UL
r. .: r:
- J 4 i 4 .
BY s. J. row.
CLEARFIELD, PA.. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1862.
VOL. 9. NO. 16.
BJPOBT OF THE SECY OF THE IWTEBIOS.
SALES OP PCBLIC LASDS.
Tbe demand for the public lands has contin
ued to declince since my last report. The
Mies for cash have not produced a sura suffi
cient to pay ,ne expenses of our land system.
On the 30th of September, 1861, there were
surveyed and ready for sale 134,218.860 89
acres. From that date until September 30,
1862, there have been surveyed 3,135,067 41
acres.
During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1862,
snd tho first quarter of the current fiscal year,
there were sold for cash 151,258,6-5 acres pro
ducing $437,476 26. During the same period
712.05o.77 acres have been located with boun
ty and warrants; 1,138,898.92 acres have been
certified under railroad grant made by Con
gress, and 24.316,60 acres have been certified
to different States as swamp lands. The ag
gregate amount thus disposed of was 2,024,
29,43 acres ; leaving of surveyed lands rtady
for sale on the 30th of September, 1862, 135,
220.000,81 acres.
Uuder the bounty land laws of 1847, 1850,
1852 and 1855, there were issued, prior to the
30th of S -ptemher, 1862, 037.471 warrants,
coveting 68.876,430 acres of land. Of these
there were outstanding and unsatisfied, Sep
tember 20, 1862, 65,913 warrants, covering
7,123,380 acres. ' . ;
The public lands for agricultural purposes
can no longer be looked to at a source of rev
enue. The inducements to settlements pre
sented by the homestead law will preclude
extended sales for cash. The pine lauds of
the North will be purchased for the timber
they supply, bat these will be paid fur mainly
with warrants and the various land scrip winch
lias heretofore been issued, or is authorized
under existing laws. The ainuunt of cash
which will be hereafter received on purchases
tuade either for the timber or cultivation will
pay but a small proportion of the expenses -l
our land system.
THE MINERAL LANDS.
The extensive mineral lands belonging to
the United States, although containing inex
haustible mines of wealth, have heretofore
been wholly unproductive as a source of reve
nue. The prod nets of these mines have'in
creased the wealth and prosperity of the coun
try, but the direct profits upon their produc
tion have Won enjoyed exclusively by those
who have been engig d in mining ihent. . It
ins Ik'i iiiiic a giave question, to be determin
ed by Congress, whether this polic shall In?
longer continued or whether these vast ruines
ol wealth shall not be made available to aid in
liquidating our national debt, so far as this
may be done, without injustice to the enter
prising men who. are working them. The
great auriferous region of the United States,
on the western portion of the continent, ex
tends from 31 degrees SO minutes north lati
tude to 4'J degrees, and from 100 degrees of
longitud-t to the Pacific Ocean, embracing
portions of Dacotah, Nebraska. Colorado, New
Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Nevada, California,
Oregon anil Washington, and covering an area
,ot more than a million square miles.
The vast region is traversed by extensive
ranges of nionntairs, which are literally stack
ed with minerals, gold and silver being inter
spersed in profusion, and daily brought to
light by new discoveries. The precious met
als are found imbedded in mountains, and
rich washings marking the pathways of rive! a
and floods. The silver mines of Nevada and
New Mexico promise a production greater
than any other portion of the world. The dis
coveries of gold in the Colorado, cr Southern
portion of California, and in the region stretch
ing thence up to and north of the Salmon riv
er, in the Territory of Washington, are stimu
lating the mining enterprise of that region
beyond all former precedent.
Before the discovery of the gold in Califor
nia the annual production of gold in all parts
of the world did not exceed an average of
eighteen million.. The ptesent annual pro
duction in California is estimated to average
seventy millions. The Commissioner of the
General Land Office, after extensive inquiry
from all the available sources of information,
estimates the production of gold the present
yeai, from the whole region of country before
described at one hundred millions. If an a
moDot of labor relatively equal to that expen
ded in California bad been applied to the gold
fields already known to exist outside of that
State, it is believed that the production of
this year including that of California, would
have exceeded four hundred millions.
