The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1863-12-17

Yet, on so long line, it has so far been
impossible to entirely suppress illicit
trade From the returns received at the
Navy Department, it appears that more
than 1000 vessels have been captured
since tho blockade was instituted, and
that the value of the prizes already sent
in for adjudication amounts to over Sl3,-
100000.
The naval force of the United States
consists at this time Of $50 vessels COM
pleted and in course of construction.
Of these seventy-6ve are iron clad ar
mored steamers. The events of the war
give an increased interest and Importance
to the navy, which will probably extend
beyond the.war itself. The armored ves-
sells 10 our navy completed and in service,
or which are under contract and ap.
preaching completion, are believed to
exceed those of any other power; but
while these may be relied upon for har-
Dor defense and sea coast survey, others
of greater strength and capacity will be
necessary for cruising purposes and to
maintain our rightful position on the
ocean. The change that has taken place
in nava! vessels and naval warfare since
the introduction of steam as a motive
power for ships of war, demands a cor
responding change in some of our navy
yards of the establishment of new ones
for the construction and necessary re-
pairs of modern war vessels No incon-
siderable embarrassments, delays and
public injury has been experienced from
the want Of some such Government es.
tablishment. The necessity of such a
navy yard so furnished at some suitable
place on the Atlantic seaboard has, on
repeated occasions, been brought to the
attention of Congress by the Navy De-
partment, and is again presented to you
in the report of the Secretary which &C.
companies this communication.
| think it my duty to invite your spe-
cial attention to this subject and also to
that of establishing yard and depot for
naval purposes upon one of the western
rivers. A naval force has been created
on these interior waters and under many
disadvantages, within little more than
two years, exceeding in numbers the
whole naval force of the country at the
commencement Of the present admins.
tration. As satisfactory and important
as have been the performance of the he
role men of the navy at this interesting
period, they are scarcely more wonder
tul than the services of our mechanics.
Superior to any other nation in our re-
sources of iron and timber, with mex
haustable quantities of fuel in the imme
diate vicinity of both and all available
and in close proximity to navigable wa.
ters, without the advantage of public
works, the resources of the nation have
been developed and its power displayed
in the construction of a navy of such
magnitude, which has, at the very period
of its creation, rendered signal service to
the Union.
The increase of the number of seamen
in the public service from 1000 men in
the spring Of 1861 to about 24,60O at
the present time, has been accom- plished
without especial Legislation and extraor-
dlnary bounties to promote that increase.
1t has been found, however, that the op-
Grafton of the draft for army recruits is
beginning to affect ipjuriously the naval
service, and will, if not corrected, be
likely to impair its efficiency by detach-
ing seamen from their proper vocation
and inducing them to enter the army
| therefore respectfully suggest that Con.
gress might aid both the army and naval
service by adequate provision on this
subject, which would, too, be equitable
to the community moro especially inter.
ested. l recommend to your considera-
tion the suggestions Of the Secretary Of
the Navy in regard to the policy of fos-
tering and training seamen for the Naval
service. The Naval Academy is render.
ing signal service, in preparing midship.
men for highly responsible duties, which
in after life they will be required to per-
form. In order that the country should
not be deprived Of educated officers, for
Which legal provision has beeu made at
the Naval School, the vacancies caused
by the neglect or omission to make nom.
nations from States in insurrection, have
been filled by the Secretary of the Navy.
The school is now mjre full and complete
than at any previous period, and in every
respect entitled to the favorable consid-
Grafton of Congress.
POSTAL MATTERS.
During the last fiscal year the fnan.
clal condition of the Post Office Depart
ment has been one Of increasing prosper
ity and | am gratifed in being able to
state the receipts of postal revenue have
nearly equaled the entire expenditures,
the latter amounting to l1,3l4 900 S5,
and the former to Sl1 .162, ,7o9 SO, leav-
ing deficiency of 15,4l7.25. In 1860,
the year Immediately preceding the re-
bellion, the deficiency amounted to $685.
567, ,05l 40! The postal receipts of that
year are 81, ,645, ,722.19 less than those
of 1868. The decrease since 1860 in
the annual amount of transportation has
been only rs per cent, but the annual