The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1872-12-12

! Tie Quafterraaster has examined and trans
| initted to the accounting officers for settle
ment $36, ,7l7, 272 of claims by loyal eizsns Tor
quartermaster's stores taken during the war.
| Subsistence supplies TO the amount OF SS,yOs,-
| Si2 have been issued to Indians. The ANIMAL
average mean strength of the army was p, lol
| white and 2 494 coIored soldiers. The total
deaths fer the year reported were 307 white
/ aHd 81 colored soldiers. The distribution OF
the medical and surgical history OF the war Is
| yet TO be ordered by Congress- There exists
an absolute necessity for medical corps OF
! the full number established BY act of Congress
| of July 2S, 1866, there being now 50 vacancies
| and the number of successful candidates rare
| ly exceeds eight or ten in any one year. Ihe
The river and hnrbor improvements have been
| carried on with energy and economy. Though
| many are only partially completed, tho results
/ have saved TO coIHinerce many times the
amount expended. Tue increase of COM
inerce, with greater depth OF channels, great :
| sr security in navigation, and the saving of
| time, adds millions TO the wealth OF the conn
! try and increase abe resources of the govern
| ment. The bridge across the Mississippi
river at Rock Island has been completed, and
1 the proper site has been determined upon for
| the bridge at La Crosse. The able and ex-
hausfive report made by the Commission ap-
| pointed to investigate the Sutro Tunnel has
been transmitted to Congress. s7f t.tr..
SIGNAL SERVICE DEPARTMENT. y
The observations and report of the signal
I Ottcc nave Deen continued. 6lhtloES nave
| been maintained at each of the principal lake,
seaport, and river cities; ten additional sta
tions have been maintained IN the United
States and arrangements have been made for
| an exchange of reports with Canada, and a
similar exchange Of observations is contem-
plated with the West India Islands.
RECOMMENDATIONS TO CONGRESS.
The favorable attention of Congress is in
vited to the following recommendations of the
- - H. AfeA fv.a Of fho
appointment of extra lientenants to serve as
adjutants aud quartermasters; the adoption
! of code providing SPECIFIC penalty Tor
well defined offense, 80 that the inequality nf
sentences adjudged by courts-martial may be
adjusted; the consolidation of accounts under
which expenditures are made, as measure oil
economy; re-appropriation OF the mo icy
| for the construction OF depot at San Auto
! nio, 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 naflonal
cemeteries; authority to purchase military
posts in Texas; the appointment OF commits
sary sergeants from non-commlssloned orn-
| GERS, as measure for securing the better care
and protection of supplies; an appropriation
| of the catalogues table of the anatomical sec
| tion of the Army Medical Museum: reap
| preparation of the amount for the nanufscture
of breech loading arms, should inc seiectlon
! be SO delayed by the Board of Ohcers as to
| leave the former appropriation unexpended
at the close of the fiscal year; the slate OF such
| arsenals east of the Mississippi as can be
spared, and the proceeds applied to the estab-
| lishment of one large arsenal of construction
and repair upon the Atlantic coast, and the
purchase of q suitable site for q proving and
experimental ground for heavy ordinance;
the abrogation OF the laws 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; continuance OF the work
upon the coast defenees; the repeal OF the
he III the &C of JuIv 18TH
1856, taking from an engineer solcier the per
diem granted to other troops; limitation OF
time for the presentation of subsistence sup
plies under act of July 4th, 1864, and a no6f-
icatiou in the mode of the selection of Cadets
for the Military Academy, in order to enhance
usefulness of the Academy, which is impaired
by reason of the large amount of time Deces-
sarily expended in giving new cadets thor
ough knowledge of the more elementary
branches of learning, which they should.
acquire before entering the Academy; also an
appropriation for philosophical apparatus,
and an increase In the number and pay of the
Military Academy Band. A =
THE SUBJECT OF CHEAP TRANSPORTATION.
The attention of Congress will be called
duriug its present session to various enter
prises for the more certain and cheaper trans
portatiou of the constantly increasing surplus
10 the Western aud Southern products TO the
Atlantic seaboard. The subject Is one that
will force itself upon the Legislative branch OF
the government sooner or later, ana suggest,
therefore that Immediate steps be taken to
gain all available information TO insure an
equitable and just legislation. The roulette
connect the Mississippi valley with the
Atlantic at Charleston, South Carolina, and
Savannah, Georgia by water, by the way OF the
Ohio and Tennessee rivers, and cangis ana
slack water navigation to the Savennah and
Ocmulgee rivers, has been surveyed and re-
port made by an accomplished engineer, an
officer of the army. The second and third
fiaN dAr-
alton of Congress, namely, by an extention OF
the Kanawha AID James River Canal to the
Ohio and by the extention of the Chesapeake
and Ohio Canal. l am not prepared to rec
ommend government 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 produc-
tion increases more rapidly than the means OF
transportation in our country has been DEM
onstrated by past experiences that the un-
precedented growth in population and prod
ucts OF the whole country, Will require
additional facilities and cheaper means ior
the more bulky articles OF commerce to reach
tide water and market, will be demanded in
the near future, is equally demonstrate.
would therefore suggest either a COMMITTEES
or commission to be authorized to consider
this whole question, and to report congress
at some future day, for its better guidance
In legislating on the important subject.
The railroads of the country have been rap
idly extended during the last few Years to
meet the growing demands OF producers, ana
reflect much credit upon the capitalists and
managers engaged in the reconstruction. In
addition to these, project TO facilltate COM
merce by 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 this ses-
sion Looking to the great future of the
country, the increasing demards of commerce,
Ii might be well, while on THIS SUBJECT, mol
only TO have examined and reported upon the
various practicable routes for connecting the
Mississippi with tide water on the Atlantic,
buH the feasibility of an almost continuous
land locked navigation from Maine TO tue
Gulf of Mexico Such. route along our coast
would be of great value at all times, and OF
inestimable value in case of q foreign war. Ma
ture has provided the greater part OF this
route, and the obstacles to be overcome are
easily within the skill OF the engiueers.'
have not alluded to this snbject with the view
| OF having any further expenditure OF public
mouey at this time than may be necessary 10
procure and place all the necessary lnIorma-
lion before Congress in an authentic form, TO
enable it hereafter, if deemed practicable and
worthy. to legislate on the subject without
delay.
NAVY DEPARTMENT.
The report of the Secretary of the Navy,
herewith accompanying, explains fully the
condition of that branch of the public servtce,t
its 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 a very few years the United
States will be the weakest nation upon The
ocean of all the great powers. With au ener-
gctic, progressive business people like ours,
| Penetrating and forming business relations
with every part of the known world, navy
strong enough TO command the respect OF our
lag abroad is necessary ior the iuii,protectl9n
] of their rights. Tteeommend careful consid-
| Grafton by Congress OF the recommendations
made by the Secretary of the Navy.
| PosToFFICE DEPARTMENT.
fhe accompanying report of the Postmaster
General furnishes full and satisfactory exhibit
| of the operations OF the Postofioe Department
during the year. Tho ordinary revenue of the
| department for the nscal year ending june 3Oth,
! iturcs SEA, ,B5S ia 81 Compared with tho preyi-
| ous fiscal year the increase of revenue was ST.
| 6IH sS0 q5 or o3T per cent. ana the increase OF
| expenditures 50 ssso osS % or 9s9 per cent Add