The New York Herald Newspaper, December 7, 1856, Page 2

Poer Orries Duraxtwmnr, Deo. 1, |866. ‘Sm—Since my iast annual report the pert offices have been moreased 1,165, and pumbered on June 26,505. Three Dundred and thirty nine of ters were appointed by the wdvice and cons< nt of the Senate, exo edirg one thousand dollars. qhe camber of post offices in the United States was 40. showing sp increase in the last tour years of 4,664. On the Séth of June last there were in operatian 7,97: mai! routes. The nomber of contractors doug: 0 these outes is extimated at vided sn lollows, viz. — 20,523 miles of railroad. 14 961 wiles of steamboat. 60 458 miles of coach. 163,915 miles of inferior grades. ‘Fee total annus! transportation of mails was 71,307,897 }, and diviled as fellows:— road, at $2,310,389—abdout ten 4 240.170 miles by steamboat, at $860,765—about twen- Vy cents and three mi conte 26,148,440 miles by modes not specitied, at $1,534,974 6% cents per mile. Compared with the service of June 30, 1856, there is addition o/ 11,734 miles to the length of mai! routes; 3,990, 781 miles to tho total apnual transportstion—boing about 8 8 1¢ per cent ana 0! $690,236 to the cost, or 12 4-10 per eee ‘Phe aggregate length of railroad routes has been in- Greased 1.490 miles, and the annual trausportauon there- om 2,606,827 miles— about 13>, per cent, at a cost of $437,- 300, or 11 4 10 per cent. ‘The lexgth of ste miks, aud tho cort $: sion 250, althoug! 5 yn the annua! trans. leas by 219.57 miles. This resulted maialy putting M @peration in January last a datiy roate Between New Orienss and Cairo, lifimole, 1,075 tailes, a, | Reeisterod lette 42555 48 ® oosi of $529,000 per auoum. ‘But for’ this roave there “632,745 49 would Dow appear a diminution of steamboat servioe, "70 00 amounting to 743 miles in the length of routes, 1,002,257 | jmofoments retor 74,880 03 Spynnuai transporiation, and $93,760 in cost. Letter carriers 162,915 69 apie Aésiton to the length of concn routes hes boon 1. | ead letters... 8,888 bo ies, to the sppual transportation 265,878 miles, and | ¥: ensat imaste . 4 the cost of $118,377, or 93. py ceat oo ee 14,714 96 The additional lengih of inferior routes is 8,162 miles; | yueelisnecus receipts... 6,513 04 amoral transportation 1,264,688 miles; cost $104,409, o ne ee ‘Tana Gee per cont in tonaaportatinn, ands 818 per cent Total Sales seeeeeees + $6,920,881 66 a ‘i . If to the gross revenues derived from es aod the ten, “tome . additional rete y California are 7¢6 | ether sources embraced in the Doregoig provoke be The po. Zoviee, and 106,274 miles in transpor- | ged the permanent annual appropriation of $760,000, miles in len, granted by the acts of the 34 of March, 1847, and 3d of a “elad change lee taka ~!ace, ™e have becn mored to the “art of 1865, in New Merion tation. cor ting > tm Oregon no ma. mo altera}ions or addin vice rtaied ‘n my aonual re, aod Usb “saheve been ac Tn Nebraska and Kansas, 2.298 min “sto tho wentat ‘0 the |engin of routes, and 450,470 mi Cy wanrportation ai a cost of $33 343, Shese ‘erritories now etands thus, viz-— Length of cose routes "964 miles: aonval trauspoi* tation thereon, 116,648 miles; cost $17,680—adout 1635 eens a mile. Length cf inferior routes, 2,152 miles: anpual transpor. tation 110,180 milos; coet, $20,27—about 9 oeats and 6 mills a mile Tho otal length is 3116 mil 985,834; and whe cost, $38,155 Tho ictlowing sable #hows the exiension of raiiroad ser- ‘yiee during the year, separaic!y, in five groupe of States, ; total tranaportation, t the dations and special agen! For clerks for offices For postage stamps For stamped enveio) For pay ment to letter ci For miscelianeous pa) ments. For balance due to Bremen For balance due to Great Br’ NEW ¥ORK HERALD, SUNDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1866. rom ail sources, in the past fiscal year, was $6,920,821 68, viz:— Letter postage. Suv, Stated, w etn ~ 821 66, 1) Were » $2, "87,046 62. The ‘Set to reduce at and for ‘ber parpoges,”’ ito operatic OD tha 3» end 10 cent rates © nct of 161%, wer we” “= $012 96, for the amount ot nge account,” leaving “sed by the audi- Hence it appears that tuo “Xess of , Spendivures over the gross revenue of the year , ud modify the rater of postage, approved March 3, 1861, went 1861, By this act the & 0 sewers, estaoiished by the .@ reduced (o 3 cents prepaid and 6 cents -t, 10T “any distance under 3,000 miles, and doubie Ie a8 a + of Jul until he Ist of Apri March, 1851, for mail services rendered to ihe govern- ment {a the transportation and delivery of free matter, entire revenue of the year 1866 will amount to The expenditures of the year, as oefore *10.405,288 86, to which is to be ‘added the ~ foi josed. Of $8104 Te. r accounta cl by “compromised debts,” credit baianoes closed by “suey. the whcie expenditure of the year, tor, $10,407,868 18. ‘bad’’ 1,754,768 96 and was , 1865, wheo biiaged the prerent rates, 3 and 10 cents, tn the fieca’ year whic ended June 80, 1852, d tor the period of Jo 1853, 1896 and 155%, the buriness unps' — fom 3 = Length Miles of ©, dis" ces over 3,0U0 miles within tae United States. ot Arm ‘Theee rater continued Q Additional. Rowe, Teanepom. "ga are ig pre-payment of ulaud letierg Wok et- New England and New York. 1 482,963 cet, on New Jersey, Tennsy!vania, 6040 Prepaid. Deleware. Marylend & Obio.. 527 425,74% the firat of the adoption of the reduced rates, the revenue Viegivia, Nortn Carolwa, Somb 2% 25,305 | was dirpinishea about 22 per cent Carol ies ‘ four years termivating on the Sith of June, 1868, the aMicbig ne 26,804 67,911 | average aupaal increase of revenue from letier po tage Wireor _. | and stampa sold was only 9 33-100 per cent, nearly 4 por Hentuck 3,068,498 82,575 | cent of which averege was derived from the extraordi Mises <ipp! and Lov bury incrcage in 1864, which exeeeded tne previous year ¥75,921 46,009 | 2) & 200 per cent Total... —— — ot the country was neliber seriously depressed nor em- ‘The ro sesssepeeerces 1998 2,006,897 +0 | barrareed, ard yet the average increase in these years zouk verve witht the last four ‘years has a | war jese than 434 per cent, from which {tis fair to con- at ped prns he. “7 oe hg — ~~ ojede that low rates of Postage ave ceased 1 etimulate 7 one enterprise of ite cit: . a the correspordence of ibe country. aly, 186%, Al length of raliroad routes was 3,091 Hb _“Maltes, anu the coet of service was $452,668. On the let . the tumber of miles oa which the mai! 10,148, costing $1,278,620, F On railroad t It is estupated that the expenaitures for the year 1867 will amourt 10 $10, For tranyportauon \f ihe mails, foreign and inland, and for ical agents, ronte a 8, viz 8 Ad mail mes 55 miles in ten years, at an at sepgers eat ew + «$8,675,000 Between the Ist of July, 1852, | For compentat on to postmaster, ebip, steam- ¥. 1806 the railroad service was tncreised 10, Doai anc Way lelters, wrapping paper, office ing the fact thet within thu: time this furoiture, aavert mall bags, Dlanks, mail vice bae deen more than doubled. joc ®, keys pd stump, mail depredations below anows the lengin of ratiroad routs and special agents, clerks tor office, posiage and coti of mail #ervice thereon ut the end of each fiscal stamps and stamped enveiopes.............. 3,603,500 eer (rom 185. to 1866, in For various expenres incidental to the - 100,000 Foor Miler Cost For baisuce peyadie to forcign countrier on 10,146 $1,975,520 porta’ account : 210.178 19415 4,601,322 | For lewer 166,000 . 13,659 1,789 453 —_——— 18,333 2 073,089 Tota’ ‘ + 810,663,078 2.343 2,310,087 the m 1857 are estimated at 1860, the railroad service | $9. 