Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1872-12-10
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he attention Of CopgSsss will b6 7dsn<
during the present sessionsta various enfe}
prisessf the. more Certain and cheaper tram
portstion of the constantly increasing surpl4
of the Western and Southern products 10 the
Atlantic seaboard. IS (, S. /, s..
The SUBJECTS. one that will force itself upon
the Legislative branch of the government
sooner or later, and | suggest, therefore, that
Immediate steps be taken to gain,al available
information to insure equitable and; Just legiss
lat'on. One route, to connectthe Mississippi,
Valley with the Atlantic at Charleston, South.
Carolina, and Savannah, Georgia, by waters
by the way of the Ohio and Tennessee river,
aud canals and siack>water navigation. ,tothe
Savannah aud Ocmulgee rivers, has been sur,
veyed and report made by an ACCOMPLISHED
engineer officer of the army. Second aud
third new routes will be proposed for the con,
sideration of Congress. namely. by an extepS
sion of the Kanawha and James River canal
! tot the Ohio, and by the extension of the Ches.
apeake and Ohio canal. / am not prepared
to recommend government aid to these or
other enterprises until it is clearly stown 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 ID our coun-
try has been demonstrated by past experience.
That the unprecedented growth in population
and products of the whole country will re-
quire additional facilities and cheaper ones.
for the moro bulky articles of commerce to
reach tide water and market will be de,
manded in the near future is equally demon
strated. would therefore suggest that either
a committee or commission be authorized to
consider this whole question and to report 10
congress at some future day, for its better
guidance in leglslating on this important subs
Ject. The railroads of the country have bee,l
rapidly extended during the last few years. to
meet the growing demands of producers, and
reflect much credit upon the capitalists and
managers engaged, in their construction In
addition to these project to facilitate com.
merce, bv the building of a.ship-canal around
Niagara Falls on the United States side. which
has been agitated for many years, will, no
doubt, be called to your attention at this ses-
sion. Looking TO the great future growth of
the country md the increasing demands of
commerce, it might be WE'LL while on this
subject not only to have examined and re-
ported upon the various practicable routes for
connecting the Mississippi with tide water on
the Atlantic but the feasibility of an almost
continuous land locked navigation from M aine
to the Gulf of Mexico. Such a route along
our coast would be of great value at. all times
and of ,nestimabe value in case of a foreign
war Nature has provided the greater part
sof this rou,e and the obstacles to be overcone
are easily within the skill of the epeipeer.-
have not alluded TO this subject with the
view of having any further expenditure Of
public money at this time than may be ne.
cessary to procure and place all the necessary
information before Congress in an authentic
form, to enable it hereafter, If deemed prac-
ticable and worthy. to legislate on the subject
without DELAY. -stnaei' = y ]
NAVY DHPARTMKNT!.
The report Of the Secretary sofitbe NAVY
herewith accompanying, explains fully the
condition Of that branch Of the public service.
its wants and Deficiencies. expenses incnrrsd
during the past year and appropriations for
the same. 1t also gives a complete history Of
the services Of the navy for rfie rast year. in
addition TO its regular service it il evident
that unlcss early stops are taken to preservs
our navy. that in very few years the United
States will be the weakest nation upon the
ocean OF all great powers. With an energetic.
, progressive, business people like ours, penes
trating and forming business relations with
every part of the known world ainayy strong
enough to command the respect of our fac
abroad is necessary for the full protection Of
their rights, recommend careful considera,
tion by Congress of the recommendation
made by the Secretary of the Navy
PosToFF1cE DEPARTMENT.
The accompanying report of the Postmaster
General furnishes full aud satisfactory ex-
hiblt OF .be operations Of the Postofice De.
partmeht during the year The ord;narv
revenues of the department for the fiscal wear
ended June 80, 1872, amounted to s21 si5.
426 81, aud the expenditures 10 s26 .65S 1872
81, compared with the previous fiscal year the
increase of of',revenue was 81 ,S7S 1888 95 or 9
81 per cent. and the increase of expenditures
81. 26S ,G88 %, or 9 20 per cent! ADDING
to the, ordinary revenues the amount of ane
propristion of sT00, 600 for free matter and
the amounts paid to the sntsidised mail
steamship lines from special appropriations.
the deficiency paid out of the general treasury
was sS31 765 SO, and excess Of s3s9.7g7 25
overthe deficiency;for the year 1871. Other
interesting statistical information relating to
our rapidly extending postal seryice,is fur
nished IN this report. l.zi.fsF
The total length of. railroad mail routes on
the 3Oth of june, 1872, was 9;e11 miles,
s,O47 additional miles Of such service having
I been put into operation during this year
Eight new lines of railway postofhces have
been established, with an sggregats length of