The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1868-12-17
RAvENNA, @. THURSDAY, DEC. 17.1s

. a1felI4-.Ll!2 sIlT "a aa9iHlt0 hHG .
upon the faithful observance. of their
agreement to remain within their re-
spective reservations. This is the on
" mode by which collisions with 9TH
er tribes and with the whites can be
avoided and the safety of our frontier
settlements secured.
UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD. .a.,,
The companies constructing the rail
way from Omaha to Sacramento have
been most energetically engaged in
prosecuting the work, and it is be-
lieved that the line will be completed
before the expiration of the next fs-
cal year. The 6per cent. bonds issued
to these companies amounted, up to
the 9Th inst, to $44, ,337 600, and addi-
tional work had been performed to the
extent of $8,200000. The Secretary
of the Interior in August last invited
my attention to the report of Gov
ernment Director of the u. 2. r. r.
CO., who had been specially Instructed
to examine the location, construction
and equipment of their road. sub
mitted for the opinion of the Attor-
ney General certain questions in re-
gard to the authority of the Execu-
tive which arose upon this report and
those which had from time to time
been presented by the Commissioners
appointed to examine this and 9TH
er lines, and have recently submitted
q statement of their Investigations of
which the report of the Secretary of
the Interior furnishes specific infor-
nation.
WAR DEPARTMENT.
The report of the Secretary of War
contains information of interest and
Importance respecting the; several bu-
reaus of the War Department, and the
operations of the army. The strength
of our military force on the3 Both of
September last, was $4,000, and it is
computed that by the 1st of January
next, this number will be decreased
to $4,000. 1t is the opinion of the Sec
retary of War that within the next
year a considerable diminution of the
infantry forces may be made without
detriment to the interests ofthe coun-
try, and in view of the great expense
attending the military peace establish
ment, and the absolute necessity of re-
trenchment wherever it can be applied,
it is hoped that Congress will sanction
t1lc I6NluCLlOIA
mends. While in 1860 lie, 300 men cost
the Nation $17, ,S42, 600, the sum of $780,
$4,000 is estimated as necessary for
the support of the army during the
fiscal year ending June 80, 1870. The
estimates of the War Department for
the last two fiscal years were, for
1867, $33,814,261, and for 1868 $685.
205, ,669. The actual expenditures Gu-
ring the same periods were respee-
lively $95,224,ll5 and FSl23, 246,64S.
The estimate submitted, in December
last for the fiscal year ending June
80, 1869 was 81, ,124,707. The expen-
ditures for tho fiscal quarter ending
September 30. were S2l,2l0, 1l9, and
the Secretary of thr Treasury gives
$66, 100000 as the amount which will
probably he required during the re-
manning three-quarters, if there should
be no reduction of the army, making
its aggregate cost for the year consid-
erably in excess of nearly $3,000,000.
The difference between the estimates
and expenditures for the three fiscal
years which have been9 named is thus
shown to be $175, 5,545,343 for this sim
gle branch of public service. ,r.,...
NAVY DEPARTMENT.. @ rrh
The report of the Secretary of the
Navy exhibits the operation of that
Department and of the Navy during
the year. A considerable reduction
of the force has been effected there
are AZ vessels carrying 4l1iguns in the
six squadrons which are established in
different parts of the world; three of
these vessels are returning to the Uni
ted States, and four are used as store
ships, leaving the actual cruising force
35 vessels, carrying 343 guns; 81 YES
sells of every description are in use,
armed with 696 guns. The number of
enlisted men in the service, including
apprentices, has been reduced ia $500.
An increase of navy yard facilities
is recommended as a measure which
will in the event of war be promotive
of economy andi security. A more
thorough and systematic survey of the
North Pacific Ocean is advised, in
view of our recent acquisitions, onr
expanding commerce and the increas-
ing intercourse betweenathe Pacific
States and Asia. ,J.-i73 aorofff.s-a9y
The Nayal Pension fund which con-
sists of moiety Of the avails of pri-
zes captured during the war amounts
to S14,000O00. la0aa mjt oi zzHas-
Exception is taken to the act of 23d
of July last, which reduces the inter-
est of the fund loaned to the Govern
ment by the Secretary, as trustee to 3
per cent. instead of sixper cent. which
was originally stipulated whe1i the in
vestmeift was made An amendment
of the pension laws is suggested to
remedy omissions and defects in, ,ex-
isting enactments. The expenditures
of the department during the last fis-
cal year were $50, ,125,294 and the esti-
mates for the coming year amount to
$20.993.314. !tog,tfIk,- s.;-. -,,,f-f.,..t
POSTMASTER GENERALS REPORT.
-a The Postmaster Generals report
furnishes full and clear exhibit OF
the operations and condition of the
postal service. The ordinary postal
; revenue for the fiscal year ending
June 80, 1858, was $16, ,2O2,6OO, and the
total expenditures embracing all the
service for which special appfopria-
iEtions have been, made by Congress
amounted to l$22, 79O,592, showing ds1 an
excess of expenditures of S6,437, ,99l
Deducting from the Expenditures the
, sum of $l,S96, ,525, the amount of ap-
preparations for ocean steamship and
other special service, the excess Of ex-
pendit1Fes was $4,547, ,466. BY using
: an unexpended balance in the Treas
ury; of $4,000, ,006 the actual sum fol
which special appropriation is re-
quired to meet the deficiency is $74l,
266. The causes which produce this
large excess of expenditures over the
revenue were the restofation of SER
vice in the late insurgbnt States and
! the putting into operation of new. ser.
vice, established by, acts of Congress
which amounted within the last two
years and a half to about rs, 700 miles
o equal Ito more than one-third of the
t. whole amount ofitheI service at the
, close, of the war. d,;,r.,,s I.........
: New postal conventions with Great
= Rritain North GeryfanVl Rel1ium The