Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1848-12-12

T0lISo board OF Objects maze tne So
lection; and those designated were ne.
cessarily dismissed but without any al
lodged cause. honoured with the Sec
,Tet6ry that the service would be improved
by reducing the marines. Such mea.
sure would justify an increase Of The
number Of officers TO the extent Of the
reducsion by the dsmis sed and still, the
corps would have fewer officers than
corresponding number Of men in the
army.
The contract for the transportation of
sthe Mail in Steamships convertible into
war steamers, promises to realize to our
commerce and the Navy, results which
were not over-anticipated. The first stea-
.mer thus secured to the Government was
launched in January, Is47. There are
now seven: and this year there will prob.
ably be not less than seventeen aaoat.-
While this great National advantage is Sc
cured, our social intercourse is increased
and promoted with Germany, Great Bri-
tain, and other parts of Europe, with all
the countries on the west coast of our con.
tinent, especially with Oregon and Cali
tornia, and between the northern and
southern sections Of the U. States. Con-
siderable revenue may be expected from
hostages; but the connected lines from N.
York to Chagr1s, and across the lsthmus
to Oregon cannot fail to exert a beRefi-
ciai influence not aow estimated on the
interests of manufactures and commerce,
and navigation and currency of the United
States. AS an important part of the sys-
tenn recommend to your favorable con.
sideration the proposed lines Of the steam
ers to leave New Orleans and Vera Cruz.
1t promises the most happy results in cul-
awaiting friendship between the two Re-
publies and extending reciprocal benefits
to the trade and manufactures of both.
During the past year there has been
employed under contracts with the Post
Office Department, two ocean steamers,
in conveying the mails between New York
and Bremen, and one since October last,
in semi-monthly service between Charles
ton aud Havana, A contract has been
made for the transportation of the Pacific
mails across the isthmus from Chagres to
Panama. Under the authority given the
Secretary. of the Navy three ocean steam
ers constructed and sent to the Pacific, and
are expected TO enter upon the mail SER
vice between Panama and Oregon, and the
fourth has been engaged by him for the
service between Havana and Chagres; so
that regularly mail line will be kept up
after that time between the United States
and our territories on the Pacific.
The report Of the Postmaster General
will make known to you the operations of
that department for the last year. 1t is
gratifying to find the revenue Of the de-
partment, under the rates of postage now
established by law, so rapidly increasing.
The gross amount of hostages, during the
late fiscal year, amounted to $4,371,O77,
exceeding the annual average received for
the same year Immediately preceding the
passage Of the act ofthird of July, I945,
by the sum Of S., 453, and exceeding the
amount r the year ending the 9th of June
1947, by the sum Of $425,IS4
The expenditures Of the year excluding
the sum of $94,692, allowed by Congress
at its last session to individual claimants
and including the sum of $IOO,5OO paid
for the service of the line of Steamers be-
tween Bremen and New York, amounting
TO "a, I95, 945, which is less than the an.
nual average Of 1914 by 5000, 74s.
The main routes on the Both day of
June last, were one hundred and eight
thousand miles in extent, being an increase
during the last year of nine thousand three
hundred and ninety miles,. The mails
were transported over them during the
same time 4l,Ol2,579 miles; making an
increase for the year of 2, l24,68O miles.
whilst the expense was less than that of
the previous year, by 4,235.
The increase in the mail transportation
within the last three years, has been 379,-
80 miles, whilst the expenses were re-
duced 1856, 1913; making an increase of
service, at the rate of l5 per cent
Notwithstanding this great increase in
the mail service, should the service con-
tinue to increase the present year as it did
in the last there will be received near
$450,OOO more than expenditures.
These considerations satisfy the Post
Master General that, with certain modifi-
cations in the act of IA, the revenue may
be still further increased, and a reduction
of postage to the uniform rate of five cents,
without an interference and propriety en-
forced Of making that department sustain
itself
A well digested cheap postage system
is the best means of ditusing int gence
among the people, and is of so much i'm
portance in a,country so extensive as that
of the U. S. that recommend.
Nothingcan retard the onward progress
Of our country, and prevent us from as
suming and maintaining the front rank of
nations, but disregard of experience of
the past, and recurrence to an unwise
public policy. We have just closed for
eign war by an honorable peace; a war
rendered necessary and unavoidable :;