Our rapidly increasing public debt demands
resort to every available source of revenue.
The mineral lands of the public domain are
the property of the whole people, and justice,
as well us sound policy, requires that they
should be used as a means of relieving them,
to some extent, from tbe burdens of taxation.
Several modes have been suggested for ma
king these lands productive to the Govern
ment. The granting of leasei by the Govern
ment, tbe collection of a certain proportion
of tbe proceeds of the mines, and the abso
lute sale of the land in small lots, have each
been advocated. It has been estimated that
t least $500,000,000 could be realiztd by the
ale of them rn one acre lots, after granting ; j
hose who are engaged in raining a clear title,
without cost, to the land they occupy. It
will be for Congress to determine which, if
either, of these systems shall be adopted. '
PATENT OFFICE. ""
The business of this bureau has exhibited
increased activity'the past year. During the
year from; October 1, 1861, to September 30,
1862, there were received 5,302 applications
for patents, of which 3,522 were granted. In
the same time 811 caveats were filed, and 29
applications for extensions were received, of
which 18 were granted. . Seven hundred pat
ents remain in the office awaiting the payment
of the fee which is due on delivery.
pensions. . .,
The report of the Commissioners of pensions
presents in detail the operations of the Pen
sion bureau during tho past year.
The number of pensioners of every class
in the loyal States on the 30th June, 1862.
wan 8,159, requiring the sum of $752,711, 71
to pay their pensions. The amount actually
paid the past year, including expenses of agen
cies and arrears of pensions, was $782,161 41.
It is ascertained, from the latest informa
tion, that there were 2,073 pensioners iu the
disloyal States, whose pensions amounted to
$165,361 98. The entire amount of pensions
paid in those States in 1861, accounted for,
was $8,233 35.
At the close of the last fiscal year there re
mained in the hands of pension agents in the
disloyal States $23,627 56. Of this sum $15
535 29 have been properly accounted for at
different points taken and held by the Federal
forces, at which peusion agencies were loca
ted. An examination of the statistics furnished
by the records of the Pension Office shows a
decrease in the number of pensioners, since
1861, of 477. The aggregate payments in that
year to pensioners was $1,072,461 55. For
tho present year the amount duo to pension
ers is $799,381 76, being $282,077 79 less than
was paid the previous year.
The number or bounty land warrants issued
in 1861, was 5,311, granting 834,720 acres.
For the present year but 1,636 warrants were
issued, granting 257,860 acres, being a de
crease of 3,705 warrants, and 576,860 acres of
land.
Since the adaption of the Constitution there
have been granted for naval and military ser
vices. 65.801,862 acres of the public domain
which, if estimated at $1 25 per acre, amounts
to $82,257,327 69 ; and the aggregate amount
of" money expended by the Government in the
payment of army and navy pensions, since its
organization, is ascertained to be $90,668,
521 06.
The general pension act passed by Congress
at its last session, and approved on the 14th
julv, 18;'2 h is largely Increased the business
of the Pension Office, and will aid materially
to the expenditures on behalf of the pension
list. The law embraces in its terras every
biauch of the military and naval service of the
United States sinse the 4th March, 1861, and
humanely provides for two classes of pension
ers hitherto not recognized, viz : mothers and
sisters, dependent for support upon officers or
soldiers, .and the pensions to disabled seamen,
and to widows and minor children of persons
in both the array and navy, are increased.
The Commissioner states that -'these facts,
in addition to the consideration of the great
numbers now employed in the army and navy,
have led to apprehensions, in some quaiters,
of an extravagant, if not insupportable, annu
al burden resulting from this law, in itself
certainly no more libera! than simple justice
demands towards the armed defenders of The
country in this day of trial. From a careful
examination of the data upon which estimates
may be based it is my conviction alwaj-s sup
posing the results of the war to be commen
surate with what may reasonably be expected
from the means employed that the total an
nual sum required to carry out this law will
in no year exceed $7,000,000."
