American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1872-12-14

the purchase of suitable site for Il prov
ing and experimental ground for heavy
| ordnance.
The abrogation of laws which deprive
inventors in the United States service
from deriving any benefit from their in
vcntions.
The repeal of laws prohibiting promo
tons in the staff corps.
A continuance of the work upon the
| coast defenses.
The repeal of the seventh section of the
act of July 18th, 1866, taking from the en-
sin"er soldier the per diem granted to
| other troops.
A limitation of time for the presentation
| of subsistence and supplies under the act of
July 4th, 1864, and modification In the
mode of selection of cadets for the militia
ny academy. in order to enhance
the usefulness of the academy.
which is impaired by reason of
the great amo:nt of time necessarily
expended in giving new cadets a thorough
knowledge of the more elementary branch
Is OF learning which they should acquire
before entering the academy. Also an
| appropriation Tor philosophical apparatus
and an increase in the number, and the
pay OF the military academy band.
The attention OF Congress will be called
during the present session to enterpris :
portation of the constantly Increasing
surplus of tile Western and South
c,t products to the Atlantic
seaboard- The subject is one that will
rcrca frssit upon tne ieglsiarlve -ranrr ~
TIL Government sooner or later, and sug-
ge-t that immediate steps be taken to
gain all available information to newt
able and Just legislation regarding d route
to conuect the Mississippi Valley with the
A u wit
Savannah. Ga.. by water, by way al the
Ohio and Tennessee rivers and canals;
-lack-watpr navigation to the Sav3n-
nah and Ocomulgre rivers has been sur
vcyed. Report has been made by an az
2pmplished, engineer officer of the army.
Second ant. third :ieI routes Will be DrOr',-
sed for the consideration Of Congress. viz:
by an extension of the kanawha and
James river canal to the Ohio. and by *,
tension OF the Chesapca <e and Ohio canal.
| am not prepared to recommend govern
Incnt all 70 these or other enterprises M
til it is clearly shown that they are rot
only Of national interest. but when com
pleted, of talue commensurate with
their cost. That production increases
more rapidly than the n,e:ltis, Of transror-
taFicn in our country has been ;iernonstr.a-
ted by past experience.
The rapid grow h in population and
products Of the whole country will
quire additional facilities. Cheaper means
for the more bulky articles of commerce
70 reach tide water, and market
will be demanded in the near future is
squally demonstrable. | would Therefore
-uggest either a committee or commission
10 be authOri zed to consider this whole
guest ion and TO report to Congress n
some future day for its better guidance n
lcgiSlatng upon the important subject.
The Railroads of the country have been
rapidly extended during the last fcw years
TO meet the growing demands of produ-
GERS. and reflect much credit upon the
capitalists and managers engaged in their
construction: In addition to these, pro-
ject to fa'ilitate commerce by the build
ing of a ship canal around Niagara Falls,
on the United States side, which has been
a2itated tor many years. will, no doubt.
be called TO your attention this session.
Looking to the great future of the coun-
try, the increasing demands of commerce.
it might be well, while on this subject.
not only to have examined and reported
upon the various practicable routes for
connecting the Mississippi with tide wa
ter on the Atlantic. but the feasibility of
an almost continuous land-1ocked raviga-
ton from Maine TO the Cuff of Mexico
Such a route along our coast would be OF
great value at all times and of inestimable
value in case of a foreign war. Nature
has provided the greater part of this
route, and the obstacles to be overcome
are easily within the skill of engineers. l
have now alluded to this subject, with the
view of having no further expenditure OF
public money at this time than may be
necessary to procure and place all the ne
cessary information before Congress in an
authentic form, to enable it hereafter, if
deemed practicable and worthy, to legis-
late on the subject without delay.
The report of the Secretary of the
Navy. herewith accompanying, explains
fully the condition of that branch of the
public ervice. its wants and deficiencies,
exnenses incurred during the past year.
and appropriations 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. 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 powers. With an
energetic, progressive people like ours.
ard forming business relations
with every part OF the known world. q
navy strong enough to command the re-
spects of our flag abroad IS necessary Tor
the protection of their rights.
| recommend the careful consideration
by Congress of the recommendations
made by the Secretary of the Navy.
The accompanying report OF the Post
master General. furnishes full and salts
factory exhibit of the operations of tire
Postoffice Department during the year.
The ordinary revenue for the department |
for the fiscal year ending June Both. 1872. |
amounted to S21.9l5.426.37, and the ex-
pcntiit,lres to S26.65S 1872 u. Compared |
with III previous fiscal wear the increase
at revenue was 81 SIS, 3s0.95, or 9.G per |
cent. aud the Increase of expenditure |
s.. Us. ass %, or 9.29 per cent. ;dtiin" 10 |
the ordinary revenue the annual appru- |
priation o. 500. 600 for free matter aud |
the amount paid to the subsidies on mail |
lines from special appropri'i- |
tons.
The deficiency paid ont Of the general |
Treasury was S5,3l7 ,1G5.9i. an excess of |
$685.. 1929 over the deficiency for the |
year 1871.
Other interesting stats zeal Information |
relating to our rapidly extending postal |
service is furnished in this report. lie |
total length of railroad mail routes on the /
Both day OF June, was 81 oil miles. S,u77
miles OF such service having been put into
operation during the year. Eight new
lines OF railway pOstoffices have been es-
Ia 1lshed with an aggregate length of
; 1903 miles.
The number of letters exchanged in the
mails with foreign countries Was 1862
800, an increase of 4,066, 500, or twenty
per cent. over-t'e number in 1871. and
ie postage thereon amounts to $l.S7l,-
257 25.
The total weight of the mails cxchang-
d with the European countries eXceede,.
; 20 tons.
The cost of the United States trans
Atlantic mail steamship service, was 500
}0l.70.
The to al cost of the United States
h.