Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1863-12-19

trely suppress illicit trade From returns
received at the Navy Department, it ap-
pears that more than / 900 vessels have
been captured since the blockade was in.
stituted, and that the value of prizes al
ready sent in for adjudication amounts to
over Sl3, 100000
The naval orce Of the United States
consists, at this time, of 555 vessels, COM
pleted and in the course of completion, and
of these rs are iron clad or armored
steamers. The events of the war give an
increased interest and Importance to the
navy which will probabi extend beyond
the war itself.
The armored vessels in our Navy, conf
pleted and in service, or which are under
contract and approaching completion, are
believed to exceed in number those of any
other power But while these may be re.
lied upon for harbor defence and coast SER
vice, others of greater strength and capac-
its will be necessary for cruising purposes
and to maintain our righttul position on
TIE ocean
The change that has taken place in ma
val vessels and naval warfare since the in.
PRODUCTION Of steam as a motive power for
ships Of war, demands either correspond
ing change in some of our existing Navy
, Yards, or the establishment of new ones
. for the construction and necessary repair
} Of modern naval vessels. No iuconsidera-
bic embarra ssmcnt, delay and pnblic injury
have been experienced from the want of
, such governmental os'aslishments.
The necessity Of such Navy Yard, so
/ furnsed, at o,le suitable place upon the
Atlantic soaboard, has, on repeated occa
} sious, been brought to the attention of Con-
5 grcss by the Navy Department, and is
gain presented in the report OF the Secre-
tary, which accompanied this communica-
: ton, think it my duty to invite your
special attention to this subject, and also to
that Of establishing yard and depot for
= naval purposes, upon ono Of the western
rivers.
. A naval force has been erected on these
} interior waters, and under many disad-
vantages within little more than two years
, exceeding in numbers the whole naval force
; of the country at the commencement ottht
: present administration. Satisfactory and
e important as have been the perlorma nee.
c Of the heroic men of the navy at this inter
| estiDg period they are scarcely more won
i dertu than the success, a cur mechanic
= and artizaus in the production Of war ve,
If sells, which has created IL new form o
c naval power, Our country has advantage.
= superior to any other nation in our re-
). sources of iron and timber, with mex
n hau,tibIe quaint itie- Of fuel in the immcdi
IS ate vicinity Of both, aid all available ant
IS an close proximity to hayigable waters -
e Without the advantage of public works the
; resources of the nation have been deve
;. oped, and its power displayed in the con
J, Strucion Of navy Of such magnitude
which has at the very period of its crea
t, ton, rendered signal service to the Union
t. The increase of the number Of seamen il
# the pubic service, from $500 men in tn,
= spring Of 1861 to about "a ,001 at the pres
=. cut time, has been accomplished withou
: special legislation, or extraordinary boun
i ties to promote that increase. 1t has beer
l. found, however, that the operation e( the
= draft. with the high houates paid for arm,
i recruits, is beginning 20 affect injuriousl,
Is the naval service, and will if not corrected
t, be likely to impair its efficiency by dejach
=. ing seamen from their proper vocation an,
s. inducing them to enter the army. there
Q. fore respectfully suggest that Congrcs
y might aid both the army and naval ser
1, vices by definite provision on this subject
y which would at the same time be cqultobl
to the communities more especially inter
Is ested.
e, commend 90 ycgr consideration tn
lg suggestions OF the Secretary Of the Nav
r, in regard to the policy of fostering an
TT training seamen, and also the education {
III officers and engineers for the naval SCI
vice. The Naval Academy is rendering
OF signal service in preparing midshipmon 70
a the highly responsible duties which, i
be after life, they will be required to perform
er In order that the country should not b
ly deprived df the rrafer quota of educate
tn officers, for which legal provision has bee
t. made at The naval school, the vacancic
IL caused by the neglect or omission to max
nominations from the States in Insured
a ton, have been filled by the Secretary {
of. the Navy. The school is now more fu
ar and complete than at any former period
n and in every respect entitled to the favor
able consideration oil Congress.
9r- During the past fiscal year the iinanola
condition of the Post Office Departmer
lly has been one of increasing prosperity, an
:. | am gratifed in being able to state tho
lct the actual postal revenue has nearly cqua
lat ed the entire expenditures, the latter ;
'o- mounting to 81 ,3l4,2O6 "a, and the fol
mer to Sll,lG3,7S0 80, leaving defcier
lid cy of but Sl5O,4l7 20
In 1860, the year Immediately precedin
)c- the rebellion, the deficiency amounted t
al, $G,G56,7 ,705 40, the postal receipts of tn;
al, year being S2,645,722 10, less than thos
nd Of 1868.
M The decrease slice 1860 in the annu;
oil amount of transportation has been onl
* about 25 per cent, but the annual exper
INT diture on account of the same has bee
to reduced 35 per cent. 1t is manifest, there