The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1872-12-21

various practicable routes for connecting the
Mississippi with tide water on the Allan
| tic, but the feasibility of almost continuous
| land locked navigation from Maine to the
Gulf OF Mexico, Such route along our coast
would be Of great value at all times and of
inestimable value in case of foreign war.
Nature has provided the greater part of this
route, and the obstacles to be overcome are cas-
lily within the skill of the engineer. have not
alluded to this subject with the
view of having any further expenditure OF
public money at this time than may be neces-
sary to procure and place all necessary infor-
nation before Congress in an authentic form,
to enable it hereafter ifdeemed practicable and
worthy, to legslate on the subject without
delay.
| THE NAVY DEPARTMENT.
The report of the Secretary Of the Navy,
| herewith ACCOMPANYING, explains fully the
condition of that branch of the public service,
It's wants and deficiencies, expenses incurred
during the past year, and appropriations for
the same. 1t also gives complete history of
the services of the navy for the past year, in
addition to its regular services. 1t is evident
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
all great nations. With an energetic progress
size business people Ike 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 protection of their
rights recommend the careful consideration
by Congress o. the recommendations made by
the Secretary OF the Navy.
POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT.
The accompanying report of the Postmaster
!, General furnishes full and satisfactory ex-
hiblt OF operations of the postoffice department
during the year. The ordinary revenues of the
Depar ment FOR the fiscal year ending june
H. amOuntpl N and
the expenditures S26 SIS, 1921. Compared
with the previous fiscal year, the increase of
revenue was 1887 1893, 095, or 937 per cent. land
the increase of expenditures 1926, 808, $685. or
9.29 per cent. Adding to the ordinary revenues
the annual appropriation of $1,000 for free
matter, and the amounts paid to the subsl-
dies on mail steamships lines from
special appropriations, the deficiency
paid ont of the general treasury was S33l,-
776595, an excess of S38, 970. 1928 over the de-
fciency for the year 1871. Other interesting
statistical information relating to our rapidly
extending postal service Is furnished IL tins
report. The total length of railroad mail
routes on the 30Gh of June, 1872, 81 ,911
miles, SOFT additional miles of such service
having been put into operation during the
yeal. Eight new lines of railway postoffices
have been established, with an aggregate
length of 2 800 miles. The number of letters
exchanged in the mails with foreign countries
was "a ,362 500, an increase of O66, SOP, or
twenty per cent. over the number in 1871 and
the postage thereon amounts to 1887 125, 725.
The total weight of the mails exchanged
with European countries exceeded $50 tons.
The cost Of the United States trans-At lantic
mail steamship service was $22, 030, 40. The
total cost of the United States ocean steamship
service, including the amounts paid to the
subsidized lines of mail steamers, was S102,-
TOP, 097.
The following are the only steamship lines
nowreceiyng subsidies for mail service under
| SDgclal Congress.
Steamship Company re ccive $500, 900 per an
mum for carrying monthly mail between San
Francisco, Japan and China, which
will be increased to sl,0Oo,O00 per
annum, and a semi-mOnthly mail on aud
after October 1st; the United States and
Brazil mail steamship company receive s15,-
600 per annum for carrying a monthly mail
between New York and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil;
and the California, Oregon and Mexico
steamship company receive $4,000 per
annum for carrying monthly mail
between San Francisco and Homo
lulu, Hawaiian Islands Making the total
amount of mail steamship subsidies at pres
ent S72o, 900 per annum. Our postal cOmmu-
nications with all parts of the civilized world
have been placed upon most advantageous
footing by the improved postal conventions
and arrangements recently concluded
, with the leading commercial countries Of
| Europe and America, and the gratifying state
ment is made that with the conclusion OF sat
al
, of which have been definitely agreed upon by
the head of the French Postal Department
subject to the approval of the Minister of F.
nance, little remains to be accomplished by
, treaty for some time to come in respect there
, TO a reduction of rates on improved facilities
of postal intercourse.
Your favorable consideration is respectfully
invited to the recommendations made by the
Postmaster General for al increase of service
from monthly to semi-m Onthly trips on the
mail steamship ronte to Brazil for subsidy, in
view Of the estab lshment of an American line
: of mail steamers between San Francisco, New
Zealand and Australia; for the establishment
of pOstoffice savings banks, and for the in
crease of the salaries of the heads of bureaus
THE FRANKING PRIVILEGE.
| have heretofore recommended the ab0li-
/, ton ofthe ranking privilege, and see no rea-
son now for changing my views on that sub
ject. 1t not having been favOrablv regarded
} by Congress, however, row suggest mod.
tication OF that privilege, to correct its .garin9
and costly abuses.
TIE POSTAL TELEGRAPH.
| recommend, also, the appointment of a
committee or commission to take into con-
sideration the best method equitable to pri-
vate corporations who have invested then
time and capital in the establishment of tee-
graph lines. of acquiring the title to all the
telegraph lines now in operation, and of con
Meeting this service with the postal service OF
the nation. 1t is not probable that This sub
ject could receive the proper consideration
during the limits OF a short session of Con-
grcss, but it NAV be initiated, so that further
action may be fair to the government and to
the private parties concerned.
THE OCEAN MAIL SERVICE.
There are but three lines of ocean steamers,
namely, the Pacific Mail Steamship Company.
between San Francisco, China and Japan
with provision made for semi monthly service
after October 1st 1878 the United States and
Brazil line, monthly. and the California, New
Zealand and Australian line monthly, plying
between the Uni!eI States and fore en- ports,
and owned and operated under our flag |
earnestly recommend that such liberal con-
tracts for carrying the mails be authorized
with these lines, as will insure their con-
tinuance, if the expediency OF extending the
aid of the Government to the lines of steamers
which hitherto have not received it should be
deemed worthy of the consldera ton OF Con-
gress. Political and commercial objects
make it advisable to bestow such aid On a line
under our flag between Panama and Western
and South American ports. BY these means
much trade now diverted to other countries
might be brought to us, to the mutual advan-
tage Of this untry and those lying in that
quarter of the Continent of America.
OUR OCEAN COMMERCE.
The report of the Secretary of the Treasury
shows ansalarming falling off in the carving
trade for the last ten or twelve wears
and even for the past year / do not
believe that the cubic treasure can be better
expended IN the interest of the whole people
than III trying to recover this trade An ex-
pendIture of five million dollars per annum for
the next five years IL 1t would restore tc
lis our proportion of the carrying
trade OF the world, would be proftably ex
pended. The price of labor in Europe has Sc