Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1863-12-19

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the report of the Secrdy which ac-
companies his communion. 1 think
it my duty to invite youfspecial atten-
ton to this subject, and so to that OF
establishing yards and dots for naval
purposes upon one of the estern rivers.
A naval.force has been cted on these
interior waters, and und many disad-
vantages, within little pre- than two
years, exceeding in numrs the whole
naval force Of the coun7 at the COM
mencement of the prest admlnIstra-
ton.
Satisfactory and imptant has been
the performances of thdlerolc men OF
the navy at this interting period
They are scarcely more wonderful than
the services of our meGnics and artI-
sans in the productionof war vessels
which have created ne form OF naval
power. Our country disadvantages SUI
perior to any other natio in our resonr-
ces of iron and timber, 18th inexeausti-
BILE quantities of fuel intho imwedlate
vicinity of both, and alilable ana III
close proximity to naviable vaters.-
Without the advantage 6lpublc works
the resources of the natim ave been
developed and its power dfplsed IN the
construction of navy of svh magni-
tude which has at the very eriod oil us
creation rendered signal srvice to the
Union.
The increase of tie amber OF sea-
men in the public service. from 7,OOO
meu in the spring of r6i to about a.
900 at the present TIM has been accom-
plished without especa legislation or ex-
traordinary bounties o promote that IN
crease. 1t has been fund, however, that
the operations Of Re draft, with large
bountics paid for amy recruits. is begin
ming to affect injupusly the naval ser
vice. and will, if rot remedied, he likely
to impair its effectiveness, by detaching
seamen from their proper vocation, and
inducing them to enter the army.
therefore respectfully suggest that Con,
gress might aid both army and naval
service by adequate provision on this
subject, which wouk at the same time
be equitable to the communities more es-
pecially interested.
| commend to your consideration the
suggestions of the Secretary of the Ma
w. in regard to tie policy of fostering
and training seamen for naval service
The Naval Academy is rendering sigma
service in preparing midshipmen fol
highly responsible duties which in after
life they will be required to perform =
In order that the county should not be
deprived of her proper quota OF 'educa
ted officers for which legal provision has
been made at the Naval School, the va
cancies caused by the neglect or omIs
sion to make nominations from States Il
Instruction, have been filled by the Sec
rotary Of the Navy. The school is nov
more full and complete than at any pre-
vious period, and in every respect enti
tied to the favorable consideration o
Congress:
POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT.
During the past fiscal year, the finan
cial condition of the Post-O Office Depart
meut has been one Of increasing prosper
ity, and | am gratfied in being able t
state that the receipts of Postal Revenu
! Lo,o ,,a..i.. -. .- y
lures lures TIE TIE later amounting to 1904,
206, "a, and tho former to Sll, SO,
1895 leaving deficiency of but $3.50,
All, 20. In the year Immediately pre-
ceding the rebellion, the deficiency amo
united to 1866, 705 40, the postal re
ceipts Of that year being S2,645, p, /!
less than those of 1868. The decrease
since 1860 in the annual amount of tran
portation has been only about % per ct
but the annual expenditure on account o
the same has been reduced 35 per cent.
1t is manifest therefore, that the Pos
Office Department may become selfsus
tainin:g in few years, even with the res
toraton of the whole service.
The International Conference of Posts
delegates from the principal countries o
Europe and America, which was calleC
at the suggestion of the Postmaster Gen
eral, met at Paris on the 1st of May last
and concluded its deliberations on tn,
6th of Jane. The principle established
by the Conference is best adapted to ia
cilitate postal intercourse between ma
lions, and as the basis of future opera
tons, and inaugarates q general system
of uniform international charges at redu
ced rates Of postage, and cannot fail t
produce beneficial results.
refer you to the report ofthe Secre
taiy Of the Interior, which is herewith
laid before you, which contains usefu
and varied information 10 regard to th'
Public Lands. Indian Affairs, Patents
Passions, and other matters of public
concern pertaining to bis Department
will be found in it. The quantity Of Pub
lie lands disposed Of last and th'
first quart er of the presen
fiscal year, was 3,S4l,549 acres; o
which III, OH acres were sold for cash
1856, 5l4 acres were taken up under tht
Homestead Law, and the residue dispos
ed of under laws granting lands for mill
tary bounties, for railroad and otheI
purposes. 1t also states that the vaat
of public lands is largely on the increase
1t has long been a cherished opinion O
some of our wisest statesmen that the
people of the United States had a highei