The number of applications for army inva
lid pensions under this act was, to November
15, 4,411. The number of applications of
widows (army) under this law to the same
date was 3,101; of mothers, 301; of minor
children, 20, and of sisters, 10.
In the navy branch there were filed previous
to November 15, 163 applications for invalid
pensions, 115 for widows, 20 for mothers, and
3ain behalf of minor children. .Making the
total number of applications growing out of the
present war, J0,80.
The eighth. section of the pension act of Ju
ly 14, 18G2, made it the duty of the Commis
sioner of Pensions to designate physicians and
surgeons to make biennial examinations of
pensioners, as required by the act of March;
1859, and also to examine applicants for inva
lid pensions under the late act. In the per
formance of this duty the Commissioner has
selected persons in the various States with
reference to-their professional skill and integ
rity of character. It is believed that the ben
efit designed by this provision of tbe law will
be fully realized, and the greatly augmented
labors imposed upon the Pension bureau will
be performed with little difficulty if the zeal
ous co-operation of these officers is obtained.
Th-i act of July 14, 1862, authorizing the
appointment of a special agent of the Pension
Office to assist in the detection of , frauds a
gainst the pension laws, omitted to make ap
propriation to defray the expenses incident to
the service required by the law, and I hare
therefore submitted an estimate of tbe amount
that will be uecessary for that purpose.
The Commissioner alludes to "certain erro
neous impressions which have prevailed in
some quarters" of the existence of obstacles
in the way of the ready transaction of business
in tbe prosecution of just claims for pensions;
and that officer clearly explains, for the infor
mation of all parties, the forms prescribed for
the convenience of applicants nnder tbe vari
ous pension laws, and shows that any one of
ordinary intelligence can, by following the in
structions of the Bureau, secure the admission
of his claim withiut difficulty.
Considerable difficulty bas been experienc
ed id prescribing a mode of authenticating
pension claims which shall be sufficiently lib
eral to claimants, and at the same time pro
tect the Government against frauds.
To require all applications to be authenti
cated before a court of record, causes much
trouble, and in many cases unreasonable ex
pense to the applicants. If the authentica
tion before any person authorized to adminis
ter oaths shall be admitted as sufficient, expe
rience has demonstrated that the Government
is exposed to gross frauds. Large sums have
been obtained from the Treasury upon fraud
ulent certificates of. Justices of tbe Peace, and
notaries.
To remedy these evils, it is recommended
that the Department be authorized to appoint
Pension Commissioners, who shall be author
ized to receive applications, administer the
necefsary oaths, and certify the papers to the
Pension Office, under proper regulations. The
Commissioner should receive from the appli
cants reasonable fees for their services, and
pension certificates should be lorwarded to
them to be delivered to the pensioners. A
commissioner may be appointed in each coun
ty where it is probable any applicants for pen
sions reside.
The adoption of a system like this would
protect applicants for pensions from the un
just charges which, in many dses, are now
made by agents and attorneys.
The attention of Congress is invited to the
accompanying able report of the Commission
er ol Pensions.
P03T-2IA3TSB GE!TEEAL'S BEP0BT.
The Report for this year exhibits a very
healthy financiil condition of tbe Post Office
Department, and shows it to be thoroughly im
pregnated with the spirit ol improvement.
The efficiency of the service has been main
tained at the highest point, accompanied by a
great diminution of expenditures. The gross
revenue of the Department for this fiscal year,
iucluding the standing Treasury credit for
free mail matter, and a small amount , appro
priated for the relief, of individuals, was
$9,012,549 56. The expenditures for the
sa-ne year amounted to $11,125,364 13. The
regular postal reveuue for 18G2 is only $40,
470 50 less than it was for the fiscal year 1861,
during a large part of which year revenue
was paid in from all the States of the Union.
This fact shows a laige increase in the corre
spondence of the loyal States. While tbe
revenues have been so nearly sustained at the
highest standard, the expenses have been
largely reduced. For the preceding year the
expenditures were $2,481,394 98 greater than
last year. The follow ing comparisons of fig
ures are interesting : .
