Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1868-12-10

ia the only mode by WHICH cohiniVh' 49,
other tribes and with whites can be aVoluou
and the safety Of our frontier settlements
secured. ill.,.
Tho companies constructing the railway
from Omaha to Sacramento have been most
cnergotcaly employed in prosecuting Vno
work. and il is believed that the Inc VIII DC
completed before the expiration OF the next
fiscal year. The per cent. bonds issueu W
these companies amounted on ne otn lnst,
to si4 ,33f 900, and additional wore DAG haa
been performed to the extent oil S5,ZuV'Vuu.
The secretary of the Interior in August
last invited my attention to the report OF
Government Director of the Union Paclhc
Railroad Company, who had been specially
Instructed TO examine the location, consuac-
ton and equipment Of their road. sub
mittcd for the opinion OF the Attorney
General certain questions in regard 10 inc
authority Of the Executive which arose upon
,his rcport, and those which had from time
/, time been presented by the Commission
era appointed to inspect each successive sec
ton OF the work. After carefully consider
inc the law of the case, he affirmed the right
of the Executive to order, II necessary,
thorough revision of the road. Commission
ors were thoreupon appointed 10 examine
this and other lines, and have recently sub
mittcd statement OF their Investigations
of which the report Of the Secretary OF the
Interior furnishes specific information.
The report Of the Secretary Of War con-
tains information respecting the several
bureaus of the War Department and the
operations of the army. The strength OF
our military force on the 30th Of September
was 4S 900 men, aud it is computed that by
the LIST of January next, this number Will
be decreased to $4,000.
II is the opinion Of the Secretary OF War
that within the next year considerable
diminution Of the infantry force may be
made without detrimcnt to the interests OF
the country, and, in view Of the great ex-
pensc attending the military peace establish
ment and the absolute necessity Of retrench-
ment whenever il can be applied, it is hoped
that Congress will sanction the reduction
which his report recommends. While in
1860. l6 300 men cost the nation $l6,472,-
600. the sum of 800, $50, 900 is estimated as
necessary for the support Of the army during
the fiscal year ending juno 30, 1870.
The estimates of the War Department for
the last two fiscal years were, Tor 1907,
1888 ,Sl4.46l, and for 1868, $25 POS 900.
The annual expenditures during the same
periods were respectively 800, 224,4l5 and
Sl23 ,24G, Gas. The estimate submitted in
December last for the fiscal year ending June
30, 1861, was ST., l24,7O7.
The expenditures for the first quarter end
ing the Both of September last, were ST.
2l9, III, and the Secretary of the Treasury
gives $66 600 600, as the amount which will
probably be required during the remaining
three quarters, il there should be no reduc-
ton OF the army, making its aggregate cost
for the year considerably in excess of $685.
600 900. The difference between the estl-
mates and the expenditures for the fiscal
years which have been nnmed, is thus shown
to be Sl75, 545, 343 FOR this single branch Of
OF the service.
The report Of the Secretary of the Navy
exhibits the operations Of that department
of the Navy during the year. A considera-
bio reduction Of the force has been elected.
There are ~ vessels, carrying All guns, in
the six squadrons which ure stationed in
different parts of the world. Three Of these
vessels are returning to the United States,
and are used as store-ships, leaving the
actual cruising force IS vessels, carrying
1856 guns
The total number Of vessels in the Navy
is 2O6 mounting l743 guns. Eighty-one
vessels of every description. are in use,
armed with 696 guns. The number Of en-
listed men in the service has been reduced to
$500. An increase Of navy yard facilities is
recommended as a measure which will, in
the event. of war be promotiye Of oeono-
my and safety. A more thorough and sys-
tematic survey of the North Pacific Ocean is
advised, in view of the recent acquisition,
and our intending commerce, and the increas-
ing intercourse between the Pacific States
and Asia
The Navy pension fund, which consists Of
moety of the avails of prizes captured du-
ring the war, amounts to Sl4, 000, 900. Ex-
caption is taken to the act OF 23d of July
last, which reduces the interest in the fund
loaned to the government by the Secretary as
trustee, to three per cent. interest Of the six
per cent, which was originally stipulated
when the investment was made. An amend
ment OF pensions is suggested, to remedy the
commissions and defects in the existing Gu
actments. The expenditures of the depart
ment during the last fiscal year were 500
100 1894, and the estimates for the coming
year amount to 20,993 ,4l4.
Tho Postmaster Generals report furnishes
a full and clear exhibit Of the operations and
SohuihoAs VI hhc lSolhA ccANiSSs OIul-
nary postal revenue for the fiscal year end
ing June 80, 1868, was SIG ,292, 600, and
the total expenditures, embracing all the ser.
vice for which special appropriations have
been made by Congress, amounted to $22,-
730 ,592, showing an excess of expenditures
of S6,437 ,99l. Deducting from the expen-
ditures the sum of 81 ,s96 ,625, the amount
of appropriations for ocean steamships and
other special service. the excess of expendi-
lures was S4,54l ,466. BY using our ex-
pended balance in the Treasury Of So, SO0.-
900, the actual sum for which a special
appropriation is required to meet the de-
fciency, is $74l ,466.
The causes which produced this large
excess of expenditures over the revenue were
the restoration of service in the late insur-
gent states, and the putting into operation
of the new service, established by tho acts Of
Congress, which amounted within the last
two years and half to about As, 200 miles,
equal to more than one-third OF the whole
amount Of service at the close of the war.
New postal conventions with Great Britain,
North Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands,
Switzarlond and Ifalv raapaattvaly haw.