The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-12-03


ord Oeop,uigee rivers, has been SURVEYED
and report made by an accomplished en-
cineer officer of the army. Second asat
third. new routes viii be proposed for The
consideration of Congress namely, by ar
extension of the James River and Kaaapha
canal 10 The Ohio, and by extension of the
Chcsspeake aud Ohio canal. / am not pre-.
narrd TO recommend Government aid to
these or other enterprises until it is clearly
shown that they are not only of national in
.rrest, but that when completed they viii be
n value commensurate with their cost.
THAT production Increases more rapidly than
,hn means of transportation in our country
has bcen demonstrated by past experience.
That the unprecedented growth Ia popular
,jo, and products Of the whole country will
rc6uire additional facilities and cheaper ones
for The moro bulky articles Of commcrcetto
reach tide.wster aud market will be de-
handed in the near future Is equally
dcmon,trable / would therefore suggest
either q committee or commission, to lie
authorized TO consider this whole question
and 10 report TO Congress at some future day
for its better guidance in leeiSlatlng on this
important subject The railroads Of the
country have been rapidly extended during
,hc last few years 10 meet the growing de-
mand Of producers; aud reflect much credit
,lpo,t the managers engaged in their construc-
ton. In addition to these, project TO facili-
tate commerce hy the building a ship-canal
around Niagara Fails on the United States
side. which has been agitated for many years,
will no doubt be called TO your attention at
this session. Looking to the great future
growth Of the country and the increasing
demands ofcommerce it might be well, while
on his subject. not only to have examined
and reported upon the various practicable
routes fo- connecting the Mississippi with
,ide-water on the Atlantic, but the feasibility
Of an almost continuous land-locked nariga-
lion from Maine 10 the Gulf Of Mexico. Such
2 route along our coast would be Of great
value at all times. and Of inestiDiable value
IN case Of foreign war. Nature has pro-
yided the grades for part Of this route, and
the obstacles 10 be overcome are easily within
the skill Of the engineer. have not alluded
70 this subject with the view Of having any
further expenditure of public money at this
time than may he necessary to procure and
place all the necessary information before
Congress in an authentic form to enable ii
hereafter, If deemed practicable and worthy,
to lesi>Iate 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 SER
yirr. its wants and deficiencies, expenses in
Cured during the past year, and appropria-
tons for the same. 1t also gives Il complete
history OF the service Of the navy for the
past year in addition to regular service.
!. -N.t2 hot ,,,,t, ,,i,-,
taken 10 improve our navy, in very few
wears the United States will be the weak
~ nation upon the ocean OF all great Powers.
With IN energetic. progressive, business peo-
pie like ours, penetrating and forming bust
ness relations with every part OF the known
world, n navy strong enough to command
the respect Of our tag abroad is necessary
for the full protection OF their rights. l re-
commend careful consideration by Congress
IF the recommendation made by the Secrc.
tary OF the Navy.
FOST-0FFlCE DEPARTMENT.
The accompanying report of the Postmas.
icr-Gentrll furnishes full and satisfactory
Exhibit of the operations of the Post d flee
department during the year. The ordinary
revenues OF the Department for the fiscal year
ended June 80, 1872, amounted TO 81 49,
42G.3I, and the expenditures 20 S26.65S,-
1921. Compared with the previous fiscal
Year the increase of revenue was S1,S7S,-
5000, or 937 per cent, and the
increase of expenditures S2,269, 0Ss.23,
or go per cent. Adding to the ordinary reve.
nucs the annual appropriation of 100000
Tor free matter and the amounts paid to the
subsidies Of mail steamship lines for special
appropriation, the deficiency paid out Of
the general treasury was S3,311 ,1G5.94-an
excess Of $3.50, 1929 over the deficiency for
the year 1871. Other interesting statistical
information relating TO our rapidly extend.
ins postal service is furnished in this report
The total length OF railroad mai-routes Oh
the 3Dth Of June, 1872, was 57,9I1 miles
s,9,1 additional miles of such service having
been put into operation during the year
light new lines Of railway post-ofiiccs have
been established, with an aggregate length o!
2,9DJ miles. The number of letters eX.
changed in the mails with foreign countries
was 81 ,3G2, 50O--incrcase of 1866, SOP, or 90
l'cr cent over the number in 1871 and the
postage thereon amounted TO SiST, 125, T25.
HE total weight Of the mails exchanged with
European countries exceeded $40 tons. The
cost Vi the United States transatlantic mail
steamship service was 1902 .3Q1 10; the total
cost OF The use OF ocean steamer service,
including the amounts paid to the subsidized
ilheS VI mail steamers, was 81 OPT ,O10,9I.
Inc following are the only steamship lines
now receiving subsidies for mail service
under special acts OF Congress The Pacific
Mail Steamship Company receives 100000
per annum for conveying monthly mai
between San Francisco, Japan, and China
which will be increased to 100000 pei
annum for remi-monthly mail on and after
October /, 1918; the United States ant
Brazil Mail Steamship Company receives
$4,000 per annum for conveying a month
" GAil between New York and Rio dt
Jancro, Brazil; and the California, Oregon
and Mexico Steamship Company receive;
$4,000 per year tor carrying Il monthly
mail between san Francisco and Honolulu,
Hawaiian Islands, making the total
amount Of mail steamship subsidies
ut present $4,000 per uBnum. Oul
postal communications with all parts oil
The civilized world have been placed upon a
most advantageous footing by the improved
postal conventions and arrangements recent
~ concluded with the leading commercial
countries OF Europe and America, and the
gratifying statement is made that with the
conclusion of satisfactory convention with
France, the details Of which have been def.
nitcly agreed by the head of the French
Postal Department, subject to the approval
NJ tue Minister Of Finance, little remains to
he accomplished by treaty for some time to
cone with respect either 10 reduction OF
rates o. improved facilities of postal inter
course. Your favorable consideration is
respectfully invited to the recommendations
m,de by the Postmaster General for an in
crease Of service from monthly to SEMI
monthly trips in the mail steamship route to
Hr&zi! for subsidy in aid Of the establish