661.7 » at that dale amouoied to $2,408,747. © same period the serviceon horseback, and medce not speciied in the coutract, was increased 942 miles ip length of roues aod 6,292,519 miles io paportauon. The coach service taken of in Owing to the coaatraction of ratireads, bas other States and Territories. or ovher parts e Sate, as thelr growing population and conse qvent iacreare Of mail matter demanded; 10 that, not- ‘Withetanciog the great extereion of railroads, the coach service haz been reduced but 202 miles, The steambuat service bus Leen decreased (479 miles The average cost of rajlro joe in 1862, estimated on the length of routes one way, was $125 1866. $101 45 a mie—being » Ceorease of $: Tor the mo . largely advances during the tame period, owing to causes bezens the power of the copirtment to contol. lettings of new contracts for the term commencing lat, embraced the siates of New Jorsey, Poun eyir 4 and Obio xD. year ec ‘The following table sho wr the pew service, as in opera fou on (be SOL Septemrer — When Vila in Miles of Annual mert'n h. Jransportation. ebir fly ance a eee ob 17 15,121 Compared wil an sggregate decrease of 2% miies in length of reales; Dat au wocrease Of 696,564 miles in the entual traasporte Men, and $) 26,116 in cont, divided as follows = Additions miles of Add uiont tramapor'atiom Oy 48 Sé% Toriey tho transporte: ‘Watles, and ‘n Mary aud 2,186 Milet, although toe expense 283 4 ia teorear c On the 50:h Jane lat there were in service Ageuts, o: a compensation of $4s6, 449; BF lo. O21, 76%; and 1. gore, Wt S127 wb @ betel of £414,408 = This amount, with the ‘nowt mete Of ibe pew commencing ist Jaly tast, ($126,116) addea (91 arvice a8 In Operation Ou ine svn June last, (6,( . tankes the total amouut for the current year $0,676,048. This is independent of ocesa mail wer ce ‘The Paoeroa Railroad Company hae been prid for tranrco tation cf the mais across the Iavhinus during Balance Jupe, ae tiated py th Deauct tor upeve: to the © 4 credit, abe belt tor 1867 Total Frtimated ceticiescy in were fully met very large. * "990.083 1804, wh ¥ ie to be ada as ing to $5 oe intrenge ¢f om ‘a reduce 40.156 | raion comm ) service ou the My cunt AioMAl compensaty deducted trex period, the ratir S666 ,ABS braced in the revenue of each year, ihe anou repoiture Over revenue for four years past will we, VIE care © 55 the Three ry eine th Tof the revenue socount on the 30th even $789,090 78 enti propriation od. Your encing June 30, 1853. $2,042, pontrs 1863, it will be seen ss senseeeese89.7 7 to be provided for o; toi of ot 3 and tha 704 78 1y Con 00,000 rendered to tae govera oT -+ 2757, 046 53 tp 1859 was, as above stavel, $4,012,364 o4 etiistration of the Depert. * liabiii' tes of the year bad been aud of course existing engagements Ip the following year the Department was cnabied, by the practice of & proper economy and by | {tte revenue, to enlarge its expenditures | where the public rervice required it, and at the saae derebly to reduce tne deficiency. Bat in toe | 5 werease Of revenus was small Acditional burdens thrown upon the Departr re noticed tm detail in my anuual report of that year, but | decm it expedient again to refor to them A covets oy sawn the tom Of inoreare avons from the ~vant <° largel Oc mmisolons to powtmarters by amounted to about $210,498 BL, te whis arg ntrnele AGount ‘Se an ager in tbe deficiency of 1865. “tte manner eplaryed by the ope he act of Juve 22, 1864, gravting tacrensed lone to posinnasiers, by toe greater cost of the letippt river, and by the rapid on of (he rervice generally. The additional com pensation to postmasters im 1866, urcer the act mention ed, alobe amounts to pot less than $350,000, aad without repardity: the immense increase of wervice throayho f the of Biowed wo portrmastere alone be the expenditures, tne whole ae tbe yenr will net excoed that of 156: White the deficiency bas been thas augine: increase of vervice had beea very great. Y i service #an increase! 7,008 miles fine 23, at the Whe fircal year ending June 90, 1866, the sum of $ 41.308 | jp length of roctes, ai mort of $70,000 The tnorease 1¢. For the Sretquarter of the prorent flecel year they | of service by modes pot syecified im the dilereat «+ received $14 (60 £4. At the inst session of Congress I | tions of the Union in the eame period amounted to 19, took orcarion to cal! your attention to the large sums | miles in length of routes, and 5,264,045 io sanual wi paki the company fer ‘hit nervice, ant transmitted | portation, the editions! cost of which was $479.66 you ‘he correspoodenc ch hat taken plaw between | There ware reduction in coach aad steamboat servic’ the department an pany in relation Wa proposed owing chiefly to (he construction of railroads; bet much reduction (0 their ee Digner prices bad to be paid under toe new |ott) ; aod ™ you before Congress, bai 50 | anhough the 1s: show @ decreave of 5,721 jee jo debe hereon In referring again W | noth dercripth fervice dureg the three years, the the ‘will be oeoeesary for merimoly to report | ipereased cont amounted to $360,785. the reapour stated company, and lo my 1666. Prior to the n my correspondence with the tter to you of the 18th of Ap 1851, the ma ls wer thmus udder an ar wih ¢ w Crapadiao government, and the average etpenee of roue | me more folly tl & fraction over bola! a 1861, a temporary Arrangement Was made Witt the Panama compaay, Dy which ihey er peed twenty two conte & pyand— Me marine ‘7. At this time the amount of mail msWer transported was comparati mali, aod (be eervice wae performed partly by xno aad partly by moet The gree’ the amcunt of mail mater carried, the pr 16 the cost of transportation; ani. ther seemed to be jast to pay scsording w wight. 3 aitempt was mae to reduce the price, althours Lue sont @f the service bad increased from $40,887 in Septembor. 3881, & $119,127 in September, 1854, until the ‘war completed, and the com paoy hed pub Fil of rates. Ten cents per pound was to be their charge OD express freight for pameenuger trains, as well at for the “Daygege of parrenger tralos;’’ Dut af the company Giloged tha: this ‘id not imclade the expense and respon in ay last annual repor', in referring to the deficlancy tm the Fort of portage. The hed. For month: oo revence, I expressed my regret that Congress hat Bot abousbed the franking privilege whea meat | they passed the act of March 3, 186|, reducing the rates perience of the inat year bas satis ied this privilege ehould be speedily jaring thin your free matter, by law, parsed through the mails into every part of the Ned Staves, intertering greatly with the regalar (rant mission of the correspondence of the couatry. Whea (bie free mater parses from the railroads, it i practicable io forward it by the ordim lost im conveyances. evil is yearly increa@ing, cetracting largeiy (rum the revenue of the Department, and impsiring its efficiency. By the ect of 1845 the reveaus the Post Olive De- iment was cotively In the control of the Postmaster @ibility of putting ihe foods on board the steamers, or | The aj their conveyance from ship to ehore—in whith cave their Charge was {wen cents « pornd—( conelaced not only ta Gliow them tbat pr at, in view of the impo tance of the work, and # isbing to deal with them in & lib Pit, Oxed ibe compensation at olghteen conte @npounced tn my last report, the company retusod to ac quiesce in that decision, hat wore paid at that rato until the 24th of December, 1°55 In Apr'l following he roqte thro agua hat oom) e, which