Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1863-12-17

capacity viii be necessary for cruising purpO-
scs, and to maintain our rightful position on
the ocean
The change that has taken place In naval
vessels and naval warfare since the introduc
ton of steam as a motive power for ships of
war, demands either a corresponding change
in some of our existing navy yards, Or the
establishment of new ones for the construc-
ton and necessary repairs of modern war
vessels. No inconsiderable embarrassment
delay and public injury has been experienced
from the want of such Government establish
mcnts. The necessity of such a navy yard
81 furnished, at some suitable place upon the
Atlantic Seaboard, has on repeated occasions
been brought to the attention of Congress by
the Navy Department, and is again presented
IN the report of the Secretary, which accom-
pauics this communication | think it my
duty to invite your especial attention to this
subject, and also to that of establishing yards
and depots for naval purposes upon one of
the western rivers. 4 naval force has been
created on these interior waters, and under
many disadvantages, within a little more than
two years, exceeding in numbers the whole
naval force Of the country at the commence
ment of the present Administration.
Satisfactory and important as. have been the
performances of the heroic men of the navy
at this interesting period, they are scarcely
more wonderful than the services of mer-
chants and artizans in the production of war
vessels, which has created a new form of
naval power. Our country has advantages
superior to any other nation, in our resources
in iron and timber, with inexhaustible guam
titles of fuel in the immediate vicinity of
both, and all accessible and in close prox-
unity to nayi gable waters Without the ad-
vantage 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 seryice-from 1000 men in the
spring of 1861, to about % 900 at the present
time-has been accomplis ned without special
legislation or extraordinary bounties to pro-
mote that increase. 1t has been found, how
ever, that the operation of the draft-with
the high bounties paid for army recruits-is
beginning to effect I'M urlously the naval ser
vice, and will, if not corrected, be likely to
impair its efficiency by detaching seamen from
their proper vocation and inducing them to
enter the army. |. therefore, respectfully
suggest that Congress might aid both the
army and the naval service, by adequate pro-
visions on this subject, which would, at the
SttIlle tluG, Dc tQulGdDlt W Tie communities
more especially interested.
l commend to your consideration the sug-
gestions Of the Secretary Of the Navy, in re
gard to the policy Of fostering and training
seamen for the naval service. The Naval
Academy is rendering signal service in pre-
pairing midshipmen for the highly responsible
duties which, in after life, they will be re-
quired to perform. In order that the coun-
try should not be deprived of proper quota
of educated persons for which legal provision
has been made at the naval school, the va
cancies caused by neglect or omission to
make nominations from the States in insur-
rection have been filled by the Secretary of
the Navy. The school is now more full and
complete than at any previous period, and is
in every respect entitled to the favorable
consideration Of Congress-
PosT-oFFICE DEPARTMENT.
During the past fiscal year the financial
condition of the Postof1ice Department has
been one Of increasing prosperity, and | am
gratifed IN being able to state that the re-
ceipts of postal revenue have nearly equaled
the entire expenditure, the latter amounting
to 81 ,3l4 ,OOO.S4 and the former to 81, l63.-
7S9O9, leaving deficiency of but Sl5O,417.-
25. In the year Immediately preceding the
rebellion, the deficiency amounted to $685.
$40, $40, the postal receipts Of that year being
1924, 972 ,2l9 less than those of 1868. The
decrease since 1860 in the annual amount of
transportation has been only about % per
cent, but the annual expenditures on account
of the same have been reduced 80 per cent.
1t is manifest therefore that the Postoffice
Department may become selt-sustaining in a
few years, even with restoration of the whole
service.
I
delegates from the principal countries of
Europe and America, which was called at the
suggestion of our Post Master General, met
at Paris ON the 18th of May last, and con-
Guided its deliberations on the Sth Of June.
The principles established by the conference
as best adapted to facilitate postal intercourse
between nations, and as the basis of future
conventions, inaugurate general system OF
uniform international charges at reduced
rates Of postage, and cannot fail to produce
beneficial results.
THE INTERIOR.
| refer you to the report of the Secretary
of the Interior, which is herewith laid before
| you, for useful and varied information in re-
! lation to the Public Lands, Indian Affairs,
Patents, Pensions and other matters of public
concern pertaining to that Department. The
quantity of land disposed of during the last
| and the first quarters of the present fiscal
year was 3,S4l $40 acres, of which l6l oil
acres were sold for cash l, 456,5l4 acres
were taken up under the homestead law, and
| the residue disposed of, under the law grant
ing lands for military purposes, for railroads
and other purposes. 1t is also thought that
the sale of the public lands is largely on the
increase. 1t has long been a cherished opin,
ion of some OF our wlseSt statesmen that the
people of the United States had a higher and
more enduring interest in the early settle
ment and substantial cultivation of the public
lands than in the amount of direct revenue
to be derived from the sale of them.
This opinion has had controlling influence
in shaping legislation upon the subject of ou
national domain. | may cite as evidence OF
this, the liberal measures adopted in refer
ence to actual settlers; the grant to States Of
overhowed lands within their limits in order
to their being reclaimed and rendered fit fol
cultivation the grant to railroad companie;
of alternate sections of land upon the con
templated lines Of their roads that, when com
pleted, will largely multiply the facilities fol-
reaching our distant possessions.
This policy has received its most sigma
and benefcent illustration in the recent en-
actment giving homesteads to actual settlers
Since the first day of January last, the be
re-mentioned quantity of ,456,514 acre:
of land has been taken up under its proyi
sions. This fact and the amount of sales
furnish gratifying evidence of the increasing
settlements upon public lands, notwithstand
ing great struggle in which the energies Of
the nation have been engaged and which ha;
required so large a withdrawal of our citi
zens from their accustomed pursuits.
cordially concur in the recommendation
Of the Secretary of the Interior suggesting
a modification of the act in favor of those
engaged in the military and naval services OF
| the United States. | doubt not that Con