The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-12-03

IN fn auI0entlc form TO enable 1t hereafter
IL deemed practicable and worthy, to legis
late upon the subject without delsy.
NAVY DEPARTMENT.
The report Of the Secretary of the Navy,
herewith accompanying, explains fully the
condition of that branch of the public ser.
vice, its wants and deficiencies, and ex.
penses incurred during the past year, and
appropriations for the same. 1t also gives q
complete history of the service of the navy
for the past yearyin addition to regular SER
vice.
IL is evident that, unless early steps are
taken to improve our navy, in very few
nation upon the ocean of all great Powers.
With an energetic, progressive, business
people like ours, penetrating and forming
business relations with every part Of the
known world, a navy strong enough to
command the respect ofour flag abroad isne-
cessary for the full protection of our rights.
| recommend careful consideration by Con-
gress of the Recommendation made by the
Secretary of the Navy.
posToFFICE DEPARTMENT.
The accompanying report of the Post
factory exhibit of the operations of the
Postotfice Department during the year,
The ordinary revenues Of the Department
for the fiscal year ended June 80, 1872.
amounted to &21 oil, 426.37, and the sx-
penditures TO s26, Sos, 1921. Compared
with the previous fiscal year the increase
of revenue was 81 ,S78, 3S0.95, or 837 per
cent, and the increase Of expenditures
81, PCS, 0Ss.2a, or 0a9 per cent. Adding
to the ordinary revenues the annual appro-
priation of 100000 for free matter and the
amounts paid to the subsidies of mail
steamship lines special appropriation, the
deficiency paid out of the general appro-
priation, the deficiency paid out of the gem
eral treasury was S3,317, 765. Dian excess
of $3.50, 707.2s over the deficiency for the
year 1871. Other interesting statistical
information relating to our rapidly extend
ing postal service is furnished in this report.
The total length Of railroad mail-routes on
the Both Of June, 1872, was 57,9l1 miles,
8,077 additional miles of such service hay-
ing been put into operation during the year.
Eight new lines of railway postoffices have
been established, with an aggregate length
of 1900 miles. The number of letters ex-
changed in the mails with foreign countries
was "a, 362 ,500--increase Of 4,088, SOP, or
20 per cent. over the namber in 1871; and
the postage thereon amounted to a187, 1867
725. The total weight of the mails
exchanged with European countries
exceeded 800 tons. The cost of the United
States transatlantic mail steamship
service was 500 ,30l.70; the total cost Of
the use of ocean steamer service, includ-
ing the amounts paid to the subsidized lines
of mail steamers, was 81 ,027 .020.97. The
following are the only steamship lines
now receiving subsidies for mail service
under special acts of Congress The Pac-
fic Mail Steamship Company receives
$500, 600 per annum for conveying month.
ly mail between San Francisco, Japan, and
China, which will be increased to 81 ,000,-
600 per annum for semi-monthly mail on
and after October /, 1878; the United
States and Brazil Mail Steamship Company
receives 100000 per annum for convey.
ing a monthly mail between New York and
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and the California,
Oregon and Mexico Steamship Company
receives s75, 900 per year for carrying a
monthly mail between San Francisco
and Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands, making
the total amount ofmail steamship subsidies
at present $725,0O0 per annum. Our
postal communications with all parts of the
civilized world have been placed upon a
most advantageous footing by the improved
postal conventions and arrangements re-
Gently concluded with the leading CONNER
cial countries of Europe and America, and
the gratifying statement is made that with
the conclusion of satisfactory convention
with France, the details of which have
been definitely agreed by the head of the
French Postal Department, subject to the
approval of the Minister of Finance, little
remains to be accomplished by treaty for
some time to come with respect
either to reduction of rates or inn
proved facilities Of postal intercourse.
Your favorable consideration is re-
spectfully invited to the recommended
tons of the Postmaster General for an in
crease of service from monthly to semi
trips in the mail steamship route
to Brazil for a subsidy in aid of the es-
Enlistment Of an American line of mail
steamships between San Francisco and Aus
tralia for the establishment of post-otf1ce
savings banks, and for the Incl ease of sala.
ries Of the heads of bureaus. Ihave hereto
fore recommended the abolition of the frank
ing privilege, and see no reason nowfor chang.
ing my views on that subject. 1t not hav.
ing been favorably regarded by Congress,
however, | may suggest a modification OF
that privilege to correct its glaring and
costly abuses. l would recommend also
the appointment Of committee of COM
mission to take into consideration the best
method equitable to the private corporations
who have invested their time and capital in
the establishment of telegraph lines, of ac-
quiring the title to all telegraph lines now in
operation, and Of connecting this service
within the postal service of the nation. 1t
is not probable that this subject could re.
ceiye the proper consideration during the
limits Of short session of Congress, but it
may be initiated, SO that future action
may be fair to the Government and the
private parties concerned. There are
but three lines Of ocean steamers namely,
the Pacific Mail Steamship Company, be-.
tween San Francisco. China and Japan,
with provision made for semi-monthly
service after October LIST, 1873; the
United States and Brazil line, monthly;
and the California, New Zealand, and Aus
tralan line, monthly-plying between the
United States and foreign ports, and owned
and operated under our flag. I earnestly
recommend that such liberal contracts for
carrying the mails be authorized with these
lines as will insure their continuance, if the
eXpediency of extending the aid of Govern.