made ft imposeio!s or mo to bave the mails of the United Mates conveyed by any other route \han via Peuama, and I was thon notified that unless the department should give thom twenty-two conte a pound fu the future, and pay thom the amount ($18,099 #8) withhold by my order, ro tocing the price to eighteen cents a pound, the mails of the Untied States should not be tak rose the iethmag. Io View of ibe financial trounies acd probable bankeupirice Which » disoontinvance of t yal service would hare enared to hundreds, if not thoveante. of our olteene on | Th ended f wy views regar'ing the abolition of the frank p~a measure which would groatly reduce cnr sigadly growing Sountry rauired organ zation, Which was ellzewd b: ‘That act required § Loe at cach session of ‘War mace it was limited to eatimater, Propriation wae Port Ohee Department, the ti Ment sbovld «aewie teeif. act by beep suomitt Appropriation TRiiroad RerriCe, in every rection more advaniageou old modes of service therefrom har not by yaned outiay. The re largoty redoced the rec | confine the expendito come, and the Poste apply to Congrers from the Gaver in «feet, the # i left the Doth the Atianiic an't Pactiis consis, i waa compslie! to | controlled Submit to what I consiverod a gross \inposition, and the | eheuldr im bis ex order of the department roiucing the rate wat rerciad. | to pre A¢ continue. @¢, and the company ha « tinued to be paid at the | pror fate of twenty-two cents @ pound upto taistine The | ' _ 4 expenditares. Paweme Aallroad is forty elght mice in lene h ant ine Construction and ¢quipmente com, it te $3,099,000 esilege: The service performed it twice a month each way To show the exorbitarcy of the demand made by + company it wil! only be necessary for me to reer io Of the railroads in the Unite | States which receiver a compenration for the servises rendered the ede. meant; anda ike reference could be madeto (hee depart thon reeatved by ovber rnilronae witha similar ry = AMponne Kew Yor’ and Erie Railroad ie 460 miles in eo = anit. The ayer $1,000,000, hg gery'oe Performed Ahand oom | Expenciture of the department be not adopted by | grew, | won't recommend the paseage ot a la s@ | the department to charge er} rates of postage on one | letters and now pase free through |? Additional expenditure nee heen req vue dition ie far rinted matter wi various causes, whieh b of the 4," ase ineressed |, the Objects of expenditure being general!> | to bis dueretion, ana be ona slmoty reeuines an quire is the expense, The exiension of the Pra.e: 0 pay ail over rover snoed rates of portage hy que, tt bas not been pe sabie to (os Of the departmed: #Usin ite io tment This oditures. ate priation 0 Negregale sum of thore 1 there was bo authority to exceed them on of the on of the ery being that t'.e Depart The beneticect ef ects of this yatem of rigid © scountability, after extimates VWwvoiving largo wired by law without amy ad- a boon rmpidipy et country, thoegh Buch sore expensive the the en im proportion to Wie In ing axovet Gomera! has beet o smpelie! to annually to appropri toe deficiency Tue causes Rave removed, Aetary restraint imped Sy the act of 1546, send of this depn eat degree ua things e awe Miould be wo framed as Aoce & suifclemt amotht of revenue to defray all ing 3 w enabling te maile. If, i addivion to thie, the clnose of the act of the ‘th of August, 186%, stiowing © doluction of 560 cot cm peweparers and periodicals when « quarteriy or yearly in advance, be abolished, recommencet im my leet two annual re countability contemplated by tablished. ‘The operation of the act which went into eflect 1st April, 18¢5 requiring prepay ment of from one point to another within the bas proved k generally very satisfactory, Without alluding to other advantages, |t utlords the only guarding tbe department against loss from fraud or care- for ihe auregeot so Act aning Prepeytacn) aso compa for the pasrege of 8p ‘also s sory on ail tapsient printed matter, By the act of 3d March, 1846, the Postmaster General is authorized, under the restrictions and provisions of ex- BUDE Inws, to coptrect ter the of the mails of ihe United States between aay of the ports of the Untied states anda portor porte of any { ee whenever im his opinion the public interests wil by be promoted. It is made his duty to report to the next epsumg Congress @ copy Of each of these contracts, with & statement of the amount of postage derived uncer the same. These contracts must be made with citizens cf the United States, the mail carried in American vessels by American citizens, and the conwacts may be made for a lerm rot exceeding ton years, and must contain stipula- Mons reserving the right to the two Houses of Cougress {o terminate them at apy time by a joint resolution. Toe power given Dy this act is ope under which large expen ditures, involving millions could be created, put peitber of my preoeoeseors or myselt has ever used the autho-i- ty thusgiven Bebeving that Congress abould reserve |) Well the right toxsy tu bow many and to what jorcign , orts the maile of the United States should be transported, pd the smovot «f money which should be expended for bat purpose, [ would recommend the repeal of so much ef tbis oct an confers this great power on the Postmaster ieveral The coptract for the liner betweem Now York and Bremen, and New York and Southampton and Havre. will expire om the fet of June, For tne most par, the rervice bee been pertormed to the satisfaction of the cepartmert. If wie service i¢ to be continued the department ebeuid at once be authorized to at vertise or take such other steps as be ceemed wiee and expedient py Congress to secure that object. ‘The present contractors state that they are prepared ww build other apd ewifter ships than those now on their lines, provkted their comtracts be renewed; and if the service is W go into other hands the pew contractors should bave ample time given them by which they may he enabled to commence the Acw service on the expira tion of the present contract Jo rele ion to these ma! lines te foreign Imay be permitied to observe, that if the present system is io be continued of sustaining them in whole or m part out of the ionds of the general treasury, no reawou is perceived why one port of the Untted States shou!d pe preferred to the exclueion of others. From the port of New York there now ren four embracing the branch from New Orleans to Havana, which receive from the treasury the yearly eum of $14°5,0(0. And appropriastons conti nue to be asked for other lines running from the samo port. The estabiish sent cf steam lines from any port ad¢s considerably to its trade aud importance, and the advantages ariting thereirom shoud be distributed rqually, as far as practicable, among the diferent ites of the Union. General reguiarity bas beep observed on all the Waited States wail steamibip lines, except between New Orieant ond Vera Cruz, anc New Orleans and Aspinwall. On tne fine w Vera Crus the service has never come up to the requiremébte o. (26 Comtrect. only two trips moathly, ta : * omitting Tampico; stead of three. DEER Geen vaptormen - * Inst the and ‘rom the 16 uguet to the 14th Ootouws service by tteamer WAS cntirely euspended., For these delinquencies suitable deduitons have been made. ‘The moet serious complaints have arisen from the ro peated failover of the New Orleane mail to connect with the New York and Pacific line at the lethmus of Panama. No Jess than thirteea of there feilures, cither ou'wara or inward, have cecurred since the 20th June, 1865. Some of thee, it is