The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-12-08

sage in twenty days This may readily be effected BY
means OF the war steamers now being constructed az
parts OF the squadron In the Feast Indies aud the Pacific
un individual enterprise shall have introduced steamers
better suited for freight and passengers.
The transit OF intelligence, merchandise and passen
gers from China To Europe, by way OF New York,
be effected when these several lines shall be in operation
in connexion with the line from that city to Liverpool in
less Than onehali The time now occupied IN The voyage
between those countries.
The communication by steamers regularly plying on
he TWO routes, now about TO commence, cannot fail 10
increase general commerce. and bring to our Allan
uc cities large import OF the precious metals and this
with the facility afforded to enieprsng counrymen
to visit to emigrae to the rich territories on the Pacific
more than compensaes the expense of the great under
taking.
As most interesting part of the system recommend
that authority be given to contract for the transportation
OF the mail between New Orleans and Vera Cruz i'm steam
ships, convertible into steamers il will tend by pro.
noting social and commercial intercourse TO consolidate
friendship between Mexico and the United States pro-
tured goods into Mexico and invite her rich products of
specie 10 cities Ii will add, too, to the mails on all
the connecting lines increase the postal profits and
available for public defence an additional number of war
steamers. lrtaf
The contractor for the line between New York and
Liverpool has his vessels in state of forwadness He
has two steamers each OF two thousand eight hundred
tons measurement ready for launching and the frames of
two others ready 10 take their places the building WAYS
launched and the machinery in a correspond
ing state of forwardness The department has not urged
the contractor to undue haste the construction of his
steamers In the present state OF communication with
Europe by other means, the thorough and skfu execu
lion of the work the hull and machinery of the ships
OF more importance to the government than their speedy
completion The contractor Is prosecuting his underta
king with energy and judgment
In execution OF the 18th section of the act of August g.
1885, have been taken to the insane of
the navy and marine corps from the naval hospitals TO
institutions established for the treatment and cure of
persons thus sadly afflicted 1t believed that the object
be satisfactorily attained the moderate terms pre-
scrbed by law The whole number OF insane persons
IN Tho Ituig nd n t,at,
quiet and harmless that II may not be necessary
them
The supply of hemp on hand, and deliverable under
contracts already existing rendered ii unnecessary
advertise for any additional quantity for the present year
That American hemp can be prepared, in quality equal
TO any in the world has been established by exper nj
under the rigid tests The heavy outlay necessary
in preparing for the production of the finer descriptions
suitable for naval purposes has prevented many planters
from engaging annual contracts The oint resolution
of Congress, of the 9th of May last made great i'm
provement by authorizing navy contracts for American
water rotted hemp Tor term not exceeding five years,
at a remuneTatlng price.
| propose to invite, by advertisement the hemp-grow-
themselves 10 contract and by accepting proposals
for quantities of twenty-five tons and upwards, and, in
OF equality OF bld TO give the preference to the
farmer who grows it, to encourage the general adoption
OF The most improved process of preparing this important
supply for the navy.
Proposals for furnishing machinery for the rope walk
at the Memphis yard have been invited by adver-
sement and it can be manufactured and de-
vcred, that important establishment will be put in ope
ration
This place for the delivery of hemp for the of the
navy will be far more convenient for domestic hemp
manufactured, and the facility of will justify the
farmers selling their produce directly to the govern
ment, without the intervention of agencies the
pense and loss OF distant transportation and
quent transhpments.
The military contributions collected in the Gulf OF
Mexico, at ports and places in the military occupation of
the naval forces, amount to hundred and thirty
thousand eight hundred and thirty five dollars.
From the squadron the Pacific the accounts have not
yet been received and adjusted AT Mazaan, then in
the occupation OF The navy Commodore Jones reports 10
the department that up to the nth OF june 1885, the
butions collected at that port amounted to two hundred
and fifty -four thousand three hundred and sxtyeght
dollars 1t not probable that any considerable coec
tons made by officers OF the navy any other pent
on the Pacific coast.
The plan OF settlement adopted required the officers first
to settle at the Navy Department. vouchers, the ac-
counts of contributions, charging them the amount
ceived and credilng their disbursements made for the
service in prosecution of the established by their
vouchers The collecting officer has been then required
TO settle at the treasury his account acting purser,
where he charged with money and stores received on
public and credited with disbursements sallsfac
loy vouched other and beyond those already credited in
his contribution account, and the balance thus appearing
has in each been paid into the treasury under its
proper head OF appropriation The PRACTICAL effect OF this
mode OF settlement to relieve appropriations made by
law to the full amount OF the contributions. There has
not been a case OF default
The duty of collection disbursement, and accounting
was performed by naval officers, without any allowance
for the service The act of August 23d, 1912,
srued to forbid any allowance beyond their pay officers
on duty; and compensation has been made Tor
vice within the general range OF officers duties,
and in instances attended with positive and
vodable loss repeat my recommendation heretofore
made, that authority be gwen to allow IN each case
moderate commission collections and disbursements,
not exceeding, in the aggregate sufficient
reasonable indemnity for The risk and trouble attendant
on the duty.
have the honor submit the reports from the several
bureaus of The department. with the estimates for the naval
service and for other objects placed under the control OF
this department. for the fiscal year ending with the goth
of June 1850
The gross amount of estimate is A., 55s $50 IS; of
which the following, being for special objects, must be
deducted the probable annual expense OF the
navy;
For transportation OF the mails $s7i,6OO
For floating dry-docks. basin, and railways 100000
Completing stone dock at New York 100000
improvements &c, at navy yards $40 $40
2,s6O,010
Which sums being deducted will leave for one years
expense OF the naval service, including invalid and
widows pensions and the marine corps, s. 9o7 ,9i6 So
have the honor herewith to transmit statement from
the Fourth Auditors office, showing the exact amount OF
appropriations and expenditures made for the entire public
service under the control Of the Navy Department each
year from the Both of June, 1884, 10 the ls day OF july
sfS by which II will appear that the aggregate amount
OF expenditures for the two fiscal years ending on the
and the aggregate amount expended IN the two years
ending on the 30th June, 1915, was S2 SOS 66l IS
The first two were in time OF peace the last two an
brace, with trfing exception the entre period OF the
war with Mexico In the last two, il is worthy of re-
mark that for the construction of steamers authorized
by Congress, but intended expected to be employed
the war; and for other special OBJECTS very considerable
expenditures made under appropriations Tor the pur
pose that the ordinary expenses OF the naval
have been but slightly increased by the with Mexico