The Portland daily press., 1872-12-03


no that the inequality OF sentences adjudged by
eouPt-martial may be adjusted; the consolida-
ton of accounts under which expenditures are
made as measure of economy; a re-appropri-
alton of the money for the construction of de-
pot at San Antonio, the title to the site being
now perfected; special act placing the ceme-
terry at the City of Mexico on the same basis as
other national cemeteries authority to pur-
chase sites for military posts i'll Texas; the APP
pointment of Commlssary Sergeants from non
commissioned officers as measure for secur-
ing the better care and protection of supplies;
an appropriation for the publication of the cat
alogue and tables of the anatomical section of
the Army Medical Museum; a re-appropriation
of the amount for the manufacture of breach
loading arms should the selection be so delayed
by the board of officers as to leave the former
appropriation unexpended at the close of the
fiscal year; the sale of such arsenals east of
Mississippi as can be spared and the proceeds
applied to the establishment of large arsenal;
of construction and repairs upon the Atlantic
coast aud the purchase of suitable site for
proving and experimental ground for heavy ord
nance; the abrogation of laws which deprive
inventors in the United States service from de-
irving any benefit from their Inventions; the
repeal of the law prohibiting promotions in the
staff corps; continuance of the work upon
the coast defenceS.
Repeal of 18th section of act of July 18th,
1866, taking from engineer soldiers the per
diem granted to other troops; limitation of
for subsistence and supplies, under act July 4th
1864, and modification in the mode of the
selection Of Cadets for the Military Academy in
order to enhance the usefulness of the Academy
which is impaired by reason of the large
amount of time necessarily expended in giving
new Cadets thorough knowledge of the more
elementary branches of learning which they
should acquire before entering the Academy;
also an appropriation for philosophical appar--
atu> and an increase in numbers and pay of
the Military Academy Band.
INSTRUMENTATION.
The attention of Congress will be called dur
ing its present session to various enterprises for
the constantly increasing surplus of the West
em and Southern products to the Atlantic sea-
board. The subject is one that will force itself
upon the legislative branch of the government
sooner or later, and I suggest, therefore, that
immediate steps be taken to gain all available
information to insure equitablel and just leg
islation. The route to connect the Mississippi
Valley with the Atlantic at Charleston, S. C.,
and Savannah, Ca, by water, by the way of
the Ohio and Tennessee rivers and canals and
the Blackwater and the navigation to the Saw
annah and Ocmulgee rivers, has been surveyed
and report made by an accomplished engin-
eer OF the army. The second and third routes
will be proposed for the consideration of Con-
gress, namely, by the extension of the Kanaw-
ha and James river canal to the Ohio, and by
al. l am not prepared to recommend govern
ment aid to these or other enterprises until it is
clearly shown that they are not only of national
interest but that when completed they will be
OF value commensurate with their cost.
That production increases more rapidly than
the means of Transportation in our country has
been demonstrated by past experience that the
unprecedented growth in population and pro-
ducts of the whole country will require addi-
tional facilities and cheaper ones for the more
bulky articles OF commerce to reach tide water
and market is equally demonstrable. I
would, therefore, suggest that either a commit
tee or a commission be authorized to consider
this whole question and report to Congress at
some future day, for its better guidance in leg
islating on this important subject.
The railroads of the country have been rap
idly extended during the last few years to meet
the growing demands of the producer, and they
reflect much credit upon the capitalists en-
gagged in their construction.
In addition to these. project to. facilitate
commerce by the building of ship canal around
Niagara Falls ON the United States side, which
has been agtated for many years, will no doubt
be called to your attention during this session.
Looking to the great future growth of the coun-
try and the increasing demands of commerce,
it might be well while on this subject not only
to have examined and reported on the various
practicable routes for connecting the Mississippi
with tide water on the Atlantic, but the feast
bllty OF an almost continuous land locked nayi-
cation from Maine to the Gulf of Mexico. Such
a route along our coast wonld be of great value
at all times, and of inestimable value in case of
a foreign war. Nature has provided the great
ell part of this route and the obstacles to be
overcome are easily within the skill of the en-
gineer
have not alluded to this subject with the
view of having any further expenditure of the
public money at this time, other than may be
necessary to procure and place all the necessary
information before Congress in authentic form,
to enable it hereafter, if deemed practicable and
worthy, to legisate on the subject without
delay.