alleged, have been occasioned by accidents to sieamers, and othere from other causes beyond th contre! of the company. Many more tailures bave oo- curred since the contractors have rum vio Havaca, then when the eervice was cirect between New York and Aspinwall. From July, 1859, to September, 1804, the mails were conveyed direct, but by their contract the company stipulate only to run from New York and New Orleans to Havana, thence by one line to Arpinwali and the dcpartment cannot compel them to keep up the erect service. Bvery means, however, tn the power ot the Cepartment, bas been, and will continue to be ea ployed im enforcing reg and it is to be Doped there Will be no turtber cau (regret that tbe conciurion of &@ posia! © upucjueted, The hope was entertained that as thi partment lad yieced vo the aerire of the Frene! yoverpment, as regarcs the adoption of the quarter-oucce sone jor letters, that ®B arrangement woul! beiore tois bave been consumated and iu euccerrtal operation. The terme offered Gn the part of the United States ure certain. ly Ubersi, spa thre appears to be no good reamn why they muy mot be accepted. It was with reluctance, however that consent op Our part was given to the quarter-ousce scale, #ince the bal’ ounce for single letiers is the gcvle observed with us, and im all onr postal arran gemcnts With foreign countries; and looking to @ cheap, fib pie. mpd as far as practicadle, upiiorm system 0) post age, which itis to be hoped may before iong be erranged tor internacional correspondence throughout the civiiized World, it Would De kn important pomt gained were wwe French government io argent to the generat iptrodacuion of the baif our ce scale. The Freneh government. having made provision for the } trazelt coaveyance through England, of books, pampa. \ rewspapers, magazicer, and other printed ma ter from the Uoned States adtresscd to France, Aigeira, or Clee of Turkey, Syria end Evyrt, where France bas powial arrangements, on spplication to the French Dirce- tor General of Posts, in the m: nth of March last, inetrac None were tesy ™ Cepartment authorizing the tranemistion via Frgiand of ail sucn printed matter on Prepay ment of (he same rates of Uotted states postage as bre chargeable thercon when dispatched to Fraace A propésition bas ben received from the British Post office for & reduction of the posiage between the Caited Britain, from 24 to 12 conus In answer. this department bas indicated a will- irgners to accede to this proporal, provided the transit ebarge on mails parting through Engian4 from and to the United Stater is reducrd v0 1234 cents an ounce, the price government for oe conveyance of -he British mails through the Unites States, This depart ment ber been tor yearn end ing to bave an abate Ment mace in tie transit chsrge, which is considered execs sive, ard tp the pretent iustance the condition was rendered pecestary, ipsemuch as & reduction on the Uoted States and British correspondence will iav: ive also Aredvchon of the tea poviage on the United states aud continents! closed mails, the effect of which would be ateatly to reduce the receipts from the United States mail susmebip lives, ubiers there is 1 corresponding reduc tien io tbe Brien transit tax, eo that by lower rates ut were | correspondence would be incre=sed euflictently to prevest ons, So far as Great [ritaln Is concerned, in the ovent of a reduction simply ib the Atlantic postage, it is not likely rhe would puter ary teriour timinution of her postal re FoLNee, Mek Me would doublSH vs pompensated for Ady lors en that account by the tocreased amount of tran ait portage abe world ne under euch atfangoment ibis condition was, however, coupled with aa olfer 02 tne part of this Department to bare the tracsit price for all clored mails in beh countries fixed st the unifsrm rate of 1534 Cents an CuLe®, a CoLcersion which Would secure to the British and CaMornis snd Wert India closed mails the right of traweit im Pome cases at one halt and in other mM only cne quarter the price now charged under the treaty. Iwas the moro ready to make thi comsersion, urrt, becanre { regard it of the highest imporiance that the Correspondence between this country and Europe thould be relieved from the onerous tax to quich it 'g pow evbjrcted, in order thet the people on both Bidz, 6 the Al eotic, ip (beir sceial and Luninees intercourge, may be ae tte trarcme!led as possible ; and, «66001, because it is likewise very cesl. a Well in foreygn as in do meetic peetal arraogem: , that eimplicity and ut orm: ty Pbould be obeervcd Arracgements Lave been made between this depart ment and the postal avtborities of Great Britain and Ca- pada, providing for the registration of valuable |r tters trace mitted between tho-e countries an’ the United States ‘The United States regy tration tee is five cents, tho same ae on registered levers destined toany piace in country. articles of agrement bave been drawn and exeented ep bebalf of this departmen', providing for a regular ex change of mails with Hollen’. The project is favorably regerded Ly the Government of the Netherlands, and as turanees bave been received leading to the belief that with a slight modification touching the Belgian transit it will be aceepted n'crmal arrang- ment bas been entered into wah the free ctty of Hamburg for an exchange of Meane of the direct line of Hamburg steam monthiy between that city and the city of Ne’ The singio rate of portage omtabiiahed for letters is ten con't, n° mails for pinoes beyond Hamburg being trans mitied by this line With Moxie: portal convention has yet been con cleded, but it 1* confidently hoped that the pending nego jouer on thit subjret may reeult in an arracgement ma ly ad vaptegeous to beib countries: The etatittios of thé foreigh mail set viow are felly ‘“aated {f Apfiendix A, annexed to this report. I will, foweve , briefly mention some of the principal results tp ch of the service, as compared with ending 30th of June thia mporract bran the operations Of the fircal ‘year, 1858 rognte amount of postage, foreign and tw, on ee ie waneported by toe ‘oived States me” 7me® sbip linea wae $1.006,740 98, which js a ¢ «Steam, $24 8% 40 from the previous year. The oS q e by the Collin oe wer BOLT » pay tine, £68 Bi, and by Cearienton * j By the Havre 6 Ol the B fe the and Flavana Ine, oyna. $08 w Yor! #tagos were eens a ‘ < and ria lines, 96.370 02, amd’y the New Orr. ant a tel) 6, ‘Wee otal amount of let hg the year was 50) rear of $82 048 7 lected inthe UnY 4 sistes and $299.617 30 in Great Bri tain, ehowiDE “an excess of $504,714 10 cotlosted ta this country, ait received from Great Hritain ox ReELEA Hue paid received $164,454 04, and the pail sent from "oe United Mates exceeded the unpaid sent $145, 969 16, ‘The total letter postages ov Prussian clored mails woe $290 466 71, which varies but little from the preceding year, when the periager on thie*clase of corres poatence amounted to $299,578 46, The proportion of this postage collected by the Unite! Stave wae, however, creased, the excers collected in this covatry being $20,085 '83. Thu excess during the previous yoar wi 72% 78. w The amount of letter portages on Havro matla was $16,129 8, ail of which was collected in thin cocntry, Laat year the postager on (here amounted to $16,015 0? A corresponding Cecresse has siso taken place la t amount of correrpon sence exohanged with Bremen, the portages being only $65,789 86, or $1,874, 21 lees in the preceding year It will thos be erred me go > oe. spondence has not only fallen very considerably, bet the revenue