The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1863-12-17

adlndlcatlon amount TO over thirteen
million dollars. The naval force ofthe
United States consists at this time of
58S vessels completed and in the course
of completion, and Of these seventy five
are iron clad armorcd steamers. The
events Of the war give an increased in
terest and importance to the navy
WHICH will probably extend beyond
the war itself The armed vessels in
our navy completed and in the service
or which are under contract and ap-
preaching completion, are believed to
exceed in number those of any other
power; but while these may be relied
upon for harbor defense and sea coast
service, others of greater strength and
capac ty will be necessary for cruising
purposes and to maintain our rightfuI
position on the ocean. The change
that has taken place in the naval YES
sells and naval warfare since the in
PRODUCTION of steam1as q motive power
for ships Of war, demands either cor
responding change in some of the ex-
isting navy yards or Of the establish
ment Of new ones for the construction
and necessary repair of modern war
vessels. No inconsidcrable embarrass
ment, and delay, and public injury,
have been experienced from the want
ofsuch Government establishments -
The necessity of such navy yard, so
furnished, at some suitable place on
the Atlantic seaboard. has, on repeated
occasions, been brought to the atten-
ton Of Congress by the Navy Depart.
ment, and is again presented in the
report Of the Secretary, which accom-
panies this communication. think it
my duty to invite your special atten-
tion 10 this subject, and also that Of
establishing u yard and depot for ma
val purposes upon one Of the western
rivers. A naval force has been created
on those interior waters. and under
many disadvantages within little
more than two years. exceeding in
number the whole naval force Of tie
corntry at the commenccn ent of Il e
present Administration Satisfactory
and important rs have been the per
tormances Of the heroic men of the
navy. at this period, they are scarcely
more wonderful than the services of
our mechanics and artisans in the pro.
ductlOn Of war vessels. which have ere
ated a new form Of naval power, Our
country has advantages superior to
any other nation in our resources of
iron and timber with inexhaustible
quantities of fuel in the immediate vi
cinity Of both, and all accessible and
in close proximity to navigable waters.
Without the disadvantage of public
risks, the resources OF the nation have
been developed and its power display
ed in the construction Ofa navy of such
magnitude, which has at the very pc
riod OF its creation, rendered signal
service to the Union. The increase Of
the number of scamcn in the public
service from 1000 men, in the spring
OF 1861, to about "a 1000, ut the present
time, has been accomplished without
especial legislation or extraordinary
bountics to promote that increase. 1t
has been found however, that the opc-
ratons Ofthe draft, with the high boun
ties paid for army recruits, is begin
ming to effect injuriously the naval ser
vice, and WILL If not corrected, be like.
ly to impair its efficiency by detaching
Seamcn from their proper vocation,
and inducing them to enter the army
| therefore respectfully suggest that
Congress might aid both army and ma
val service by adequate provision on
this subject, which would at the same
time be equitable to the communities
more especially intended | commend
to your consideration the suggestions
Of the Secretary Of the Navy in regard
to the policy Of fostering and training
seamcn for naval service. The Naval
Academy is rendering signal service
IN preparing midshipmen for the
highly responsible duties which, in
after hfe, they will be required to per-
form, in order that the country should
not be deprived of the proper quota Of
educated officers for. which legal pro-
vision has been made at the naval
school. The vacancies caused by neg
lect or omission to make nominations
from the Stntes in insurrcccion, have
been filled by the Secretary of the Ma
Wy. The school is now more full and
complete than at any previous period
and in every respect is entitled to the
favorable consideration Of Congress.
During the past fiscal year the firmn-
cial condition of the Postoflice Depart.
ment has been one of increased pros.
perity, and | am gratifed in being
able to state that the amount of postal
revenue has nearly equaled the entire
expendituro--the latter amounting to
eleven millions, three hundred and
fourteen thousand dollars and eighty
four cents, and the former to eleven
millions, one hundred and sixty-three
thousand, seven hundred and eighty
nine dollars and fifty nine cents, leav-
ing deficiency of but $3.50, All 25.
In 1860, the year Immediately preced-
ing the rebellion, the deficiency
amounted to S5,656,7O5 40; the postal
receipts Of that year were 81, ,645.722 10
less than those Of 1863. The decrease
since 1870 in the annual amount of
transportation. has been only about
twenty-five per cent, but the annual
expenditures, on account of the same,
has been reduced 35 per cent. 1t is
manifast thornforn thnt tho pnstf,ff1co