The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1854-12-09
THE 7PERRYSBURG JOURNAL.
duc,ion into our merchant ships of indented

apprentices, which, while 1t would afford
useful and eligible occupation to numerous
young men, would have a tendency to raise
the character of seamen as class, and 1t is
deserving of serious reflection whether it may
not be desirable to revise the existing laws
for maintenance Of discipline at sea, from
which the security of life and property on
the ocean must to great extent depend
Although much attention has already been
given by congress to the proper construction
and arrangement of steam vessels and all
passage ships still the achievements of sci
ence and mechanical skill in this direction
have not ben exhausted, and no good reason
exists for the marked distinctions which ap-
pear upon our statutes between the laws for
protecting life and property on the seas and
those for protecting them on land.
In most of the states, severe penalties are
provided to punish conductors of trains. en-
gneers and others employed in the trans
portation of persons by railway or steam
boats on rivers. Why should not the same
principle be applied to acts of insubordina-
ton, or cowardice, or other misconduct, on
the part of masters Of vessels, producing in
jury or death to passengers on the high seas,
beyond the jurisdiction of any of the states.
and where such delinquencies can be reach
ed only by the power of congress? The
whole subject is earnestly commended to
your attention.
The report of the Post Master General, to
which you are referred, in relation to this
important and rapidly extending branch of
the public service, shows the expenditures
Of the year ending June Both, 1854, includ-
ing Sl33 483 of balance due to foreign Off
ces, amounted to $8,7lO,9O7. The gross re-
ceipts during the same period amounted to
ss6, 935, ,5S6, exhibiting an expenditure over
income Of 81 ,755. .32l, and diminution of
deficiency as compared with last year, of
| 1851 ,756. The increase of the revenue of
the department for the year ending June 3Oth,
1851, over the preceding year, was 1870
| 399. No proportionate increase however can
be anticipated for the current year, in con-
sequence of the act of congress of June 23d,
| 1854, providing for increased compensation
to all postmasters.
/ From these statements, it is apparent thai
the post office department, instead of paying
its expenses, as was designed at the time OF
its creation, is now. and under existing laws
must continne to be to no small extent, d
charge upon the general treasury. The cost
Of mail transporta tion during the year end
ing June 3Oth, 1854, exceeds the cost of the
preceding year by $495,074. again call
your attention to the subject of mail trans
portation by ocean steamers, and commend
the suggestions of the post master general
to your attention.
During the last fiscal year IL ,070. 1886 acres
of the public lands have been surveyed
I8,l90,0l7 acres brought into market. The
!, number Of acres sold is 7,035 1885, and the
amount received therefor SO ,285, ,533. The
aggregate amount of lands sold, loca-
ted under military scrip and land war
rants. selected as swamp lands by states, and
by locating under grants for roads, is upwards
Of 100000 acres. The increase of lands
sold over the previous year, is about 5000,
600 acres, and the sales during the two tirst
quarters Of the current year present the ex
traordinary result of five and a half million;
; sold, exceeding by nearly 4,000,0 600 acres the
! sales Of the corresponding quarters of the las
; year, thus increasing TO am extent unparal
leled during any like period in our past his
tory, the amount of revenue provided from
this source for the federal treasury.
The commendablc policy Of the govern
ment in relation to setting apart the public
domain for those who have served their coun
} try in time of war, is illustrated by the fac
that since 1890, no less than thirty million!
) of acres have been applied to this object.
The suggestions which submitted in ny
animal message of last year, in reference tt
grants of land in aid of the construction o
~