Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1868-12-18

guarantee the undisturbeds enjoyment of
their treaty-rights, we should habitually
insist upon the faithful observance of their
agreement to remain within their respect
i've reservations This is the only mode
by which collisions with other tribes and
with the whites may be avoided, and the
safety of our frontier settlements secured.
The companies constructing the railway
from Omaha to Sacramento have been
most theoretically engaged in prosecuting
the work. and it is believed the line will
be completed before the expiration of the
next fiscal year. The per cent. bonds is
sued to these companies amounted, on the
9TH inst, to $44, ,337, 900, and additional
work had been performed to the extent OF
S3,200,0O0. The Secretary of the Interior,
in August last, invited my attention to
the report of Government Director OF
the Union Pacific Railroad Company, who
had been specially instructed to examine
the location, construction, and equipment
of that road I submitted, for the opinion
of the Attorney General, certain questions
in regard 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 appoint
ed to inspect each successive section IN
the work. After carefully considering
the law of the case, he affirmed the right
of the Executive to order, If necessary, a
thorough revision of the entire road.
Commissioners were thereupon appointed
to examine this and other lines, and have
recently submitted a statement OF their
investigations, of which the report OF the
Secretary of the Interior furnishes SPECIFIC
information. ..s...-.,r.a....
The report of the Secretary Of War con.
tains information of interest and impor-
tance respecting the general business OF
the War Department and the operations
ofthe army. The strength OF the military
force on the Both of September last, was
As OOO men, and it is contemplated that
this number will be decreased to 43,OO0,
1t is the opinion of the Secretary OF war
that within the next year considerable
reduction of infantry may be made With
out detriment to the interest of the coun-
try; and in view of the great expense at
tending the military peace establishment,
and the absolute necessity OF retrench-
ment wherever it can be effected, 1t Is
hoped that Congress will sanction the re-
duction which his report recommends.
While, in 1860, 16,300 men cost the nation
S15,412,O00, the sum of 5000, ,6S2,0O0 is es-
timated as necessary for the support OF the
army during the fiscal year ending June
so, 1870. The estimates for the War De-
partment for the last two fiscal years were,
for 1867, $33,814,461, and for 1868, $25,-
205669 The actual expenditures during
the same period were respectively $92,-
224,415 and $123, GAS. The estimate
submitted in December last for the fiscal
year ending June 80, 1869, was $77,124,-
T07 The expenditures for the first quar-
ter ending the 30th of September last were
$27,219,117, and the Secretary OF the
Treasury gives $60, 100000 as the amount
which will probably be required during
the remaining three-quarteTs OF the year..
If there should be new reduction OF the,
army, making its aggregate cost tor the
year considerably In excess Of $95, ,O0O,0OO:
The difference between the estimates and
expenditures for the three fiscal years
which have been named is thus shown to
he $t75, ,545, ,343 for this single branch OF
public service.
The report of the Secretary of the Navy
exhibits the operations of that department
and of the navy during the year. A con-
siderable reduction Of the force has been
effected. There are forty two vessels car
rying four hundred and eleven guns, In
bll6 SlA udQA " IASaA @AS ~ =
different parts of the world Three OF
these vessels are returning to the United
States, and four are used as storeshlps,
leaving the actual cruising force thirty
i've vessels, carrying three hundred and
fifty-six guns The total number OF yes
sells in the navy is two hundred and SIX,
mounting seventeen hundred and forty
three guns. Eighty are vessels OF every
description now in use, armed with SIX
hundred and ninety-six gufis. Ihe num-
Der of enlisted men in the service, lnclud-
ing apprentices, has been reduced to eight
thousand five hundred. An increase OF
navy yard facilities is recommended as a.,
measure which will, in the event OF war,
be DromotiYe of economy and security.
I A more thorough and systematic survey
4 of the North Pacific Ocean is advised, In
view of our recent acquisitions, our ex-
handing commerce, and the increasing IN
tercourse between the Pacific States and
Asia. The Naval Pension Fund, which
consists of moiety Of the avalls OF prizes
captured during the war, amounts to $l4,
100000.
Exception is taken to the act OF 23d
July last, which reduces the fund loaned
to the Government by the Secretary, as
trustee, to three per cent. instead OF SIX
per cent, which was originally stipulated
when the investment was made. an
amendment of the pension laws was sug-
pested to remedy omissions and defects In
existing enactments. The expenditures
| of the department during the last fiscal
wear were $40, 120,394, and the estimates
for the coming year amount TO SSo'SSo'-
314 Ga
| The Postmaster Generals report fur
nishes a full and clear exhibit of the opera
| tions and condition of the postal service;
| The ordinary postal revenue for the nscal
| year ending June 80, 1868, was $lo,29S,-
| 600, and the total expenditures, embracing
all the service for which special approprla-
| tions have been made by Congress,
amounted to $22, ,730, ,592, showing an ex-
cess of expenditures Of Sc, ,437 ,99l. De,
ducting from the expenditures the sum OF
81, ,S96 525, the amount or approprla'
| tions for ocean steamships and other
special service, the excess OF expenditure
was $4,541, ,466. BY using an unexpendea
| balance in the Treasury OF $3,oo0,oOo
the actual sum for which a special appro
| priation is required to meet the deficiency
| is S741, ,266.. The causes which produced
| this large excess Of expenditure over rev
enue were the restoration OF service IN tiie
late insurgent States and the putting lnlo
| oneration of new service abolished by acts
! of Congress. which amounted the ias'
twn wears and a half to about $40, 1oo,'
4 000 equal to more than onertnTa OF VIZ
! whole amount of the service at the ciose
! RI tho war New postal conventions Wfth
4 Graat Rrifain. North Germany, Belgium
-fha Netherlands. Switzerland and Italy
4 respectively, have been carried INTO enect