Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1851-12-16

I JOuI dLtP4blJu w elS AS0on'AAASAAS~'>
ton Of the Department touching th'
establishment of a navy yard IN con
junction with this dock on the Pacific
Such station is highly necessary t.
the convenience and effectiveness o
our fleet in that ocean, which must b
expected to Increase with the growth
of commerce, and the rapid extern
sion of our whale fisheries over it:
waters.
The Naval Academy at Annapolis
under revised and improved system
of regulations, now affords opportu;
mites of education and instruction tc
the pupils, quite equal, it is believed
for professional Improvement, to those
enjoyed by the cadets in the Military
Academy A large class Of. acting
midshipmen was received at the com.
mencement of the last academic
term, and a practice-ship has been
attached to the institution, to afford
the amplest means for regular instruc.
ton in seamanship, as well as fol
cruises during the vacation Of three
or four months in each year.
The advantages of science in
nautical affairs have rarely been more
strikingly illustrated than in the
fact stated in the report Of the navy
department, that by means of the
wind and current charts, projected
and prepared by Lieut.. Maury, the
Superintendent Of the Naval Observ.
atory, the passage from the Atlantic
to the Pacific ports of our country
has been shortened by about forty
days.
The estimates for the support Of
the Navy and Marine Corps the en-
suing fiscal year viii be found to be
S5,S56,472 10, the estimates fol
the current year being S5.900,621.
The estimates for special objects
under the control of this Depart
ment, amount to S2,684,220 SO.
against S2,210,99D for the present
year, the increase being oecasioned
by the additional mail service on the
Pacific coast, and The construction Of
the dock in California, authorized at
the last session Of Congress, and
some slight additions, under the
head of Improvements and repairs
in navy yards, buildings and ma,
chinery.
| deem it of much Importance to q
Just economy, and a corr ect under.
standing of naval expenditures, that
there should be an entire separation
of the appropriations for .thesupport
of the naval service proper from
those for permanent improvements
at navy yards and station ;, and from
ocean steam mail service, and other
special objects assigned to the super
vision of this Department.
| The report of the Postmaster
General, herewith com municated,
presents an inter esting view Of the
lnrooress. operatibns. and condition oil
his Department.
At the close of the last fiscal year
the length of mail routes within the
United States was 10000 miles
1.-THE annual transportati on thereon
i53,272,2 52 miles, and the annua
cost Of such transportation S3,42I,
1854.
The lie ngth Of the foreign mai
routes is estimated at lS,349 miles
and the annual transportation there
on at 615,206 miles. The annua
cost Of this service is S1,472,lS7, Q
which S44S,937 is paid by the Pos
Office Department, and S1,023,25(
is paid through the Navy Depart
m9nt.
The annual transportation wtthif
the United States excluding thC
service in California and Oregon
which is now, for the first time, re
ported and embraced in the tabular
statements Of the Department. ex
ceeds that Of the preceding yea
6,l62,S55 miles, at an increased cos
Of S547,110.
The whole number Of post offices
in the United States, on the soil
day of June last, was 1876. There
were 1868 post Offices established
and 256 discontinued, during tn
year.
/ The gross revenues of the Depart
,ment for the fiscal year, includint
1.-THE appropriations for the franke'
matter of Congress, of the Depart
Iments, and officers of Government
and excluding the foreign postage
collected for aud payable to, TIT
British post, Office, amounted to Sc,