. Expenditures of 1860 for service in all the
States, $14,874,772 89 ; revenues for the same
year $9,218,067 40 ; deficiency, $5,656,705 49.
Expenditures for 1861: service ' interrupted
in 18C1, $13,606,759 11; gross revenues for
1861 : service interrupted in 1861, $9,049,296
40 ; deficiency, $4,557,462 71. Expenditures
for 1862. $11,125,364 13 ; revenues for 1862,
$9,012,549 56 ; deficiency, $2,112,814 57. Re
duction of expenditures as compared with
I860, $3,749,408 ; reduction of expenditures
as compared with 1861, $2,481,394.
The Department has not been for many years
so nearly self-sustaining. This result is large
ly owing to the suspension of postal expendi
tures in the South, which were ' greatly in ex
cess of postal receipts, but not alone to that.
A revision of all discretionary expenses has
been made, and large reductions ordered. The
pay of agents has been regarded and equal
ized. Economy has been re-established in
the large offices where waste was found. In
competency, wherever found in official posi
tion, has been removed, and an effort made to
adopt a standard of merit and of administra
tive efficiency, in lieu of other and inferior
motives for appointment. -The Postmaster
General expresses bis determination to ad
here to tbis course. .......
Tbe number of postage stamps issued to post
masters during the year was 7,078,188. The
value of letter envelopes was $733,255 50.
The value of stamped newspaper wrappers,
$23,648 50 ; increase of issue over 1861, $1,
144,858 27. .The total value sold was $6,010,
131 89. , ,
Tbe increasing demand on tbe part.of the
public for tbe stamped newspaper shows that
their introduction has satisfied a public de
mand, and promoted the convenience of cor
respondents. Id the first quarter of the current year end
ing September 30, the number pf stamps is
sued to postmasters was 104,000,000. Their
calls for about 200,000,000, which wonld have
been nearly sufficient to meet the usual de
mand for a year. This extraordinary demand
arose from the temporary use of. these stamps
as a currency by the public in lieu of the smal
ler denominations of specie, and ceased with
the introduction of the. so called postal cur
rency.
The difierence between the value of stamps
Bold and stamps canceled in the fiscal' year
1862 shows $738,379 96 as the amount in the
. hands of purchasers on the 1st of July, 1862.
The whole nunvber of dead letters received
and examined during the year is 2,282,018,
which is 267,000 less than in the previous
year. The whole number of valuable letters
sent out by the Dead Letter Office was 51,239.
Many interesting details are given in the Re
port touching the operations of the office.
Out of 21,493 cases 'where causes of non-de
livery were ascertained, onty 225 were attrib
utable to the fault of Postmasters; 822 letters
bad no address whatever.
Congress at its first session passed an act
anthorizihg the employment of 25 additional
clerks to facilitate the return of dead letters
to their writers, with the expectation that the
receipts of postages thereon would cover the
appropriation of $20,000 for their compensa
tion. The result thus far shows that an ex
cess of revenue therefrom over the expenses
bas accrued to the amount of several thousand
dollars. ' : . , - i ; :
The wtiole number of Post Offices in the
United States, remaining established on the
30th of June, 1862, was 28,785, of which there
were in the loyal States and districts 19,973,
and in the insurrectionary States and districts
there were 902.
The net increase in the established officers
over last year was 121. The numher of cases
acted npon by the appointment office during
the year was 7,785. The total postages ac
crued on United States and European mails'
during the year amounts to $1,144,095 82,
being a reduction on the amount of the pre
vious year of $217,940 88. Of the total amonnt
collected, the excess collected in the United
States was $212,607 36, which constitutes the
balances paid to the several loreign depart
ments, tbe cost of exchange being defrayed
by the United States. The Postmaster Gen
eral objects to this cost as inequitable, and
proposes, if possible, to retrieve the Depart J
ment from this burden. :
Tbe Postmaster General has made special
efforts to retrieve the foreign correspondence
of the country from its complexity now so em
barrassing aliki to correspondents and to pos
tal officers. Separate negotiations have been
found altogether inadequate to secure simple
and satisfactory arrangements. lie therefore
opened a correspondence in August ' last
through the Department of State with loreign
Administrations," proposing a Convention of
Postal Representatives at some convenient
point to consider the enumerated difficulties
and the means of remedying.
