Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1856-01-16
TIE RAFTsmAn's JOURNAL,

! to physical science included in the result of
these surveys are exceedingly valuable.
The final portion of the Report is an elabo-
rate consideration of the military defences of
our Pacific territory. 1t is argued that a rail-
road to the Pacific is indispensable, for the
reason that it will be the only means of throw
ing relief into the Pacific country, in case of
any collision with maritime power, and our
navy being inadequate to the convoy of the
necessary number of storeships. A railroad
communication is not only likely to be a sa-
wing enterprise, but it will have the effect of
fortifying the Western coast against attacks
from abroad. No stronger ground in favor of
a Pacific road has been taken by any party not
directly concerned in the speculation, than
that which is assumed by Secretary Davis.
NAVY DEPARTMENT.-The report of Secreta-
ry Dobbn is an extremely interesting docu-
ment; but it misrepresents in the facts which
it furnishes solely, for it is excessively wordy,
long-spun, and slovenly written. The most
essential part of it is the defence of the Navy
Retiring Board. The defence of the Board is
not particularly forcible, and all its value is
| negatiVcd by the admission that important
| mistakes had been made, injustice been done
to worthy officers, and that necessity exists
for correcting the errors the Board had fallen
into. The Secretary calls the action of the
board "a reform, though no reforms whatever
have been arrived at or effected, and the navy
is left in precisely the same defective condi-
ton it was in before the retiring Board assem-
bled. The only thing the Board accomplish
ed was to put certain officers off duty and put
certain other officers in their places, who, in a
fearful number of instances, We have reason to
believe, are no better than those dismissed.
The Home Squadron, commanded by Capt.
Paulding, consists of the frigate Potomac, the
sloops Cyane and Saratoga, and the steamer
Fulton. The Columbia was last at St. Thomas.
No intelligence has been had of the missing
A xyh icI, o,ir los
The Brazil Squadron consists of the frgate
Savannah, Captain Salter the sloop German
town, and the brig Bainbrdge; the Secretary
remarks, that these vessels have been ssndus-
triously" cruising between Rio de Janciro and
Monteydco but, as there has been no especial
necessity for Squadron there during the past
20 years, they have done nothing but cruise.
The African Squadron, under the command
of Capt. Crabbc, consists Of the s!oops-O of war
jamestown, Dale, ST. Louis, and brig Dolphin.
The sloop Marion, recently attached to the
African Squadron, has leen condemned as I'M
seaworthy. The slave trade South of the
Equator has been broken up.
The Mediterranean Squadron, commanded
| by Captain Breeze, consists of the frigate Con-
gress, the steamer Saranac, the sloop Constel-
lation, and the storeship Supply. Nothing
| has been done in the Mediterranean.
The East India Squadron, under the COM
mand of Captain Abbot, consists of the sioop
haceUonliln, nc steamer tue SloOp
| Nandaia, and the Storcshlp j. +. Kennedy
The civil war in China has afforded some en-
| ployd dient for our vessels in the East. The
| Secretary recommends sending one or two
| steamers OF light draft to navigate the Chinese
| rivers. The steamer San JaciItc sailed
| from New York, r October, to relieve the
Macedonian, whose time abroad has expired.
The survey of Behring's Straits and the \ orth
| Pacific, under command of Commander Rog-
ers, has been carried on with satisfactory re-
suit. The account of this expedition is the
mos, interesting part Of the Message.
The Pacific Squadron is composed of the
| frigato Independence, the sloops ST. Mary,
John Adams, and Decatur, and the steam Ell
Massachusetts, the sloop Warren, and the ship
| Fredonia. The Squadron is under the COM
mand of Captain Meryine.
The Michigan steamer has been usefully
employed in the upper lakes.
Like all his predecessors, the Secretary
| earnestly recommends an increase of the Ma
| Wy, and particularly an addition OF steamships
| of light draft of water. a great Naval force.
| the Secretary hints, cannot be improved by
| the tap of the drum, like great army. lie
considers our Navy too diminutive TO contend
with that of any respectable power, and too
| feeble to protect even our own harbOrs. The
| aggregate tonnage OF the U. S. in 1872, was l,
247 ,997 tons. During the fiscal year it was s.
PIP 600 1925, and our sea coast, is now great
| ly increased in extent, and the damage effect
| ed by q respectable enemy in six months would
| greatly exceed the cost of Navy sufficient to
protect our commerce sufficiently. The ques-
| ton of an increase of the Navy, the Secretary
regards as one Of peace rather than war.
The Secretary enlarges at great length upon
| the apprenticeship system (which he has adopt
ed as means for furnishing reliable body OF
seamcn for the Navy, and gives the testimony
| of officers in its favor. But we look in vain
| for an original idea or suggestion in Mr.. Dob
bins reports ii is entirely destitute of anything
| of the sort, and exhibits no special knowledge
of the service beyond the figures which are
| furnished by the heads OF bureaus. The old
aristocratic plan which has resulted in the
state of affairs which rendered the action Of the
| Navy Retiring Board necessary. is to be con-
| tinued, and the Secretary adopts the old plan
of educating men TO be common sailors, with
out the hope or prospect of hettering their
condition by good behaviour.
The estimated expenses Of tbs Department
| for the ensuing year are 3,524 sos 81 which
is less, by nearly S3000,000, than the esti-
mate of the fiscal year.
| TREASURY DEPARTMENT.-The following is
an abstract of the report Of the U. S. Secreta-
| ry of the Treasury, for the fiscal year ending
| June 80, 1855 The tables on foreign trade
| show the increase of dutiable goods imported
during the year ending June 80, 1855, over
the year ending June go 1851, is S126, 1885,
900; do. of free goods, SIS, 1852, ,926; decrease
| of specie and bullion. Sill ,430; showing to-
tai increase of Sl44, ,02S, 1896 in favor of 1855.
| The increase last year over 1850 is given thus
Dutiable goods, $50, IA. .6SS; of free goods,
S18, ,34S, ,934; decrease of specie and bullion,
$96S, ,SS0-total increase, S93 ,144,642.
The foreign imports at all the ports of the
| United States Gncluding, of course, Califor-
MIA and Oregon) for tho fiscal year ending
June 80, 1855, were S261 ,3S2 800, against
l for uO