derived theretr to the United Stater Poat Office bas likewite been materially leweened hy the largely inereaged collections made {n this country as compared with any previous year. During year en- Cing the COth of Jone. 1868, the excese of British portages ¢ powtages on British mall dar 0, being & decrease from Inet oof tate ammount $601,081 40 was ool Port, wed ee Gopwimons be selleyed Lom jue Ga poLecied by Was Lalled States eyes ihe Wil amoan) o the United States collected by Great Britain, wan $04,820 64 'rhie exvose the lest fiscal year was increased to $84,630 83, Bot ‘the dimtn- isbed amount of correspondence. Like resulta aro ox- bibited ip respect to the mails exchanged wiih rrussia aud Bremen, showing thst under our postal ments with those countries the principle of 0 prepayment operaies very uneq tne United States, the expenses of collection be chiefly borne by this Department, which net only collects its own, but also a very large proportion oi the fore’; es, and accounts for the game in full to the fore’ offices witn- out recelving any com| benefit ip return. ‘The gross amount of United States postages on matis copveyec during the year by the Collins line, was $415, 867 44; by the Bremen line, $126,937 64, and by the Havre line, $68,483 99. Dedvoting the United jand postages on these mails, the net revenue from ocean postages by the Coliins line was $339,749 14; by the ieee Mme, $86,492 $8, and by the Havse line, $71, 0. ‘The general results of the foreign mail service during tbe year, as exbibited in the a ix, will be found, on comparison, not to vary mater! in other respects from hose of the fecal year ending o Notwithstanding the unusual extension of mail facilities aud the increage of railroad service, the number and cost of mail bags bave been very considerably diminished. ‘The reduction in this item of expense amounts to $14,514 1, or 31 per cent jese than the expenditure incurred for ‘his article in the preceding year. Measurea which have been adopted to check abuses and secure increasod vig ‘ance and accountability in respect to this species of pub se property, a8 well a8 tmprovements whith bave been ntroduced in the system of bagging and distribution, are believed to be the principal circumstances which have vended to produce this tavoraple result. A report will be presented to Oongress contatoing a Fpecitic sistement of the tines imposed and the deduc- lows made from the pay of the coniractors for failures end otber irregularities which have occurred in the con veyunce of the mails during the year. It will be seep hat there Ones and deauctions have amounsed to the sum of $169,740 05. During the previous year they amecunted to $124,630 68, On tbe pasraye of the Post Office Appropria fon bill, at the lest eession of Cong: the following amendment ipeerted and became & law:—“And be further enacted, Thatibe first comptroller of the treasury be and is hereby required to adjust the damages due to Eaward H. Cormick and Aibert C, Ramsey, on account 0: ihe abrogaiton by the Postmaster General of their con treet 10 y the mail on the Vera Cruz, Acapulco and San Francisco route, dated the 16th February, 1858; to udjudge and award to them, accc rding to the of law, cquity and justice, the amount 20 found due; ana the Secretary of tne Treasury is hereby required to pas the rame to the raid Carmick and Rapwey out of avy money i the treasury not tne, Wise Rone. ppeD copies of th Aue m the Department on this a pbc will Feen that tho contract was simpiy a conditional ene, axé to have no force and validity unies: e a of Congress v oie oan iu order to enapie ihe projectors of the ro' ‘bat it was practicable, and that the mail cout be carried within tbe Ume siipulated im the contract, and thus to recommend its adoptien by Congress on their ‘application, my eetemeace under date of 7th March, 1853, authoriset the Portmasters of New Orleans, San Feancisoo. Yoors rey and San Diego, to make up and sena ma% by th Vera Cuz and Acspulco Iine, when the secend io Bieation 18 open and the contractors are F repared 10 16, Th, Fall on the terms ot ‘thet contract of February communicating with the costrac to the poetmasters, he ipformea 278 this authority cd a EZ IBS eoverD” eat was to bo in any way bolde DY EXPEDSEP gitending such service ; Dut, as provided in the COMM act it is to be left to Con gress to determine wheth’, the contract is to be san: \ioped by 8D apPropr’stion to carry it into effect, tne pay, if apy, for #8i° service commencing only in accor dance with the te” ms of the contract; namely, from the time Ccngree? sould ratify the contract.” Thus the matter 61000 on the 8th of March, 1853, (nthe i6:h of June of that year, the Department received the letter re. jerred to jn my first annual report. Ifsilence had been observed, and the contracting parties had gone on making exp bditures, without a knowledge that tis ratification could pot be recommended to Congres, they might have bad some pretext tor complaint. After a caretul consideration of the subject, the conclu ion was arrived at, tbat the route was impracticable for mel purpoees, and that the contract could not meet my approbation. These being my views, 1 deemed ii bu: just to the contractors that iney should know them, and they were accordingly communicated to them, 1eavi them to deter mine whether they would proceed in their epcesyors to establish the route, and obtain the ratidos ton Of the contract by Congress, withou: the aid of toe Depertmert, or abandon the attempt. Such was the ac jon of ibe Depa: iment, and the cause of t, which did not uly interfere with apy of the its of the contrac t Nether was the order of the Postmaster General, of March 7, 185, anpulled. ‘Ibe mail to auc from San Francisco being ® very im portant one, it was deemed but proper that the head of the Depariment should alone determine wnetber the con tractors bad providea the necessary meaus jor its su’e trarsinieston, end that this power should not be careserv coly Celieguied; the Postmarters at New Orivane, Sw Frarcieco, Monterey and Sen Diego were tserciore direct ed, 1D case the eontractors applied te them for a mati ‘0 eportto ibe Deparimeot for furtber instructious.’’ No petiteier® Were ever required by the Posumasters, pr was any icqucet ever mace by the coutractore to deliver the mails. the culy instance in which uch request was made war that contained ip the jeter of E. H. Uurmick, of Nev. 12, h be atke that an order may be given, per * ove of the contractors to carry @ mai we from Calfornia leaving it optional with per: ong to rend by this way, and designate the rame on the etier,? b it appeared that the contract had gone into other bi it was pot thought that @ reply wer neces! In the same spirit, and with a ceerm pation not to interfere with the con tract, or with apything my predecessors had dene, the letter of the 0th oi November, 1863, to Meerrs Harrie aid Morgan, was written Incependentiy, bewever of these considerations, the: as BO ODI'Ka tien, elther express or impiied, on the part of the depart ment, to aia the coutractors in the ratification of their contract by Cong’ All the éxperses incurred were st the riek of the eon (actors, biog ng | aceumed by them. and if they coals have shown that the route was as practicable and expe itious ws represented, their centract would no doubi bave been covirmed by Congress, and themecives amply ‘nde mpifed. Their allegations in their letters to the Do- partment that the road «as equipped, and that — had placed the commercial cities of San Francisco New Orieans within fiftecn days