The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1871-12-09

stations. BY these mems We
have been enabled to- occupy at
once larger extent of cruising
ground, TO visit more frequently !
the ports where the presence Of
our flag is desirable, and gener-
ally IL discharge tflicicn ~ OF the
srpropia'e duties vi the navy in
time Ut peace, wi hont exiretling
the number OF men or the exp-n-
dituses authorized by law. During |
the past yeAtn sn.vY h,s il adj
dition to its regular service, sup-
piled the men and officers for the
vessels Of The coast surver. has
completed the Surveys nn:h"riz d
by Congress OF Isth,nus Of DAiien
ard Tehaunitp2c, md under the
same authority has sen, out an
expedition. compl, tely furnished
and equipe.l, TO explore the ur-
known ocean of the North The
suggestions of the report as 10
the necessity for Increasing and
improving the material OF tie navy
and the plan recommended for
reducing the personal OF he ser
vice to a peace standard, by the
gradual abolition Of certain grades
of officers the re luction of,others,
and. the employment Of some in
the services Of the comm ercial
marine, are we'll considered anu
deserve the thoughtful attention
Of Congress. l also recommend
that all promotions IN The navy
above captain be by selection in
stead of Ivy seniority. This course
will secure in the higher grades
greater efficiency and Hold out
an incentive to young officers to
improve themselvesi n the kowl-
edge of thtir proft ssion.@ The
present cost OF maintaining the
navy, it's cost compared with that
| of the preceding year, and the
estimates Tor the ensuihs year are
contained in the accom- gaming re-
port of the Secretary Of the Navy.
The enlarged receipts Of the POST
| office Department, as shownby the ac-
companying report of the Postmaster
| General, exhibits a crafty ing increase
! in that branch of the public service.
1t is the index Of the growth of cdu-
cation and of the prosperity of the
| people, two elements highly conducive
| to the vigor and stability of Republics
with vast territory like ours, much
| of it sparsely populated, but all re-
quiring the services Of the mail. 1t is
not at present to be expected that this
| Department can be made self sustain-
ing, but a gradual approach to this end
from year to year is confidently relied
on, and the day is not far distant when
the Post-o office Department of the Gov
ernment will prove a much greater
blessing to the whole people than it is
now. The suggestions of the Post
master-GeneraI fOrrimprovements in
the Department presided over by him,
are earnestly recommended to your
special attention; especially give the
documents favora BILE consideration.
9th plan for uniting the telegraph
system of the Uuitcd States with the
postal system, it is bclivedthat by such
course the cost of telegraphing
could be much reduced, and the SER
vice as well, if not better, rendered. II
would secure the further adya ntage by
extending the telegraph through por-
tions of the country where private en-.
uerprise will not construct it. Com
merce, trade, and, above, all, the effort;
to bring people widely separated into
community of interests, are Away:
benefited by rapid intercommunica.
) ton. Education, the groundwork O.
republican institutions, is encouraged
by the increasing of the facilities, to.
gether with speedy news from all parts
of the country. The desire to reap tn,
benefits of such Improvements viii
simulate education. I refer you t.
the report Of the Postmaster Gene
: raj for full details of the operations o
last year, and for comparative state
ments of the results with former years
l do not wish 10 be understood
: as recommending in the least de.
. gree a curtai.mens Of which i
being done by the general govern
e ment for encouragement OF eslu
| cation.
: The report Of the Secretary .
/ the Interior, submitted with thi
g will give you informa' ion collec,
e ed and prepared for publication il
regard to the census taken duIin
I. the year 1870. the operations q
i the Bureau of Education for tn
: year, the Patent Office, the Pensio
:. Office, the Land Office. and til
e Indian Bureau. The report of tn
y Commissioner Of Agriculture give
5 the operations of his departing r
i for the year. As agriculture j
e the groundwork Of our prospe,it,
II too much Importance can not h
= attached to tie labors of this d.
J. partm ent, which is in The hands {
n an able head, with able assistant.
/ oil zealously devoted to introduc
= ing into the agricultural produs
y tions Of the nation all useful pr,
IS ducts adapted to any Of the varior
y, climates and soils of our vast tc
/ ,itory, and to giving oil useful il
y formation as to the methods I
cultivating the plants. cereals, al
to other products adapted TO part.cr
al lar localities. Quietly. but surcl
ct the Agricultural Bureau is workir
II great nationa! good. and, il libe
i; 10 ally supported, the more wide
d. its influence will be extended, q.
~ the less dependent We shall ,
Of upon the produces Of foreign cou
or tries.
u The subject of compensation
l. the heads Of bureaus. and officis
be holding posi- lions Of responsibflit
t. aad requiring ability aud chart
a ter to fill properly, is one TO viii
NJ vour attention is inyi,ad R,t