Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1837-12-13

tension and employment Of our nava
force. The launching and preparation OF
The ship Pennsylvania, and the complet,
repairs Of the ships Of the line Ohio, Della
ware, and Columbus, may be noticed. a,
forming a respectable addition TO this i'm
portaDt arm Of our national defence. Oul
commerce and navigation have received
Increased aid and protection during the
present year. Our squadrons in The Pa
lcific and on the Brazilian station have
been much increased, and that in the Med
i,erranean although sGall, is adequate 10
the present wants ofour in tina,
sea. Additions have been made TO our
squadron on the West India station. where
the large force under Commodore Dallas
has been most actively aud efficiently EN-
pioyed IN protecting our commerce, in pre-
venting the importation Of slaves. and in
co operating with officers OF the Army in
carrying on the war in Florida.
The satisfactory condition of OUT naval
force abroad leaves at our disposal the
means of conveniently providing for a
home squadron fer The protection OF com
merce upon our extensive coast. The a
mount of appropriations required for such
a squadron win be found in the general
estimates for the naval service for the year
1888.
The naval officers engaged upon our
coast survey have rendered important SER
vice 10 our navigation. The discovery OF
a new channel into The harbor Of New
York, through which our largest ships
may pass without danger, must afford i'm
portsnt commercial advantages 10 that
harbor, s. add greatly TO IFS value as a ma
val station. The accurate survey OF
Georges shoals off the coast of Massachu
setts lately completed. viii render compar.
a%ilvely safe a navigation hitherto consiu-
cred dangerous.
Considerable additions have been made
To the number of captains, commanders,
lIeutenants, surgeons, and assistant sur
geons, in the Navy. These additions
were rendered necessary, by the increased
number OF vessels put in commission, to
answer the exigencies of our
Your attention is respectfully invited to
the various suggestions of the Secretary,
for REINFORCEMENT of The naval service.
The report Of the Postmaster General
exhibits the progress and condition Of the
mail service. The operations OF the Post
Office Department constitute one oil the
most active elements Of our national pros
perity, and it is gratifying 10 observe with
what visor they are conducted. The mail
routes Of the United States cover an ex
tent Of about one hundred and forty two
thousand eight hurdred and seventy sew
en- miles having been increased abou,
thirty seven thousand one hundred and
three miles, within. the last two years
The annual mail transportation on these
routes is about thirty six millions two hun
dred and twenty. eight thousand nine hun
dred and sixty two miles having been in
creased about ten millions three hundred
and fifty nine thousand four hundred and
seventy six miles within the same period.
The number of post offices has been in
creased from ten thousand seven hundred
and seventy to twelve thousand and ninety
mine. very few Of which receive The mails
less than once a week. and a large portion
of them daily. Contractors and post
masters in general are represented as at
tending 10 their duties with most common
dable zeal and fidelity.
The revenue of the department, with
in the year ending on the thirtieth Of June
last, was four millions one hundred and
thirty seven thousand and fifty six dollars
and fifty nine cents ; and its liabilities &C
curing within the same time were three
millions three hundred aud eighty thou
sand eight hundred and forty-seven dollars
and seventy FIVE cents. The increase oil
revenue over that of toe proceeding year
was seven hundred and eight thousand one
hundred and sixty-six dollars and lorty-one
CENTS.
For many interesting details | refer you
to the report of the Postmaster General
with the accompanying paper. Your par
%tlcular attention is invited to the necessity
of providing a more safe and convenient
building Tor the accommodation OF that DE
partment.
| lay before Congress copies Of reports
submitted in pursuance of a call made 10y
me upon the heads Of Department. for
such suggestions as their experience might
enable them 10 make as 10 what further
legislative provisions may be advantage.
ously adopted 10 secure the faithful aprii
cation OF public moneys to the objects for
which they are appropriated to pieven'
their mlsapplication or embezz'ement by
those entrusted with the expenditures Of
them A.; and generally TO increase the secu
rity Of the Government against losses IN
their disbursement. II is needless TO dllate
on the Importance of providing such new
safeguards as are within the power OF leg
%islation TO promote these ends. and | have
little 10 add TO the recommendations sub
mitted in the accompanying papers.
BY law, the terms Of service of our most
important collecting ard disburslng officers
in the civil departments are limited to
four years, and when ~re-appointed, their
bonds are required to be renewed.
The safety Of the public is much in
creased by this feature Of the law, there
can be no doubt that IFS application TO all
officers entrusted with the collection OF
disbursement Of the public money, what
ever may be tenure Of their offices, would
be equally beneficial. I therefore recon-.
mend, in addition to such of the susges-
lions presented by the heads OF Depart,
,,onta g go, nov think uSP(uI- "A general