postal intelligence of each otber. could then bave been corroborated, and could euch bave been shown to be the case, no aid from the Depart ment was pecesrary, and no opposition that could bare been mace would bave prevented the ratitcation of their coutract by Congress, and the passage of an approp iation tocarry it into effect I bave the honor to be, very reapect ully, your Obedient servant, JAMES CAMPBELL To the Prasipent, New Patents Issued, ‘The following is the list of patenta {ffued from the United States l’atent Office for the Week ending Novem ber 26, 185¢—each bearing ‘oat date— ; for improvement wn Mclaren, and Joha Pryapt, of ae Yer tmproved lathe for cutting fluted a1 a. Pu. fatiey of Boston, Mnse., ior improvement in priat oR presses siephen K. Paldwin, Gilford, N. ., for improvement ¢B the fourneyron turbine ‘heel Chas. Bickel, of Baitimore, Md., for process of treat ing feldsparfor manure. Thomas G. Ci.pton, of Washisiton, D. C., for improved alcobo) cooking apparatus. Imvia Cumming, of Sorrel Herse, ip boxes axles journts, &c. vane, of Brookijyn, N. for Impovememt in machines fer polishing rather ad harness. E 1. Evans, of Providence, R. 1, for imrrovemer’, ** yawia 0. Good in, of Bristol, Conn. myn = win O. Goodwin, of + for imap ip backgammon and checker boarde. ‘Woment George G. Henry, of Mobile, Ala., for ‘mpro- Pa., for improve meaeioruring cotton yarns. vement in ‘m. W. Hubbard, of Boston. Masy,, for ip lathes for plaving metal. improvement A. ¥. Joboeon, of Boston, Mass., fr ¢ improvement in , for improved machine stitches for sewing machives, Fdward Julier, of Sharon, Ohio to aid ip making spokes by har ecorge Kenny, of Millford =.“ ing circle for carriagy » N- H., for improvement in M C. Chamberlin, and © : W. Filkine of Sheldon, N. ¥., for improved machine for 1 Pi5? bootlegs " , poy y noethEa , of New Orleans, La., for improve, ment in firearms. canaee 4 pe, of Cincinnati, Obio, for improve Aurelive ig trunks. apparasr-M. Purnell, of Washington, D. C., for improved ing er 8 for exhausting air from and hermetically seal 5 Lox and vessels. ” eremiab I’. Smith, of Hummelstown, Pa., for improved isk for shelling corn. George C, Todd, of Lynn, Macs., for improvement in “ coge key for making abd polishing the edges of boot nnd eboe soles ‘Charles F. Thieme, of Philadelphia, Pa., for improved ly ‘k and swinging joint Pater Went and Abver Mills, of New York, N. Y., for improvement in the comstruction of tubular condensers and beaters, Wm. Whiley, Jr., of Springfield, Obie, for improved raking attechment for harvesters. ‘Wm. Wright, of Hartford, Conn., for improvement in adjustable cot-cffs for steam engines, J Ciavee White and Robert lay, of Tackerville, Pa., for improved apparatus for heisting coal. Jos, A. Moore ancl Acahel H. Patch, of Louisville, Ky., for improved finger har arrangement for harvesters ‘Thomas A. Chendier, of Rocktord, [l., mesignor to Harlow Herrick, Of la Grange, Ohio, and Thomas A handler, aforesaid, for |mprovement in band corn plant , m. C, Watson, of New York, N. Y., astignor to him self, Geo, H. Wooster, and Morris Knight, of same place, ri ovement in tewing Machines He eety Robert Grifiths, of Philadelphia, Pa., for im provement in nut machines, Patented October 30, 1865, reissued Nov. 25, 1866. Dasion —8. W. Gibbs, of Albmay, N. ¥., aesignor to ‘Thomes H. Wood, Henry, 8. Hobvell wnd John £. Roberts, of Usiea, N. ¥., for design for kivchen stoves: vat IMPROVEMENTS. —Geo Crangle, of Philadel rotary brick machines. ditional improvement Sept. 9, provement Nov. 2h, 1866. George Ksterly, of Prairie, Wie, for improvement in barvesting machi Patented October 22, 1844; additional improvement Nov. mber 26, 856, Canan Navicatior.—We learn from hoatmen, that the pnow whi h fel on Satorday, Das pot matermliy obstructed Canal nevigation. Some jittie difficulty was experienced op Suncay morning in locke by the snow and elush clogging vp the gater, but this baw been re- | Iroved by the mild wether, and the navigation is now po ik Rab & WELK Mg vmrAlany Homie, Dev & phia, Patented June 3, 185": 1856; second additior INTERNAL AFFAIRS OF THE UNION, Annual Report of the Secretary of the Interior. DsPARTMEY OF THE Nov. 29, B68. Sm—] have the bonor to submit t> 5 ou my annual re- port, giving a bricf history of the operations of this De- partment whilst under my charge. for tis Orgapization was immaturely consider- ed, otherwise £0 many subjects, in aimoat every res] digelmilar, would not have been united in poy aed partment. which the different bureaus are governed; and ti sions which the head of the Department is constantly €4 upon to make have little or £0 relation to each other, as @ Were glance at the matters entrusted to his care wii) There ig bo congruity in the peincipien by deci. call- readily show. To the Ddpartment, by the act, is confided the supervision of the Patent General Lapa Oftge, the indian Office, the Pension the Jom- missioner of Public Buildings, the Board of Inspectors, and Warden of the Penfentiary of the District of Cotumbia, the ceneus, ana the accounts of the marshals, clerks and oiber officers of al! the United States "courts, em oracing ibose of the District of Columbia, To these vince been acded the Irsane Asylum, the Mexican boundary evrrey, and the construction of several terrworiul reads. When the Jegitimate objects of the different depart- menir are Culy contidered, 1t woult seem that a roor- sepizauion of the whoie bad become necessary, aid thas # more suitable arrangement {nan the present one could be cevisec and should be adopted. At all events no fur- ther burdens should be imposed upon this Department, a8 ite labors are alreacy eo severe and arduous. When organized in 1849, several of ita bureaus were Jarger than mest of the present departments twenty years belore, avd they have siuce been constantly tu- cr¢asipg, and willcontinue todo #0, keeping pace w.th the extension and advancement of the country. Notwithetanding the Indian difficulues and other dis- ‘urbances ip several of the Territories, the surveys of the public lands have progressed rapidly. The quantity of lend surveyed, exclusive of schoo! sections since my Just report and up to the 30th of September last, was 16 €73,¢99 eres, much of which is now ready for market. The grants made by Congress at ite last seamon for vailrond purposes bave had the effeot of withdrawing from market a Jurge body of the public lands, which notwithetar ding every exertion thatcan be made, can. not be restored in less than nine months, and perhaps rot then, as it depends in a great degree upon the action of the States to which the grants were made, and io mapy cases the legisiation of those States. In executing the graduation act many grave questions bave wrieen, somo of which cacnot be satisfactorily stt- Ued without the interposition of Congress. Every eifort bas been made to carry it into effect, so as to benelil, as far es practicable, the sctual settler; but the loose wib which some of its parts were drafted, and the of proper guards to protect {\s principles, bas thus fi rendered most ef thogo eflorte ineffectual. Many dated! €Dtrice under the act hevuwg been reported to yatCroseras 24nd Office. suitable vaieg and reguixtions the Gonerar (Az) bsve been adop.ed for their onrrection, ond of others. tre OSGUUSF, fact, tbat. tp many casos, although $u0 “ad wore shape year, no improvemenie sod land bas been enter. perfor indicating a bona fide mm. Cre operas the ments of the law ‘have bee} ; ane purchasers, immediately i entries, made +. the lands purchased without the slightest aitempt at ‘actual settiement or cultivation.” Patents upon ea- tries have been applied for and will be granted where- ever the jand office is satisfied of the fairness of the tran. esciion, but where there are reagopable grounds for sus- Ppicion proof will be required to be fled, within a given period, to sustain the entry. It is, however, compe- e's ten: for Congress to declare whether the title to these lands sball pass to all, indiscriminately. or whether rauefactory evidence of a corepliance with the epirit and invention of the law shall be first 5 for. req The for. mer course would tend most tothe relief of the land Office, af then the iseue of the patents would be ihe cooly labor required. For the benefit of purchasers generally and the states in which the graduated lands be, it is important that the matter should be grange oe bape pored of, either by ranctioning and affirming the action of the General Land Office or directing the patents to be ieeued without further requirement. The quantity of land old for cash during the Isat fitcal year WAS..... 2... 