish |
meht OF peace at home, and resumption of cx-
tended trade, travel and commerce abroad has
served TO increase the number and variety Of
questions in the department Of
roREIeN AFFAIRS.
None of these questions, however, have seri
ousls disturbed our relations with other States.
The Republic of Mexico having been relieved
from foreign Intervention, Is earnestly engaged
in efforts for the establishment OF her const
tutional system Of government. good under
standing continues to exist between our gov
eminent aud the Republics OF Hayti and san
Domingo, and our cordial relations with the
Central and South American States remain IN
changed. The tender made in conformity with
the resolution Of Congress Of the good cfilces
of the Government with view to an amcsble
adjustm ent Of peace between Bruz1 and her al
lies on the one side, and Paraguay on the other
aud between Chill and her allies on the one
side aud Spain on the other. though kindly re-
ceived. has in neither been fully accepted
by the belligerents. The war in the Valley Of
tie Psrsna i still vigorously maintained. On
the other hand, the sctnsl hostilities between
the Pacit, States and Spain have been moro
than year suspended. shall, On proper oc
casion that may occur, renew the conciiiatory
| recommendations which have already been
made Brazil with enlightened sagacity and
comprehensive statesmanship, has opened the
80 channel Of the Amazon and its tributaries
| n universal commerce.