Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1872-12-10

under which expenditures are made rs
measure of economy; reappropria'i"h
of the money for the construction oi
-lepot at San Antonio. the title to the ste
being now perfected; special act placing
the cemetery ut the City OF Mexico on the
same basis as other national cemeteiie~
authority TO purchase sites iorfmllitay
poss in Texas; the appointment OF con-,
mis- sary sergeants from non n-c0mmissiOned
officers rs n measure for securing the Det-
ter care and protection of supplies; an,
for the publication OF Tie
catalogue and tables OF the anatonhc'I
sectiOn.of the army medical museum
of the amount Tor ur
of breech-lOadlng arms u
the selection be so delayed by the board
of officers as to leave the former appro-
priation unexpended az the close OF the
fiscal year; the sale OF such arsenalS.eaSt
OF the Mississippi, rs can be spared, and
the proceeds applied to the establishment
OF 4 large arsenal OF construction and re-
pairs upon the Atlantic coast, anu the pun
chase OF "A suitable site for proving ana
cxpcrimental ground for heavy ordnance
the Nbrogation of the laws which deprive
inventors I'm the United States service from
deriving any benefit from their Inventions
the repeal of the law pr0hibtin. promo
tons in the staff corps; u continuance
OF The work upon coast detences; the Tr'
peal Of the 7th section of the act OF .luil
18th, 1866, taking from engineer soldiers
the per diem granted TO other troops;
limitation OF time for presentation oi Old
war claims for subsistence and supplies
under the act OF July 4th, 1864, and
modification in the mode OF the selection
OF cadet, for the military academy IN or
der 10 enhance the usefulness OF the acad-
emv. which il impaired by reason OF
large amount of time necessarily eXpcnd-
ed IN giving new cadets thorough kno"l-
edge of mere elementary branches 81
learning, which they should acquire be-
fore entering the academy. Also al APP
preparation for philosophical apparatus
and an increase in the numbers and pay
OF the military academy band.
CERTAIN 81 CHEAPER TRANSPORTATION.
The attention Of Congress will be called
during. the present session 10 various cm
tcrprises for the more certain aud cheaper
transportation Of the constantly increaS-
inc surplus Of the western and southern
products TO the Atlantic seaboard. The
subject is one that will force itself upon
the legislature branch Of the government
sooner or later, and suggest. therefore.
that immediate steps be taken to gain AL
available information 10 insure equitable
aud Just legislation. The route to connect
the Missouri Valley with the Atlantic at
Charleston, :. c.. and Savannah. Ga, by
water by way OF the Ohio and Tennessee
rivers aud canals. and the black waters.
navigation To the Savannah and OcmulgCc
rivers has been surveyed and n report
made by an accomplished engineer OF the
army. The second and third routes will
be postponed for the consideration OF Con-
prcst. namely. by the extension Of the
kananawa and James river canal to Ire
Ohio, and by the extension Of the thesa-
pcake and Ohio canal. | am not prepal-
ed to recommend Government aid to these
or other enterprises uutil 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 production increases
more rapidly than the means Of trahspor'
tation Ia our country has been demonstfa-
ted by past experience; that the unprccc-
dented growth i'm population and products
of the whole country will require addl-
tional facilities, and cheaper ones, for ;iie
more bulky articles of commerce 10 reach
tide water, and a market will be demand
ed In the near future, rs equally demon
strablc. | would therefore suggest that
committee or commission be authorized To
consider this whole question and report lo
Congress at some future day, for its better
guidance in legislation on this important
subject.
OUR RAILROADS.
The railroads OF the country have been
rapid!v extended during the lastiew years
10 meet the growing demand of produce
and reflect much credit upon the capitai-
lists engaged in their construction.
NIAGARA FALLS SHIP CANAL.
In addition to these project to laciii-
tate commerce by the building OF Sh!p
canal around Niagara Falls on The Unfed
States side. which has bsen agltatcd Tor
mauv years. will no doubt, be called Ia
your attention at this session. loob IN 30
The great future growth of the country
and The increasing demands OF commerce
l. might be well while on this sUbjcc..
not only to have examined and reported
on tle various practicable routes for con
meeting the Mississippi with tide water on
the Atlantic, but the feasibility Of an al
most continuous land locked navigation
from Maine TO the Gulf Of Mexico. Such.
q route along our course would be OF great
value at all times. and OF cStimable value
In case of foreign war. Nature has pro-
vidcd the greater part OF this route, and
the obstacles to overcome are easily with
in the skill of the engineer | have not
alluded TO this subject with the view 81
having any further expenditure Of public
money at this time than may be necessary
to procure and place all the necessary IN
formation before Congress in authentic
form. to enable it hereafter, ii 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 lie
condition of that branch OF the public SER
vice. Its wants and deficiencies, expenses
incurred. during the past year, and appro-
priatiOns for the same. 1t also gives COM
plete history Of the service OF the navy for
the past year, in addition To its regular
service. 1t is evident that unless steps are
taken to preserve our navy that in very
lew years the United States will be the
weakest nation upon the ocean of the
great powers. With an energetic. pro-
gressional, business people like ours, pen
etrating and forming business relations
with every part of the known world. -
navy strong enough to command the ic-
spcct OF our flag abroad is necessary for
the full protection OF their rights. 70
commend careful consideration by Cor-
gress OF The recommendations made by
the Secretary OF the navy.
Posr OFFICE DEPARTMENT:
=
The accompanying report of ;the Post
master General furnishes q full and salts
factory exhibit OF the operations of the
Post Office Department during the year.
The ordinary revenue ofthe Department
for the fiscal year ending June Both. 1872
amounted 10 S2I. .9l5, 1861, and tie eN-