0006 Receiveo therefor, $8,821,414 53, Iccated with military scrip and land war- TRIB. s000. 0000 seen eres vores Swamp lands approved to the States. ° Seiected under donations for railroads, &c., and granted for railroad purposes, (csti- MAR ee wens 15, 680,875.00 Making a total Of...........+ see ee 89,328,108. 87 The quentity of lands sold for cash during the second ‘apd third quarters of the present calendar year 2,000,(€5 £0 acres. Received theretor, $1,906,883 72. The diflicvlties in executing satisfactorily the ewamp land grants still exiet. Several of the States have passed jaws o¢pating these land» for specific purposes, and they Low complain tbat ir the selections are ret aside for any caure ibeir faith must de violated. It is contended that mort of those who are contesting the rights of the States are mcre epecuiator: .d sbould not be permitted to defeat tbeir* permanent ipteresis, that thereby many of the countics, ano of their people, wili be injured, and the go verb ment pot corresponcingly benefitted. Much of tuis le tre, and although many errors have been committed, yet it is worthy of consideration whether, wader atl ihe circumstances, it is not the best policy to approve tho — £0 far os they co not interfere with aciual set- ters By the act of April 20, 1818, it was supposed that tho arntal maximum compensation to registers and rece: rere of isnd officers was $3,000 each, the same being made up by the salary of $600 ana one per centum commission \ pon the moneys received from the sales of the public lands. But under the ruling of the Supreme Coart toe commireion is computed upon the amount actually ro ccived, without regard to tithe, 60 that ii the commission, \ogetber with @ pro rata amount of the salary, reaches $5,(00 ip one mouth, and the officer’s term then expires, ‘the $3,000 is then retained by bim. In manycases it is thus made the imtercat of the officer to vacate the office, because for the remainder of the year be would have to diecbarpe ail lie duties without further compensation ; and where the lends ip the district are, as sometimes is the cate, ip great demand, the government might be com pelice ey the maximum compensation several times during same year. It is anevil that needs cor- rection. ‘The land syatem, under the legislative enactments of the Jatt four years, and by the active measures taken to meet demands for eettlement, has been extended with en Ure success and unprcceden: acieg the Acres. 9,227,878.98 8, 382,480.00 6,036,874.39 and the old districts have in the same period, been dec over an arca of nearly sixt, Pace of acres, ich the lines baye been run an aa . Acres, Dering this poriod, also, there have been sold for cash... . os oe ++ 90,036,174 For which there bas been received $2 161. Located for military bounties... 600,260 Approved under swamp land grants.. 30,199,066 Granted for railroads.....++++++ ++ 17,086, Making the aggregate.....-ss++ +s deposed et, ‘tm pert, jor farms by direct gran’ tricus citizens, @ Hon of titles ies the mye diy & 2 States in redeeming frem ove valvable "inde, abd ringing them roridwe, in fecgtiabing IRy' and tension of the Tailway, canal and other systems of na tioval intero@amunication, thereby, the vefue of the landed interests ta toarcely ible to conve; rem vabor incident to the ment of the opera tgs mentioned. Il tain whether the number of offices of surveyors could not be dim{niehed, and it has been found that be entirely discontinued within next two ang the initia steps have been taken to that end. spiatons under the recently enscted the 26th ber beonty jend laws inet, was 206,268; those examined, 229,796; of which 182,079 have been allowed; and warrants isaved, covering 22,003,200 acres, ana 67,666 bave been euepended or rejected; leaving 46,542 original cases not yet examined. ere Jaws bave been executed with all possible des patch, and there 3 bave pot ord ‘thor consumed been less than one baif of what was anticipated paseed. Although the labor and attention required were great, the work bas been sccempiished in a very brict riod, and yet with great faithfuloess, Wine becessity of further power mu ricner of Pensions to suspend, Due pensions, when the reason partial , or totally ceased, ie rent. The Commissioner should to strike the mame of the pensioner roll, or graduate the pension when of the cessation or diminution of the dieabiity of on invalid pensioner. Cages of this kind are con etantly cecurring. Upon an ae of this clase of penelonere, in a portion of a single State, during the part year, it was found that, of sixty eeven eases, eleven ‘were barelers, and the amounts allowed to most of the remainder were much larger than their present disabili ties wonld entitle them to; #0 that, if those pensions were properly graduated, the annual saving to the treasury, in the cases examined, would be some three thousand dol As these are life pensions, the aggregate annual unt paid is very jarge in comparison with wha it pould be; and, as the number of this class of penmoners is rapidly and constantly augmenting, unless tome mea sore je adopted to prevent it, the evil will be jargeiy increased. Experience and reflection convince me that the on! true principle vpon which to base pensions is that of ind gence. The meritorious xnd needy pensioners are now poorly aided by the gen jovernment. The pensions, ranging trom three if to eight dollars per month, are manifestly inevficient to supply their necessary wants, crpecially where they are competied to furnish subsistence for dependent families. If the principl adopted, and a reasonable increase made to the present tance of thore whose services and wants demand it, the amount annually appropriated would not be increased but the distribution would be far more just, equitable and beneficial ‘There are distinctions and éiecrimioations between ar- {my and oavy penrione which vnreasonable, and abould not be permitted longer to exist. Both should be placed on an equality, as to the amount to be received, ibe cirovmatences under which they hould be granted, ard the time they ehenid ron; and Gieabatiien ta the 6ne case abould be of the game charac: tor at jn the other. (Ob We VGAD Of June loat pero were 19,002 pensioners, and the amount disbursed for their benef; during the cal year was $),300,094 61. is to amount of toeir semi-annual a 60 etiect. | am pertua: ed that lp most cases wi und the Cid system, the pension agents were not di ly © pepested by the government for their services, the: indirectly paid; otherwise cannot satisfacto, ily count for We large amounts of pension money they raily bac om band over and above what was actually certary to meet the current demands; por oan it be pi sumec that they would nave performed the service wit ‘ous remuneration ; or if they r Bone, norderi apy Devetit from tbe trust, that they would have re: cob tent go long without presenting their claims to © ress. Notwithetan ling the vigilance of the Pension Bu and the pumes our precautions ad |, and the crin proceedings ft sti'nted and successfully prosecuted, are still being per) trated, many of which cannot be p vented, or punished when discovered, without = of the laws relating to such offences. On Ist of September, 186%, the number of appl Hons for bounty jund pending and op the suspended fi of the Pension Ottice, labile to be called up for re-ext nation, 08... cf new applicat year following was about Dori pone next year ubout And theace to the 30th September, 1! Making in all... ., iain tonnes FE The number of warrants issued during the year ending &(th September, 1863, was about. 