The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-12-04
upsorxn .aAxspoR.AT,ox.

J The attestion Of, Congress yyill be
, called, during thetpfesestt seeaon. TO
various enterprises tor the more certain
and cheaper transportation Of the con-
stantly increasing surplus OF the west
ern and south western, products to the
Atlantic se.bnard. The subject is one
that will -iorce itself ON the legislative
branch OF the eoverntnent sooner ~
later, and I suggest, therefore, that i'm
mediate steps be taken to gain all avail
able in'ormstiop to insure equal and
lust legislation. A roate to cont ect the
Mssissippi Valley With the Atlantic,
ct Oh arle-ton, South Carolina, and Sac
vannsb, 'Georsia. BY water, by thesway
oil the Ohio and Tepnessee rivers, and
canals and slackwster navigation to the
Savannah and Ocmulgee rivers has
been surveyed and q report made by 80
accomplished engineer officer or the
army. A second and third new route
" Il be proposed Tor the consideration
of Congress, namely. by an extension
OF the Kanawha sni James river canal
to the OHIO, and by the extension Of The
Cbs sap axe and OHIO canal. am not
prepared 20 recommend Whist the gov
eminent cha do 10 these or otherens
trrpri-es until it is clearly shown that
they are not only of nat,oosl interest,
but that, when completed. they will be
OF a valne commensura'e with their
cost. That production increases m ,re
rapidly than the means Of tr.Dsporta.
ton in our country has been demon-
strated by past experience. and that the
unprecedented growth in population
and products OF the whole country
will require additional facllit'es,
and cheaper ores, for the
more bulky articles OF commerce to
reach tide water and market lie de-
mapded in the near future, is equally
demonstrated. I would therefore sng-
gest that q commission be authorlz-d TO
consider ths whole question and TO re-
port to Congress 81 some future day 'or
its better gu dance in legi1lsting on this
i'm portant SUI jet The rsIlrca Ia OF the
country have been rapidly extended du'
ring the last lew years to meet the
growing demand Of products, ard ref ct
much credit upon the capital sis and
managers engaged 10 their construction.
In addition to these, TO facilitate COM
merce uv the building OF ship canal
ar und Niagara Falls on the United
iates s'd-, which has been asitsted Tor
many years, will no doubt be called to
your attention at this session. Looking
to the great future growth OF the com.
ny and the l. cressiug demands Of com
mrrce, it might be well, while on tlls
su,jrct, not only to have an examine
ton and report upon the various prac,l'
cable routes tor the connection OF the
Missis.iupi with the tide water OF the
At antic, but the 'e 8 biiry OF an almost
cont u,us land 10 ked Navigation from
VI ,ine TO the Gull OF Mexico. Such
route along our coast would b. o
great value at all times. and o. ines,i
mahlr value in case q, q foreign war.
Nature has provided the greater par OF
the route, and the obstacles to he over
90 ne are easily within TIVE skill OF the
IN yineer. | have MOI alluded 10 tins
subject with the view OF having any
ur her expenditure OF public money At
this time than NAV he necessary to pro.
cure and llace all the necessary in
'"rmation before Congress in an authen.
ric o. m. to enable it heres ter, II deem
ed pr ctcsbe AID WORTHY. to leglsIate
On the subject without delay.
rHENAvY
The report OF the Secretary Of the
Navy herewith accompanying, explains
fully the condition OF that branch Of
the pubic serSic; its wants and def
ciencv the expenses incurred during
the past year. and the appropriation tor
the same. 1t also gives complete Ills
torv of the services of the navy tor the
o ut wear; in addition to its REGULAR
service. 1t ia evident that unless early
-reps are taken to preserve our navy
that, in very few years, the United
S ates will he the weakest nation upon
The ocean of nearly all the great powers.
With al energetic, progressive and bust
ness people like ours, penetrating and
forming business relations with every
part OF the known world, q navv strong
enough 10 command the respect Of our
flag abroad is necessary for the 'ull pro
teclion Of their rights. recommend
careful consiierat on by Congress Of
The Navy
PosroFFIcE DEPARTMENT.
The accompanying report Of the
Postmaster Genera, furnishes full and
Satisfactory EXHIBIT OF the operations OF
the PUst"ffiae Department during the
year. The ordinary revenues OF the
department or the Fl cal year. ended
Jun" 30, 1872, amounted to 81 ,8l5 =
no 81 aud the EXPENDITURES to go
65S, 1921 Compared With the Prev.
nus ti.ca yea, the inrress. OF revenue
VAS 81 S7S $50 g. or 937 per CEN, and
The increase ct expenditures 81 268
USS q, or 929 per cent Aiding to the
ord nary rpvennes The annual appropri.
,tion of i7UiO00 Tor Tree matter and
the amount paid to the subsidized mail
Steamship lines from special appropria-
IONS. the deficiency p''d nut "t the ger
eral rrea-urv ~as $6,3l7.765 81. An ex.
cess O $3N9.I0I 90 over the deficiency
or the. year 1871 Other Interesting
IN Information relating to our rapidly ex-
tending postal rervise is furnished in
this reuort. The total leigh OF rail-
road mail rout-- on the 81 h OF June,
1S72, was 57,9ll miles, S077 additional
mhe, Of sucn service hs.ing been put
INTO operation during the year. Eight
new llrrs o. railway ppst rou'-s have
been estshli-hed win An aggregate
length OF 1909 miles. The number o
letters exchanged in the msiIs with
ore,gn c,unrre 90 was "a, S62 80. an
mere ..e OF 4 066 $50 or twenty per cent
over the number in 1871 And rhe pnst-
D. slE