Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1851-12-11
The IDES MONIES COURIER.

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such modes Of determining guilt, and such
gradations Of punishment as ale consist.
emit with humanity, and the personal right.
Of individuals, aud at the same time shall
insure the most energetic and efficient
performances of duty, and the suppression
Of crime on our ships If war.
The stone dock in the navy yard al
New York, which was ten years in pro.
cess of construction, has heen so far EN-
ished as to be surrendered 10 the anihori-
lies Of the yard. The dry deck al Phila.
leIphia is reported as completed, and is
expected 10 be tested, and delivered Owe
% the agents Of tie government. That d:
Portsmouth,, New Hampshire, is also
neatly ready for delivery and contract
has been concluded, agreeabIy 10 the act
Of Congress at its last ses siutl, for q float
ing sectional dock ON The Bay Of San
Francisco.
invite your attention 10 the RECON-
Of The Department, touching
The establishment of navy yard, in con-
nec'ion with this dock, in The Pacifc.-
sucha station is highly necessary to the
Of our fleets in that ocean
which must be expected to increase with
The growth Of commerce., and the rapid
extension Of our v hale fisheries, in its
waters.
The Naval Academy at Annapolis,
under revised and improved system Of
regulations, low affords opportunities Of
education and instruction TO the pupils,
quite equal, il Is believed. for professional
lmprov. merit, 10 those enjoyed by the
Cadets, in tie Military Academy. A
large class of midshipmen was received
1t tie commencement Of the last academ-
cal term, and praciice-ship has been
attached to the institution, 10 afford the
amplest mems fer regular instruction in
as v ell as for cruises, during
he vacation Of three or four months in
rach year. The advantages OF science
IN nautical affairs have rarely bren more
strikinely illustrated than ia The fact STE
led in the report Of the Navy department,
that by means of the wind aud current
charts protected and proposed by Lieut.,
Many, the superintendent, of the naval
the passage Of the Atlantic
and Pscific ports Of our country has been
by about 40 days.
The estimate fer the support Of the
Navy and Marine corps, the ensuing fis-
raj year, will be found to be So ,s56, 742,-
l9-the estimates for tie current year
being Ss5.9OO,6l2. Tie estimates for
u ecial Oh jects nndsr the control Of this
department amount, 10 $2,tS4 ,220 50.
against 2,2l0, $50 for tie last year--the
Increase icing for additional mail service
n the Pscific coast, and the construction
,f the Geek in California, authorized h,
he lat session cf Congress, and some
light additions under tie head of the
and reports in Navy Yard
b:iildirgs and machinery
deem il of much importance TO o
gnod economy. end correct nnds rstand-
rg 81 naval expenditures, that there
should be an entire separation Of tie APP
preparation for the support Of the naval
service proper, from u o,e for permanent
impro, enenis at Nayy Yards and stations
and from ocean steam mail service and
uther special objects, assigned TO the su.
pervision Of this department.
The report Of the Post Master General
herew iih communicated presents an in
Iererti,g lew Of The progress Of Tue cp-
eraiiolis and cunjition ii bis. department
Al the close of the last fiscal wear the
iergth Of mail routes in the United State,
was lS6 .290 miles; the annual trans porta.
ZION thereon So, ,252 miles, and the an.
nnal cost oil transportation So, 42l ISL
I!e length oil the for. ign reut.s is e>li.
mated III lS,3i9 miles, and The snnua
transportation thereon al 6l5,cC6 miles
The annual cost oflhis service Is ST. ,472,.
lS6; Of which $44S,937 i, paid hy tl.s
Pesi Office Department, and, ST. ,O23. 25C
is paid through the Navy Department.
Tie annual transportation within The
U it'd States, exclndi,g Tie service in
California and Oregon, which is now fol
the first time ieporl.i and enumerated IL
The tabular statements Of the departm. nj
exceeds that Of the pre-. eedirg ycsr 56l. !.
285 miles, Ut an increased cost Of 574.-
Ito dollars. The Il hole nunb.. Of Pos
Offices in the United States. en- the SOIL
day OF June last, WAS 1877 6. Tier,
Mere 1868 Post Office. established ane
256 nlinued during tie year. Th.
gross revenues Of tie department. IL; ,hs
fi,cal year, including the appropriation,
Tor ranked matter. Of Cci grcss, of III.
e. ailments cIi ,i:ctrs cf Government
and excluding the foreign postsgts col.
lec!ed f,I, and payable TO the British Pos
Offices, amounted 10 $6,727 ,S66 49,
Expenditures fer the same period, .oxclu
i,g $c0,569 40, Iaid under tie aware
( the Auditor, in p,,rsusrce Of resolr.
len Of the last congr ess, for mail scryic,
on the ohio and Mississippi rivers il
1882 and 1888, and the amount raid III.
British Post OfGce, collected for ard paw
4 le 10 that office, Amounted IL sc, O24, !.
5e6 leaving balance Of revenu.
'ver he proper expense. Of the year, Of
Sos, $50 So. The receipts for rcstsg.
hiring The year, excluding the foreign
post; collected for and payable TO The Brit.
ssh Post Office, amounted TO Sc, "a .747,.
n being an increase Of $e97 ,6lO 70. o,
$iS6, 5l0 over tho receipts Of The pre-.