49 ‘The number ‘ssued the succeeding year Was My Du) ivg the next year .. ...., a 38, During the year ending 30th September, 185! 139, Moklog tho tOtal.... 2... sess cece ceseeseeeees 986, The number of pensioners added to the ro!ls betw he let of april, 1853. and the 80th September, 1856, : 686; the ogeregnte of whose yearly pensions shos doo 74, bevides the sum of $1,494,457 37 paid as rearages immediately on the admission of the elaims. These are merely some cf the results of the operatio of the office. They convey but a faint idea of the 0 4nd complicaica intermediate labors involved betw the receipt of an spyitcation for bounty land or and tbe final determination of the claim, for, beside cxamipation and ir:quently re-e: ofa c before it is admitted, mapy pension claims have b presented (probably three times the number of those mitted) which bave been examiaed and re-examined, etill suspended or rejected, and these generally requ the most patient investigation and researeb. The number of Jetvers received at the office during tf pest yon is 107,800, and the number sent tb 270,287, an extent of correspondence ly without precedent. bis vast amouot of business is chiefly oq acquent upon the execution of iar passed during subsequent to the year 1863, viz : the pension ast ef February, 1853, aud the bounty land law ot 3d of Marq 1865, and the amendatory act of 14th of May, 1866. ‘The field work of the Mexican Boundary Commissi was all accomplished, as stated in my last report, wit the time conten plated, and largely within the means propriated. li the monumenw agreed upon by the joint co fio,, have been erected, and the line is marked from Gulf of s£eXico to the Pacitic, and the United States is , the territory. Poe craaiderable ortion of the boundary is formed ae rande; and in the settled porti or ie valle ee De 6 heey valleys, which aré bea transfers 00 bed of the river sometimes onatigon, ore ‘other. derabie portions o} land from one wide tow. “bt ‘The commiseioners concluded, aud it istho, = +, correctnces, that, except in the case of gradual acere._ ou one or the other bank of the river, the would remain where the river fixed it at the time survey, andas shown inthe maps, potwithstanding tual cLanges in the course of the river. Acase of k:nd is threatened in the valley of El Paso, and anxto inquiries bave been made on making the inquiries have been , maps, and informed that any in the river detac tpg solid maeses of land does not change the jurisdic ‘The Mexican commissioner, according to an with the American commissioner, repaired to this with a corpe of assistants, about the first of July inst, ube purpose of consiructing the maps requtt by treaty to sbow the boundary, and is now here on duty. On the prrt of our commissioner, these maps will i yy the first oc Mareh next. Already the of many of bis asswtauts have been dispensed i it Is in contempiation to discharge the whole force Craughtsmen before that time, and none of the em| Will be re'aincd «xcept such as may be required to perinie ¢ printing of the meps and reports d tive of the boundary and adjacent country, the public lien of which was ordered by Congress at its last ; The fi rt of the report is already in the hands nd nothing retards its publicatiog but necersary os ‘mn epgrarving the maps. Notwithstanding the Senate, in tts order for the p cation of tre report and the accompanying append the boundary com mission, directed that the expenses publication should be paid out of the boundary app ations, there will remain of them, untouched in the sury, some eighty thousand dollars. No officer could have discharged bis duty with ability or greater (deity than the commissioaer wo wh were cortiaed the interests of this government. And it proper to state that tbe utmost harmony has existed bis commitsion between the officers of both the gov ments, and tbat ai] questions likely to produce jeast difference have been amicably settled; and, as believed, to re satisfaction of all parties. Since the first day of Jamuary last the Patent (Office h jeaved 2,465 patents, and witha the yoar the number probabiy be increased to some 2,500. All applications ure promptly altended to, and it hoped the interests of tkat meritorious class of our p le, the inventors, are property secured and p c None are more worthy the fostering care of the gi government. From smal! beginnings the Patent Office hes crown proportions com; sratively gigantic. Half acentary the whole reves ue of the o: did not exceed $1,600 p apnum, whee wee appropriated the of clerk, who tabencte? the entire business of the off The income for tho prevent year wili be about $200, which will stil be con) sufficient to the expenses of the office, with ite one bi tp the printer, «: cx w years vious to ims fur patente was the four years ber of appli four subscqueut years such mer period aversges For the current year the made, the whole number of smount of rvenue recei tente tho eupervision of the and rection of tke fund annually or ea Yai purposes. The former of dutise is, c tively, of smal! moment; Qo latter Of grat and growing importance ‘There seems no very naturé! or immrdiate between the legitimate b of the Patent Office the anbject of agriculivre, ¢: ‘Yn their matual to the industrial pursuits of the Dut the 01 the office being somewhat ta ¢: Fang of Patents was © purpose of procuring many yeare subsequent te that ‘tions were made trom the samo pore. Theee were increased from they reached the sum of $6,000, nearly e\ationary for several the rame may be ‘The north front thea] Apaber aaa fehieh wi nearly com this part according ginal plan ane «rtimate, ward en y 8 practicable, on my and antny ‘The entire stracture, temporartiy accom mod ate all the bureaus ment, but this ebould not deter the pecresary aprropriations for a departmental which will be much neesed } cometencer, {t can be copetrueted and 4 tor pancy. No vale reason can be for further J mort again call your attention to Xpepres of ‘he judiciary, and the absolute dical cbange or modification fe th ret. The act at ream, with a view of curing seme © far as terted, proved very beneficial, thereby bas been large; but ‘8 comparivon with the salutar; upon the clans of ¢ficors t wae intend bew developements are being mad y teriour evils have silentl; jar ‘ninety. thi rh sation, aod. ide fr the firet 1 vty: ® ine ar ten. | Frevle the ppropriations heretofore made Ae ~ ample for the peat year, except # small amount, for}