The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1857-12-24

sthmus Of Central America are at best hut very un-
certain and unreliable mode of communication But
" this were not the case they would at once be
closed against rs in the event OF with Pow
er so mnch stronger than as to enable 1t to
blockade the ports at either end of these routes After
| all, therefore, we only rely upon military road
through territories ever since the origin
the Government Congress has been In the practice Of
appropriating money from the public Treasury for the
| construction of such roads.
The difficulties and the expense Of constructing a
military railroad to connect our Atlantic and Pacific
States have been greatly exaggerated The distance
on the Arizona route, near the thirty parallel
Of north latitude, between the western boundary Of
Texas on the Rio Grande and the boundary
California the Colorado from the best explorations
now within knowledge, does exceed 47o miles
and the face of the country is in the man favorable
For obvious reasons, the Governments ought to
dertake the work ITSELF by of its own agents.
This ought to be committed to other agencies which
Congress might assist either by grants Of land or mon
ey orby both, upon such terms and conditions they
may deem most beneficial for the country Provision
might Thus be made not only for the safe rapid and
economical transportation Of troops and munitions of
war; but also of the public mails The commercial in
terests of the whole country both East and
be greatly promoted by such road and above all IT
wsuld be powerful additions bond Of union And
although advantages of this kind whether postal CON.
mercial POLITICAL confer DOW
sr yet they may furnish auxiliary arguments in favor
OF fexpeditng work which, in my Judgment, is clearly
embraced within the ar-making power
For these commend to the friendly consid.
uration of Congress the subject Of the Pacific railroad
without finally committing myself to any particular
route.
The report Of the Secretary Of the Treasury win fur
nish detailed statement Of the condition OF the pubic
finances and Of the respective branches OF the public
service devolved upon that Department the Govern
ment. By this report it appears that the amount of
revenue received from all Treasury
ing the fiscal ending the Soth June 1851 $685.
i51s 81, which amount with the balance Of S19
s25 IS, remaining in the Treasury the commence
ment Of the year. made aggregate for the service
the year Of &ss, ,532, $50 u. .......ts.....
The public expenditures for the fiscal year ending
soth June, 1851 amounted to s7Os22724 s5 Of which
sos, s95 81 applied to the redemption of the
public debt, including interest and premium leaving in
the Treasury, at the Of the present s
cal year on the LIST July, 1851, s17,7l0,114 81.
The receipts into the Treasury for the first quarter Of
the present fiscal year, commencing 1st Of July 1857
were SEQ S19 81 and the estimated receipts Of the
remaining three quarters the 3th June 1885, are
$685. making with the balance before stated an
aggregate of 1884 Os for the service of the pres
ent fiscal year.
The actual expenditures during the arst quarter Of
the present fiscal year were s23 1452s 81 Of which
2a2 80 were applied to the redemption of the
public debt, including interest and premium. The
probable expenditures remaining three quarters
to Both June, 1858, $51 $50 o. including inter-
est on the public debt, making an aggregaA Of $74
0Ss A. leaving estimated balance in the Treas
ury at the close Of the present ST.
The amount Of the public debt at the commencement
Of the present hscaly year was $40 &c., 1856 90 4
The amount redssmed since the LIST Of July was a.
$685. 232 39, leaving balance nredeemed at this time
of s25, ,165, 1854 81. 80
The amount of estimated expenditures for the re-
manning three quarters Of the present fiscal year w
In all probability, be increased from the set
forth in the report of the Secretary His suggestions
therefore, that authority should be given supply any
temporary deficiency by the issue of limited
of Treasury notes, is approved, and accordingly
commendthe passage Of such a law.
As stated in the report Of the Secretary the tariff Of
March 1857, has been in operation for short
riod of time and under circumstances unfavorable
to just development Of its results q
ure that should regard II inexpedient least for
the present, to undertake Its revision.
transmit herewith the reports made to me by the
Secretaries Of War and OF the Navy ofthe Interior and
of the Postmaster General They all contain valuable
and important information, and suggestions which
commend to the favorable consideration Of Congress-
Ihave already recommended the raising of four ad-
ditonai regiments and the report Of the Secretary Of
War presents strong proving this increase Of
the Army under existing circumstances, to be indis
pensable.
Il raj I'M ro,~c
OF the Secretary Of the Navy in favor
Of the construction Of small war steamers Of light
draught. For some years the Government has been
obliged many occasions to hire such steamers from
individuals to supply its pressing At the
moment we have no armed vessel in the Navy which
can penetrate the rivers Of China. We have but few
which enter any Of the harbors south Of Norfolk
although many millions Of foreign and domestic
annually pass in and out these harbors Some
of most valuable interests and most vulnerable
points thus left exposed This class of vessels Of
light daught, great speed and heavy guns, would be
formidable In coast defense. The cost of their
struction will not be great and they will require but
comparatively small expenditure to keep them in
mission In tins Of peace they will prove effective
much larger vessels, and often useful One Of
them should be at every station where maintain
squadron and three four should be constantly en-
ployed on our Atlantic and Pacific coasts. Economy,
utility, and efficiency, combined TO recommend them
as almost indispensable. Ten of these small vessels
would be Of incalcuabie advantage to the naval
vice, and the whole Of their construction would
net exceed %, 100000, or $sSo, 900 each.
The report Of the Secretary Of the Interior 10 worthy
of grave consideration. 1t treats Of the numerous
important and diversified branches Of domestic admin
istration ntrusted to him by law. Among these the
prominent are the public lands and relations
with the Indians.
Our system for the disposal Of the public lands,
originating with the fathers Of the Republic has been
improved experience pointed out the way and grad
ually adapted to the growth and settlement Of our
western States and Territories. II has worked well In
practice Already thirteen states and rerritor
les have been carved out Of these lands and still
than thousand millions Of acres remain unsold.-
What bo,ndless prospect this presents to coun
try of future prosperity and power!
We have heretofore disposed Of 56s $50 46A o
| the public land.
Whilst the public lands as q source ofrevenue are
great Importance their Importance Is far greater
furnishing homes for hardy and independent o
honest and Industrious citizens, who desire to subdus
and cultivate the SOIL They ought to be administered
mainly with a view Of promoting this wise and benev
olent policy. In approptiating them for any other
purpose, ought to use even greater sconomy thar
If they had been converted into money, and the pro
ceeds already in the public Treasury. To squan