Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1863-12-16


~ the establishment ul ucN one. iUr iho
construction aud necessary repair OF mod
efu naval vessels so uncomfortable cm.
barrossmenl delay nud public injury have g
been experienced uom the vnrt OF such
governmental establishments
The necessity OF such Navy Yard, so
furnished. at some suitable place upon The
Atlantic se,board, has, ON repeated occo.
,ions, been brought to the attention of
Congress by the Navy Department, and is
again presented in tho report of the See
retary, which accompanies this communi
cation, 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 one OF the ives.
tern rivers
A naval force has been created on these
interior waters, and under many dlsddyan.
tages within little more than two years
exceeding in numbers the whole naval
force Of the country at the commencement
of the present administration. Satisiacto'
ry and important as have been the pertor.
mances of the heroic men OF the navy at
this interesting period, they are scarcely
more wonderful than the success Of our
mechanics and arlizans in the production
of war vessels, which has created anew
torn 0f naval power. Oar country has adj
vantages superior to any other nation in
our resources Of iron and timber, with in
eXhaustIO,e quantities OF fuel in the i'm.
mediate vicinity of both, and all available
and in close proximity 90 navigable waters.
Without the advantage Of public works,
the resources Of the nation have been de-
veloped, and its power displayed IN the
construction Of "a navy Of such magnitude,
which has az the very period OF its crea-
tion, rendered signal service TO the Union.
The Increase of the number of seamen
in the public service, from 1900 men in
spring of 1861 TO about "a 600 at the pres
ent time, has been accomplished without
special legislation, or extraordinary boun-
t!es to promote that increase. 1t has been
found, however, that the operation of the
draft, with the high bounties paid for ar
my recruits, Is beginning to affect njuri-
uusly the naval service, and will, il not
corrected, be likely to impair its efficiency
by detGching seamen from their proper
vocation and inducing them to enter the
army. ! therefore respectfully suggest
that Congress might all both the army
and naval services by definite provision
on this subject which would at the same
time be equitable to the communities
more especially Interested.
commend TO your confederation the
suggestions Of the Secretary Of the Navy
in regard to the policy OF fostering and
training seamen, and also the education
Of officers and engineers for the naval ser-
vice. The Naval Academy is rendering
signal service in preparing midsbipmen
for the highly responsible duties which,
in after life, they will be required to per
form. In order that tue country should
not be deprived Of the proper quota Of ed.
ucated officers, for which legal provision
has been made at the naval school, the
vacancies caused by the neglect or omis.
sion TO make nominations from the States
in iusurrccliou, have beer filed by The
Secretary Of the Navy. The school is now
more full and complete !han at any form
cr period, and IN every respect Untitled t'
refer you to the report of the Secreta
ry OF the Interior, which is herewith laiC
before you, fer useful and 7aried informa
ton, in relation to the public land, lndiar
affairs patents, pensions, and other mat
ters Of puLlic concern pertaining to hi.
department.
The quantity OF land disposed Of during
the last and the first quarters of the pres
ent fiscal year was three million eighI
hundred and forty-one thousand 1--WE hun
Ored and orty-nine acres, Of which one
hundred siXty-ooe thousand nine hun
dred and eleven acres were sold for cash
one million four hundred and fifty-siH
, thousand five hundred and fourteen acre
, were taken up under the homestead law
and the residue disposed OF under laws
granting lands for military bounties, 70
A railroad and other purposes 1t also ap
, pears that the sale Of the public lands i
r largely on the increase.
% II has long been a cherished opinion 0
2 some Of our WiseSt statesmen that the peo
3 pie Of the United States had higher anC
more enduring in in the early settle
Iment and substantial cultivation of thu
/ public lands than in the amount of reve
nue. TO be derived from the sale of them
, The opinion has had q controlling inhu
ence in Shipping legislation upon the sub
iect OF our national domain. | may cite
as evidence Of this, the liberal meaure
the grant to the States of tho overhoweC
lands within there limits in order to thei
teinC reclaimed and rendered fit for cult
vation; the grants to railway companies 0
; alternate sections Of land upon the con
templated lines Of their roads which, whel
completed, will so largely multiply tn
facilities for reaching our distant posses
, ions, This policy has received its mos
, signal and benefCent illustration in th
recent enactment granting homesteads (
actual settlers. Since the first day of jar
uary last the aforementioned quantity O
one million four hundred and fifty-si.
; thousand five hundred and fourteen acre
: OF land have been taken up under its pre-
visions. This fact ard the amount c
sales furnish gratifying evidence of in
creasing settlement upon the public lan6:
Notwithstanding the great struggle i
which the energies of the nation hav
: been engaged, and which has required s
: large a withdrawal of our citizense iron
o their accustomed pursuits. cordially cor
cur IN the recommendation OF the Secre
Of bps N tariRr r,o,l G