Several replies have been received from the
various governments, and all are favorable
and agree to the project, This country com
prising emigrants from aim st every-civilized
nation, is especially interested in the sub
ject proposed to be brought before this con
ference. It is a species of postal improve
ment requiring the establishment of greater
uniformity, and some common principle ot
arrangement, and is connected with our pros
perous commercial intercourse with' other
countries.
The mail-lettings which went into opera
tion on the 1st of July, last in the Western
Division, and were effected on such favorable
terms, as compared with the previous lettings,
that a reduction of expenditure resulted to
the amount of $331,000. At the same time
the length of tbe routes was increased by 159
miles, with an annual increase of transporta
tion of 754,428 utiles. Notwithstanding this
increase of service, the uet saviug is over 9
per cent., as compared with tbe previous term.
The total annual cost of the Internal ser
vice in operation on the 80th of June last was
$5,853,834, to which add the cost of the va
rious agencies, route and local messengers,
&c, $460,630 92, and the cost of the aervice
at that date is $6,314,464 92, which includes
$1,000,000 for the overland mail route not be
fore charged upon tbe revenues of tbis De
partment. ."'..
The saving in the lettings of the West to
July, 1862, is attributed to a strict adherence
to the law of 1845, authorizing what is known
as btai bids. '
The report renews the recommendation for
codifying all the postal laws, and hopes it may
be done t tbis session.
Among the improvements under considera
tion by the Postmaster General, is that of em
bossing postal stamps on business and other
envelopes, supplied for that purpose by per
sons desiring to furnish their own designs.
It is believed that tbis will largely increase
the use of stamped envelopes in lieu of stamp,
w hich is an object of great importance to the
Department. -. .
lie also discourages the use of the mails
for transmitting money, and speaks favorably
of a limited money order system, and offers
an amendment to,tbe registers svstem.by which
a return receipt shall be sent to the despatch
ing party as evidence of the fact and date of
delivery of the package.
lie also proposes to abolish many of the dis
criminating rates of postage now existing, ap
proximating as far , as possibly to uniformity,
and increasing the efficiency and extent of
the delivery and collection of letters by car
riers in cities. i 1 -
The attention of tho public is called to the
great importance of good postal officers for a
successful administration of this Department.
If the Postmasters and their clerks are selec
ted without chief reference to their efficiency
and personal fitness, no amount of good legis
lation will secure public satisfaction. An en
ergetic, faithful, and efficient Postmaster, de
voted to the interests of the service, should
be retained as long as he illustrates those qual
ities in bis administration of the office.
lie attributes the success of the English
system largely to the permanent character of
their officers, and their familiarity with the
laws and regulations, and regrets the extent
to which other motives to appointments have
prevailed in this country.. He urges a return
to the old standard of honesty, capability and
fidelity, and -anticipated more public satisfac
tion and administrative success from tbe a
doption ot such a principle than from any oth
er single act of reform. He uses this language :
It is my, intention to adhere firmly to my
determination to displace incompetence and
indifference wherever ; found in official , posi
tion under my control, without any discrimi
nation in favor of appointments I myself have
made under misinformation of facts. -
The document as a whole will be read
with unusual interest, and contains numerous
suggestions of great importance to this branch
of the public service. . . , , :
E.EP0HT OF THE SECEETAKY OF WAB
That portion of the United States which is
now, or has been during the last year, the
scene of military operations,ls comprised with
in ten military departments-1 The armies op
erating in those departments, 'according to
recent official returns, constitute, a forco of
seven hundred and seventy-five thousand three
hundred and thirty-six officers and privates,
fully armed and eqnipped. Since the date of
the returns tbis number has been incresed to
over eight hundred thousand. When the quotas
are filled up they will number a million of
men, and the estimates for the next year are
based upon that number. "' ' " J
If the campaigns of the armies in these de
partments have-not equalled in their results
the expectations of the government and pub
lic hope, still they have not been unproductive
of good results. : The valor of our troops has
been displayed upon many occasions, and the
skill and gallantry of their officers have been
distinguished at Yorktown, Williamsburg,
Fair Oaks, Gaines' Mill, Malvern Hill, Cross
Keys, Cedar Mountain, Chantilly, and places
enumerated in the reports herewith submit
ted.' .' '
The Secretary then refers to the repulse of
tho rebels from Maryland, and the position ol
our forces at Fortress Mcnroe,
The beginning of last winter found the
rebel armies of Price and M'Cu Hough in pos
session of all the northwestern portion of Mis
souri, while many of the counties north of
Missouri river were in a sta'e of insurrection!
