Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1872-12-05

sentences adjudged by court-martial
may be adjusted. The consolidation
of accounts under which expenditures
are made as a measure Of con
my. A reappropriation of the money
for the construction of depot at San
Antonio, the title to the site being now
perfected. A special act placing the
cemetery at the City Of Mexico on the
same basis as other national cemeteries.
to purchase. sites for militia
ry posts in Texas. The appointment
Of commissafy sefgeants from non.
Commissioned officers as a measure for
securing the better care and protection
of supplies. An appropriation for
the catalogues and tables of the n
tomical section of the army medical
museum. A rcappropriation of the
amount for the manufacture of breach.
loading arms, should the selection
be sd delayed by the board Of officers
as to leave the former appropria-
tons unexpended. At the close of the
fiscal year the sale of such ~arsenals
Of the Mississippi as can be spared
and the proceeds applied to the estab-
lishment of one large arsenal. OF the
upon the Atlantic coast and the
purchase Of a suitable site for proving
and experimental ground for heavy or
dinance. The abrogation of law which
deprive inventors in the United States
service from deriving any benefit from
their inventions. The repeal Of the
law prohibiting promotions in the staff
corps. A continuance of the work up
on the coast defences. The
repeal Of the 7th section Of the act
Of July 18th, 1866, taking from engin.
eer soldiers the per diem granted to
other troops. A limitation of time
for presentation Of accounts for sup.
plies, under the act Of July 4, 1854, and
a modification in the mode of the se-
lections to the Military Academy, in
order to enhance the usefulness Of the
Academy, which Is imposed by reason
of the large amount Of time nccessari-
ly expended in giving new cadets q
thorough knowledge Of the more ele-
mentary branches Of learning, which
they should acquire before entering
the Academy also IN appropriation
for philosophical apparatus, and an in
crease In the number and the pay of
the attendants of the military academy.
TRANSPORTATION OF WESTERN PRO-
DUCTS.
The attention Of Congress will be
called during its present session to va
rious enterprises for the more certain
and cheaper transportation 0fthe con-
stantly increasing surplus of the west
ern and southern products to the At
lantic sea border. The subject IL one
that will force itself upon the Legisla-
tive branch of the government sooner
or later, and | suggest therefore, that
immediate steps be taken to gain all
available information to insure equita-
Bile and justlegislation.
The route to connect the Mississippi
Valley with the Atlantic at Charleston
s. c.. and Savannah, Ga, by water, by
way ofthe Ohio and Tennessee rivers,
aud canals and slack water navigation
to the Savannah and Ocmulgee rivers,
has been surveyed and a report made
by an accomplished engineer, an officer
of the army. Second and third, new
routes will be proposed for the consid-
Grafton of Congress, namely: BY an
extension of the KanAwha and James
River Canal to the Ohio, and BY an
extension of the Chesapeake and Ohio
Canal. / am not prepared to recon-
mend government aid to'these or 9TH
er enterprises, until it is clearly shown
that they are not only OF national in
terest, but that when completed they
will be OF a value commensurate with
their cost. That productions increases
more rapidly than the Q of trans
portation in our country has been DEM
onstrated by past experience; that the
unprecedented growth of population
and projects of the whole country re-
quire additional facilities and cheaper
means for the more bulky articles of
commerce to reach the market will be
demanded in the near future, is equal
ly demonstrated. l would therefore
suggest that a committee or commits
Sion be authorized to consider this
whole question and report to Congress
at some future day, for it's better guild
ance in legislating on this important
subject.
The railroads of the country have
been rapidly extended during the past
few years to meet the growing de-
mand of producers, and reflect much
credit upon the capitalists and manag-
ers engaged in this connection. In
addition to these, a project to facilitate
commerce by the building ola ship
canal around Niagara Falls, on the
west side, which has been agitated for
many years, will. no doubt be called to
your attention this season, Looking
to the great future Of the country, the
increasing demands OF commerce, it
might be well while, ON this subject,
not only to have examined and report
upon the various practical routes for
connecting the Mississippi river with
tide water on the Atlantic, but the feas-
Utility of an almost continuous land
locked navigation from Maine to the
Gulf of Mexico. Such q route along
our coast would be ofgreat 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 easily
within the skill of the engineer. /
have not attended to this subject with
q view Of having any further expen-
diture of public money at this time,
than may be necessary to procure and
place all the necessary information be-
fore Congress, in an authoritive form,
to enable it hereafter, if deemed prac-
ticable and worthy, to legislate on the
subject without delay,
NAVY prp ApTnrVr l
The report Of the Secretary Of the
Navy, herewith accompanying, ex-
fully the condition of that
branch of the public service /; its wants
and deficiencies, expenses incurred
the past year, and the appro-
priations for the same. 1t also gives
a complete history of the services of
the navy for the past year, in addition
to its regular services. It is evident
that unless steps are taken to preserve
our navy, that in a very few years the
United States will be the weakest ma
ton upon the ocean Of all great pow
ers. With an energetic, business peo-
pie, like our penetrating and forming
business relations with every part Of
the known world, a navy strong
enough to command the respect Of our
dag abroad is necessary for the protec-
ton OF their rights. j recommend a
consideration by Congress of
the recommendations made by the
Secretary of the Navy.
POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT.
The accompanying report of the
General, furnishes a full
md satisfactory exhibit of the opera
ions of the Post Office Department
the, year. Tie ordinary revc-