Litchfield enquirer., 1831-12-22


 of navy agent at the ysrd at Washington, be separated from those of the commander of | the yard. Indeed, he is opposed to the whole system of compensation to navy agents, which for years has depended,upOn arbitrary | allowances, very questionable in principles Early in the year, the Department felt com pelled to refuse payment of some drafts by its former agents in the Pacific; and to improve l the forms of transacting business there, and 1 to lessen the expenses of providing for the squadron, a purser has been sent out to make purchases. and to take charge of the stores and provisions for the whole. "A new arrangement in respect to the drafts by our agents on two foreign stations, and in re- spect to the payment of the drafts drawn on all of our foreign stations, when payable in London, has lately been concluded on terms much more advantageoustO the government"
 Mr. Woodbury approves of the recommen- datlons of his predecessor, relative to rank and pay, Naval Academy, additional pro- visions for hospitals, &c. He also suggests a few alterations connected with the instruction of young officers on ship board, and is for raising the pay of sailing masters, gunners and triggers. The report advises the discontinu- ance of the Marine corps. or its transfer en- tirely either to the army or navy.
 The large supply oflead in the hands ofthe government, as rents from the public mines, being or 4,O0O,O pounds beyond the wants of the War Department. it is recommended that portion of it be set apart for the use of the Navy. The Secretary has prepared general revision ofthe rules of the Navy, &c. which will be submitted to Congress.
 Post OGtce Department.-The amount of postages for the year ending the SOth June, 1881, were $4,997, ,814 54. The expenditures nf the Department, during the same period, were $1,9S5,559 S6. Leaving an excess of revenue beyond the expenses of the Depart ment, of $62.252 18.
 Thus the surplus of revenne at the disposal of the Department on the lst Of July, 1881, was S2lO,4l2 89.
 The increase ofpostages the year ending July 1. 1881, above the amount of the year preceding. was S147,S27 A.
 From the 1st ofJuly 1880, to the 1st of Ju- ly 1881, the transportation of the mail was increased, in stages, equal to s54,252 miles year. Many routes have also been i'm proved, by substituting stages for horse mails, to the annual amount of 362. 221 miles.
 The total annual increase ofstsge transport alton from July, 1880, to 'Sl, was 1,296,771 miles. The annnal decrease of transporta. tion on horseback, within the same time. bv substituting stages, was 22S, ,096 miles. Max. ing the annual increase as above, equal to 1 6.7O2 miles. On the lst July, 1881, the annual transpor- tatlon of the mail was.-In stages and steam boats 1O,728,S48 miles,-On horseback and l m su'kies 4,74O,344 miles. Making the whole annual transportation equal to 15,468,69q miles. Other improvements are also detertn- ined on. in which many remote parts of the country in the West and South, as well as the Middle States. are immediately interested.
 Fms surplus. reported as available, and al the disposal of the Department, is founded on statement in the report of the late Post.
 osgs: sEa %EacS hsv. accrued since my hrst report in 1929, will have been conected. Of the postages returned within .hat time. 1t IS confidently believed the losses. ID collection, will not amount to one fourth of one per centum. o"' ''
 mere was on the 1st of July last, 8.ese post offices. To the plan adopfed for the;r supervision. and the vigilance with which ;t ;s observed, together with the system of finance wn'en IS strictly adhered to, may be attribut- eo' in no small degree, the increasing nros. perlty ofthe Department. ''O'
 1%s Army.-Mr. Cass states that de,ert;o, rom tne armyis an evil, which not only con. .:" .ue: o"t increases. The number of deser. Ions m 1928 was 6S6; in 1929. 1,114: and m l8Sl will probably amount to i.45o, and make Pecuniary loss to the government of 1ce'OoO dollars. He suggests the expediencv or increasing the pay of the non commission. ed officers and privates.
 Mr' Cass thus notices the effects of ardent sP'r'ts m the army "A very large pronor. uon or all the crimes committed in the army may be traced to habits of intemnerance rms wee is in fact the prevalent one of onr so'd'ery. l am satisfied that ardent snir;ts snou'o not form component part of inc ra- ton. By issuing 1t, we furnish to those alrea. uy accustomed to its use the means of a vi. c'ous indulgence. and we invite those who are yet temperate to acquire this destructive hablt. There were issued to ths .rr.,. aS SSo' oo 1x,oS7 gallons of whiskey, at the cost ta .. Is.oOO dollars. If this sum were applied |" tne purchase of tea. coffee and suear fo. tne use of the soldiers, their habits and n,orsIs "o"'o DC greatly improved. and inc d;sn;ni;''~ ana responsibility of the army promoted :. Mr' Cass says the moral culture of th. lnerlean soldiers is wholly neglected snds.n sests mat something should be don. t" s .us mote 'he'r mental and religious improvsnient
 Ladies Wanted.-A paper printed il, ,. speaks of most deplorabls and .,..,s:. '"''''y 0' young ladies. Every respectable c..",H '"'e or stranger found there, is, as soon 2. 'eu to .he hymeneal altar. The young men .., ,' ' o"e hundred to one fthe young ladies wh.,h.. nc c0ttons or hroa ''"Ss'OG