Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1851-12-08

ject ard establish such modes of determining
guilt, and such gFndations Of punishment as
are consistent with humanity and the per-
&c naf rights of individuals, aad at the same
time shaFinsurs the most energetic and eff
cient performace of duty andthe suppression
of crime in our ships of war;,
The stone cock in the navy yard at New
York, which was ten years in process of con-
struction, has been so far finished as to be
surrendered up to the authorities ofthe yard.
The dry dock at Philadelphia is reported as
completed, and is expected soon to o tested
and delivered over to the agents Of the Gov
ernment.s That at Portsmouth, New Hamp.
shire is also nearly ready for delivery and
contract has been concluded, agreeabiy to the
act of Congress at its last session, for fcat-
ing sectional dock on the Bay of San Francis
co. invite your attention to the recon-
mendation of the department teaching the
establishment of navy yard in conjanction
with this dock on the Pacific. Such sta
ton is highly necessary to the convenience
and effectiveness Of our feet in that ocean,
which must be expected to increase with the
growth of commerce, and the rapid extension
Of our whale fisheries over its waters.
The Naval Academy at Annapolis, under
a revised and approved system of regulations,
now affords opportunities of education and
instruction to the pupils quite equal, it is be-
lieved, for professional improvements to those
enjoyed by, the, cadets in the Military acade-
my. A large class ofaeting midshipmenwas
received at the commencement Of the late
academic term, and practice ship has been
attached to the institution, to afford the am
plest means for regular instruction in sea-
manslnp,.as we'll as for cruises during tue va
cations of three or four months in each year.
1 be advantages oil science in lautical
affairs have rarely been aore strikingly il.
lustrated than in the fact stated in the re.
port Of The Navy Department, that, by the
means Of the wind and current charts, pro.
jected and prepared by Lieutenant Maury,
the Superintendent of the Naval Observa
tory, the passage from the Atlantic TO the
Pacific ports Of our country has been short.
ened by .abou, forty days.
TIE estimates for the support Of the Ma.
w and Marine corps the ensuing fiscal
year will be found 10 be $5,e56, ,472 10,
The estimates for the cunen yeaI being
5.900,6 ,62l dollars. ssz as -ss.E
The estimates for general objects under
the con!rolc cfthis Department amount to
So, ,655, ,220 ST, dgainst 52,2 10, $50 for the
present fiscal year, the increase being &C.
casioned by the additional mail service on
| The Pacific coast and the construction o
the dock in California, authorized at the
last session Of Congress, and some slight
additions under the head Of improvement:
and repairs in navy yards, buildings anc
machinery. sls s,fss ID .sps.. Ia
deem it of much importance TO jus
economy, and n correct understanding o
naval expenditures, that therey should be
an entire separation Of the appropriations
for lhe>snppor, Of the naval service proper
from those Of permanent improvements a
navy yards and stations, and from oeear
steam mail service, and other special oh
jects assigned TO the supervision Of this De
partment.
Thezreport Of the Postmaster General,
hefewilh ommunica,ed, presents IN in.
teresting view o. ahe progress, operation
and condition Of his Department.
. All the close Of the last fiscal gear, the
length of mail routes in the United Stale;
was l96, ,290 miles; The annual transpol Ia
lion there of SO 272 ,552 miles; and the nm
nual cost Of such transpor,a,ionj 50, AL ),
754 -
The length Of the foreign mail routes i.
estimated nt 16, $40 miles; and the annual
transportation thereof at 6l5,20S miles
The annual cost Of this service is 81 ,472
1877, of which S445, ,937 is paid by the Pos
Office Department, and 81 ,023 $50 is Paic
through the Navy Department
The annual transportation sDithin the
United States Excluding the services in
| California and Oregon, which is now, fo'
| The first time reported and embraced in the
tabular statements Of the Department. ex'
ceeds that OF the proceeding year 6,l52,-
e55 miles, at an increased cost Of $547,'
ITO. 7f
The whole number Of post Offices in the
United Slates, on The Soh day of June
last, was l9. 1876 There were l,69S post
Offices established, and 256 discontinued,
during the year.
The gross revenues Of the Department
for the fiscal ear, including the apprepri-
alions for the lranked matter Of Congress,
of the Departments, and officers of Gov
ernmen,, and excluding the foreign posta,
ges, collected for and payable TO the British
post offices, amounted 10 Sc, 727 ,S66 70.
The expenditures for the same pericS,
(excuding o20,599 40, paid under an
award OF the Auditor, in pursuance OF o
resolution Of the last Congress, for mail
service on The Ohio and Mississippi rivers
in 1882 and 1888, and the amount paid to
the British post Office for foreign postoges
collected for and payable to That office
amounted to sc, ,024, 4,565 10; leaving bal
unce of revenue over tbs proper expendi-
lures of the year Of $7O3,2e9 80.
The receipts for postages during the
year excluding the foreign postages col
lecled for and payable to The British post