Our forces were concentrating at Holla and
Sedalia. As soon as the rebels could be
driven from the northern counties, and our
armies reorganized, active operations were
commenced, notwithstanding the inclemen
cy of tbe season and tho bad condition of the
roads. On the 10th of December a consider
able number of the enemy were cut oil and
captured at Milford, while on their way to
join Price on the Osage river. The forces at
Rolla under General Curtis, moved towards
Springfield, which compelled Price to fall
back into Arkansas, where he was joined by
Van Dorn. A severe battle was fought at Pea
Ridge, Arkansas, on tbe 6th, 7th and 8th of
March, between the combined armies of the
enemy and Gen., Cnrtis' forces, in which the
latter gained a complete and decisive victory.
The operations in the West are briefly
detailed, up to the battle of Pittsburg Landing,
April 7th and 8th. ' :
The Secretaty of War details the militsry
operations during the past year: points to tbe
fact that the Department of the Pacific has
been free from any of the calamities occasion
ed by the rebellion : an - earnest : and deep
sympathy bas been manifested by the loyal
citizens of the Pacific Stales in support of
the Union. ' From a survey of the whole field
of operations, it is apparent whatever disasters
our arms may have suffered at particular
points, a great advance has been made since
tbe commencement of tbe war. The Union
forces are now in tbe field under able comman
ders, stronger than ever, resolute and eager
to be led against the enemy, to crush the re
bellion by a vigorous winter campaign. The
armies of the Potomac and tbe West stand
ready to vie with each other in dealing the
quickest and heaviest blow against the enemy.
Taught by experience of tbe rain of inaction
and tbe hazard of delay, a spirit of earnest
activity seems to prevade the forces of the
United States beyond what has hitherto been
exhibited. In the numerous battles and en
gagements that have occurred, our armies in
general have displayed the courage and deter
mination that should inspire officers and sol
diers fighting in defence of their government.
Under tbe calls of July and Angust there are
already in the field over 420,000 new troops,
of which 399,000 are. volunteers, 332,000, of
whom bave volunteered for three years or
the war. It will be remembered the call was
made at one of those periods of despondency
which occur in every national struggle., .
A chief hope of those who set the rebellion
on foot was for aid and comfort from disloyal
sympathisers in the Northern States, whose
efforts were relied upon to divide and distract -the
people of . the North, and prevent them
from put ring forth their whole strength to pre
serve the national existence Tbe call for
volunteers and a draft of the militia afforded
an occasion for disloyal persons to accom
plish their evil purpose by discouraging enlist
ments and encourage opposition to tbe war and
the draft of soldiers to carry it on. Anxiety
was fek in some States at the probable success
of those disloyal parctices, and the govern
ment was urged to adopt measures of protec
tion by temporary restraints of those engaged
in'thest hostile acts. To that end provost'mar
shalswere appointed in some States, upon the
nomination ol their Governors, to act under
the direction of the State Executive, and the
writ of habeas corpus was suspended by our
order.