THE NAVY DEPARTMENT.
The report of the Secretary of the Navy here
with accompanying explains fully the condi-
ton of that branch of the public service, its
wants, deficiencies expenses incurred during
the past year, and appropriations for the same.
1t also gives complete history of the service
of the navy for the past year, in addition to its
regular service. 1t is eviden. that unless steps
are taken to preserve our navy, that in very
few years the United States will be the weakest
nation upon the ocean of the great powers.
With an energetic progressional business PEG :
pie like ours, penetrating and forming business
relations with every part of the known world,
a navy strong enough to command the respect
of our flag abroad, is necessary for the full p1o-
lection of their rights. l recommend a careful
consideration by Congress of the recommended
tions made by the Secretary of the Navy.
POST oFEIcE DEPARTMENT.
The accompanying report of the Postmaster
General furnishes full and satisfactory exhib-
it of the operations of the Post Office Depart
ment during the year The ordinary revenue
of the Department for the fiscal year ending
June 80, 1872, amounted to $21 ,915, 1861, and
the expenditures S26,65S, 1921. Compared
with the previous fiscal year the increase of
revenue was $2,87S, 3S095, or 9.37 per cent, and
the increase of expenditures So, 26S, 0SS. %, or
9.29 per cent. Adding to the ordinary revenues
the annual appropriation of 100000 for free
mattel and the amounts paid to the subsidized
mail steamship lines from special appropria-
tons, the deficiency paid out of the general
treasury was $3,317 ,765. "a, an excess of $780,
7O7. % over the deficiency for the year 1871.
Other interesting statistical information re-
lating to our rapidly extending postal service is
furnished in this report.
The total length of railroad mail routes on
the Both of June, 1872 was 57,911 miles, S077
additional miles having been put into operation
during the year. Eight new lines of railway
post offices have been established, with an az
gregate length of 2909 miles.
The number of letters exchanged in the
mails with foreign countries was a, 1902, 500, an
increase of 4,066, SOP or % per cent over the
number in 1871, and the postage thereon
amounts to $1,S71, 257.25. The total weight of
mails exchanged with European countries ex-
ceeds $40 tons. The cost of the U. S. trans
atlantic mail steamship service 1926, 3O1. 20.
The total cost of U. s. ocean steamship service,
including the amount paid to the subsidized
lines of mail steamers, was 81, 027, 020.97. The
following are the only steamship lines now re-
ceiving subsidies for mail service under special
acts of Congress: The Pacific Mail Steamship
Co. receive $500, 900 per annum for conveying a
monthly mail between San Francisco Japan
and China, which will be increased to ST., 100.-
900 per annum for a semi-monthly mail ON and
after Oct /, 1873 The United States and Brazil
Mail Steamship Co. receive $150,00 per annum
for conveying monthly mail between New
York and Rio De Janeiro, Brazil and the Cali
forniA and Mexico Steamship Co. receives $75,-
900 per annum for conveying monthly mail
between San Francisco, Honolulu and Hawaiian
Islands, making the total amount of mail
steamship subsidies at present $725,000 per
annum.
Our postal communication with all parts of
the civilized world have been placed upon
most advantageous footing by the improv-
ed postal connections and arrangements recent
ly concluded with the leading commercial
countries of Europe and America, and the
gratifying statement is made that with the con-
clusion of a satisfactory convention with Fra nee
the details of which have been definitely agreed
to by the head of the French Postal Depart
ment, subject to the approval of the Minister of
Finance, little remains to be accomplished by
the treaty for some time to come, With re-
spect to reduction of rates or improved facili-
ties of postal intercourse, your favorable con-
sderation is respectfully invited to the recon-
mendation made by the Postmaster General for
an increase of service from monthly to semi
monthly trips on the mail steamship route from
Brazil, for subsidy inside; the establishment
of an American line OF steamers between San
Francisco, New Zealand and Australia for the
establishment of Post Office Savings Banks
and for an increase of the salaries of the heads
of bureaus,
II IT,