Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1863-12-11

full position on the ocean. The change that
has taken place in naval vessels and naval
warfare since the introduction Of steam as a
motive power for ships of war, demands a
corresponding change in some of our navy
yards or the establishment of new ones for
the construction and necessary repairs of
modern war vessels. No inconsiderable EN-
barrassments, delays and public injury has
been experienced from the ". mt of some such
Government establishment. The necessity
Of such 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 Department, and is again pre-
sented to you in the report of the Secre-
tary which accompanies this communication
l think it my duty to invite your special
attention to this subject and also to that Of
establishing yard and depot for naval pur-
poses upon one of the western rivers. A ma.
val force has been created on these interior
waters and under many disadvantages, with.
in little more than two years, exceeding in
numbers the whole naval force of the country
at the commencement of the present admin
istration. As satisfactory and important as
have been the performance of the heroic men
of the navy at this interesting period, they
are scarcely more wonderful than the services
of our mechanics. Superior to any other ma.
ton in our resources of iron and timber, with
inexhsustable quantities Of fuel in the imme
date vicinity Of both and all available
and in close proximity to navigable waters
without the advantage Of public works,
the resources of the nation have been de-
veloped and its power displayed in the con.
struction of 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 1851 to about "a, 900 at the present
time, has been accomplished without especial
legislation and extraordinary bounties to pro
mote that increase. 1t has been found, how
ever, that the operation of the draft for army
recruits is beginning to affect injuriously the
naval service, and will, if not corrected, be
likely to impair its efficiency by detaching
seamen from their proper vocation and in
ducing them to enter the army. therefore
respectfully suggest that Congress might aid
both the army and naval service by adequate
provision on this subject, which would, too, be
equitable to the community more especially
interested. l recommend to your consid
Grafton the suggestios Of the Secretary Of
the Navy in regard to the policy of fostering
and training seamen for the Naval service.
The Naval Academy is rendering signal ser
vice, in preparing midshipmen for highly re.
sronsible duties, which in after life they will
be required to perform. In order that the
country should not be deprived of educated
officers, for which legal provision has beer
made at the Naval school, the vacancies
caused by the neglect or omission to make
nominations from States in instruction. have
been filled by the Secretary of the Navy.
The school is now more full and complete
than at any previous period, and in every
respect entitled to the favorable consideration
of Congress.
POSTAL MATTERS.
During the last fiscal year the fnancia
condition of the Post Office Department has
been one of increasing prosperity and am
gratified in being able to state that the re
ceipts of postal revenue have nearly equalle.
the entire expenditures, the latter amounting
to 81 ,3l4, 900 s5, and the former to $ll,
163,7s9 SO, leaving defciencylof $15,
AIT %. In 1860, the year Immediately pre-
ceding the rebellion, the deficiency amounted
to $56,567,O5l 40. The postal receipts o
that year are $2,645, 1922 10 less than thos
of 1868. The decrease since 1860 in thu
annual amount of transportation has been
only IS per cent, but the annual expendi
lures on account of the same has been re
duced % per cent 1t is manifest, therefore
that the Post Office Department may become
self-sustainipg in q few years, even with the
restoration of the whole service. The inter
national conference of postal delegates from
the principal countries Of Europe and Amer
lea, which was called at the suggestion of thu
Postmaster General, met at Paris on the 11tt
of May last and concluded its deliberations
on the 8th of June. The principles estab
lished by the conference as best adapted t.
facilitate postal intercourse between nation!
and as the basis of future conventions inau
gurate general system of uniform interna
tional charges at reduced rates of postage
and cannot fail to produce beneficial results
THE PUBLIC LANDS.
I refer you to the report Of the Secretary
of the Interior which is herewith laid befor,
lation to public lands, Indian affairs, patents
pensions, and other matters of public concern
pertaining to his Department. The quaint
ty of land disposed of during the last and tn
first quarter Of the present fiscal year was
1851 $40 acres, of which 1901 acres wer,
sold for cash 1,456,514 acres were taken W
under the homestead law, and the residue dis
posed of under the law granting lands fol
military bounties, for railroad and othel
purposes. 1t also appears that the sale Of
public lands is largely on the increase. L
has long been cherished opinion of some o.
o + wisest statesmen that the people of The
United States had higher and more endear
ing interest in the early settlement and sub
stantial cultivation Of the public lands, thar
in the amount of direct revenue to be de-
rived from the sale Of them. This opinion ha.
had q controlling infuen.e in shaping legis
ton on the subject of our national domain
I may cite as evidence of this, the liberal
measures adopted in reference to actual set
tiers. in the grant to the States Of the over.
flowed lands within their limits in order tc
their being reclaimed and rendered fit fol-
cultivation. The grants to railroad com.
panies of alternate sections of lard
upon the contemplated lines Of
their road, when completed, will, too, large
ly multiply the facilities for reviewing oul
distant possessions. This policy has received
its most signal and beneficial illustration ir
the recent enactment granting homestesds t.
actual settlers. Since the first of January
last, the aforementioned quantity of on
million four hundred and fify-six Thousand
five hundred and fourteen acres Of land ha
been taken up under its provision. This fact
and the amount of sales, furnish gratifying
evidence of increasing settlement upon public
lands, notwithstanding the great struggle il
which the energies of the nation have en-
gagged and has required so large Withdrawal
Of our citizens from their accus omed pursuits
1 accordingly concur in the recommendation
of the Secretary of the Interior, suggesting
modification of the act in favor of those en-