By order of the War Dtpartmenf arrests
were forbidden unless authorized by the State
Executive or Judge Advocate.' Some Instan
ces of unauthorized arrests have occurred, and
when brought to the notice of the Department
the parties have been immediately discharged.
By a recent order all parties arrested for dis
couraging enlistments, or for disloyal practi
ces' in the States where the quotas of volun
teers and militia are filled up, have been re
leased. Other persons arrested by military
1 commanders and sent from depaatments where
their presence was deemed dangerous to the
public safetyy have been discharged npon pa
role to be of good behavior and do no act of
hostility against the government of the Uni
ted States.
' While military arrests of disloyal persons
form the subject of complaint in some States,
the discbarge of such persons is complained
of in other States. It has been the aim ef the
Department to avoid any encroachments npon
individual rights as far as might be consistent
with the peblic safety ; but reflecting miads
will preceive that no greater encouragement
can be given to the enemy, no more danger
ous act of hostility can be perpetrated in this
war than efforts to prevent recruiting and en
listing for the armies npon whose strength the
national existence depends. '
; The expectation of , rebel leaders and their
sympathisers in the loyal States that tbe call
of Volunteers would not be answered, and Jhat
thejdraft could not be enforced, have failedand
nothing is left but to clamor at. tbe means by
which their hopes were frustrated, and to
strive to disarm the Government in future, if
in the chance of war, another ocasioa for
increasing the military force should arise.
Tho absense of officers and privates from
their posts is noted, and measures taken to
correct the evil, also to punish fraud in re
gard to bounties. The expenditures for enlist
ments, recruting, and subsistence of volnteers,
regulars and militia amounts to the sum of
$20,092,2S2 91. -- .
In relation to contrabands it is said : In Lou
isana, where at one tune there were apprehen
sions of embarrasment from the number of
efugees, tho reserve of a tract of rich land
along the railroad f o Barracks Bay opens up a
territory in which many thousand can be
profitably employed, if placed under proper
regulation and control. At Port Royal such
persons have been extensively employed in tbe
works of the Quaitermaster Department, and
in cultivating some thousands of acres of tbe
Sea Island ol the coast, fhe product of which
are used in the support of themselves and
families. In tbe operations of the army on
the James river, and on the Potomac, in the
fortifications ot Washington, and as laborers,
teamsters, hostlers, and in landing and ship
ping of stores, they have been of great service,
and the demand for tbeir labor has exceeded
the supply available. '
. Some details are given of the provision for
coast and harbor defenses. The Secretary
calls special attention to necessity of provi
ding additional means for the storage and
preservation of ordance supplies, as recom
mended in tbe report of tbe Chief of Ordance.
The attention ot the department has been
earnestly directed to the forts and fortifications
for coast and harbor defences. A personal f De
speration of these impotant warks bas been
mabe by Gen. Totton, the distinguished Chief
of Engineers.
The grants made ty Congress for fortiflV.a
tions at last session amounted to five millions
five hundred and thirty-five dollars tor perma
nent works, and seven hundred and fifty thou
sand dollars for temporary works. The Chief
Of Engineers reports that these sums admitted
of very material progress, being made at tbe
most important forts now in process of con
struction. This bus been realized in a num
ber of Instances, and in all a decided advance
ment has been effected. Great difficulties have
been experienced in obtaining supplies of ma
terials Irom the quarries, stoneyaids, &c, ow
ing to tbe demands made upon tbe classes nsu
employed in this kind of work by the War De
partment. : Similar trouble bas been encoun
tered in pfocurirg transportation for materi
als. Much has been done in advancing the
state of readiness of our fortifications in the
principal commercial harbors for service- in
preparing for additional gens, in providing1 for
the reception of armament of very large cali
bre in the existing batteries, and in placing
all in effective condition for defense. Like
measures have been observed with reference to
naVal stations and of frontiers generally.
Tbe employment of contraband labor in the
purposes of cultivation, for army supplies,
and other kindred points, occupy the remain
der of the report. .. ' v ;
nr