Northern Ohio journal. [volume] (Painesville, Ohio) 1872-1896, 1873-12-06

three per cent. in the amount transpor-
ted in American vessels over the anount
of last year. With the reduced cost Of
material which has taken place it may
reasonably be hoped that this change
will be maintained and even Increased.
However, as we pay about eighty mil
lion dollars per annum TO foreign vessels
for the transportation of our surplus
products to Il market; thus increasing
the balance of trade against us 10 this
amount, the subject is one worthy Of
your serious consideration.
CHEAP TRANSPORTATION
is subject that has attracted the atten-
lion OF both producers and consumers
for the past few years, and has contrib
uted to, If il has not been the direct
cause Oh, the recent panic and stringen-
cy. AS Congress al its last session APP
pointed special committee TO investi-
gate this whole subject during vacation
and report at this session, | have moth
ing 10 recommend until their report is
ready.
NATIONAL CANAL ROUTE.
There is one work, however, of q ma
tional character in which the greater
portion of the east and west, and north
and south are equally interested, to
which / invite your attention. The
state of New York has canal connect
ing Lake Erie with tide water on the
Hudson river. The state of Illinois has
with navigable water on the Illinois
river, thus making communication in
land between the east and the west and
south. These great artificial water
courses are the property of the states
through which they pass and pay toll
to these states. Would it not be wise
craftsmanship to pledge these states that
if they will open these canals for the
passage of large vessels. the government
will look after and keep in navigable
condition the great public highways
with which they connect, to wit: The
overslough oil the Hudson, the st. Clair
flats, and theIllinois and Mississippi riv-
ers. This would be a national work,
one of great value to the producers of
the west and south, in giving them
cheap transportation for their produce
| to the seaboard and a market to the con-
sumers in the east, giving them cheaper
food, particularly of those articles of
food which do not find foreign n ar
ket, and the prices of which, therefore.
are not regulated by foreign demand.
The advantages of such work are too
| obvious for argument. l submit the
subject to you, therefore, without fur
ther comment.
EXPLORING THE AMAZON.
In attempting to regain our lost COM
| merce and carrying trade, L have there
| fore called attention to the States south
| of us as Offering a field where much
might be accomplished to further this
object. l suggest that small appropri-
alton be made, accompanied with au-
| thority for the Secretary of the Navy to
| tit out a naval vessel to ascend the Anna
zOn river to the mouth of the Madeira,
thence to explore that river
and its tributaries into Boil.
via, and to report to Congress at its next
session or as soon as practicable the ac-
feasibility of the country by water, its
resources and the population so reached
Such an exploration will cost but little
1t can do no harm, and may result In
establishing trade of value to botl
nations.
TARIFF REVISION.
| In further connection with the Treas.
| ury Department l would recommend
| revision and codification of the tariff
laws and the opening of more mints fol
coming money, with authority to coiT
| for such nations as may apply.
| THE WAR DEPARTMENT.
The attention of Congress is invited t.
the recommendations in the report of the
| Secretary of War, herewith accompany
ing. The apparent great cost OF sup
! porting the Academy is fully explained
in the report, and it will receive your
attention. While inviting your best at
tention to all the recommendation
made by the Secretary of War, there ar,
nIs,h Il .S.,ll
to consider. First, the Importance o
preparing for war in time of peace b,
i providing proper armament for our Sc;
coast defenses. Proper armament is o
vastly more imp Lortance than fortified
tions. The latter can be supplied yer,
speedily for temporary purposes whel
needed, the former cadnot. The secont
is the necessity of re-opening promotion
in the staff corps of the army. Particu
larly is this necessity felt in the Medi
cal, Pay and Ordinance departments a
this time it is necessary to employ con
tract surgeons to supply the necessar,
medical attention required by the army
With the present force of the Pay De
; partment it is now difficult to make tn
payment to troops provided for by law
; Long delays in payments are prOductiv
: of desertions and Decentralization, an
the law prohibits the payment of troop
by other than regular army paymasterE
There are now sixteen vacancies in TIL
Ordinance department, thus leavin
that branch of the service without suffi
cient officers to conduct the business c
the different arsenals on a large scale,
eyer required.
II THE NAVY DEPARTMENT.
During the past year our navy ha
been reduced by the sale of some We!
3 sells no longer fit for naval purpose
: and by the condemnation of others nt
: yet disposed of. This, however, la
l been more than compensated for by til
: repair of six OF the old wooden shiT
t and by the building of eight new slooy
f of war, authorized by the last Congress
! The building of these latter has occurre
: at at {, doubly fortunate time. They al
5 about being completed, when they wi
s possibly be much needed, and the wor
: upon them has not only given dire
: employment to thousands of men, ii
: has no doubt been the means of keepin
n open establishments for other works
a time of great financial distress. SIM
s the commencement of last month, hoy
e evrr, the distressing occurrences viii,
E have taken place in the Caribbean Sc
f almost on our very seaboard, while the
illustrate most forcibly the necessity a
n ways existing that nation situated
o. ours should maintain in Il state of effic
e ency navy adequate to its responsible
i ties, has demanded that all the effecti'
e force we really have shall be put in in
s mediate readiness for wallike servic
: This has been and is being done promp
e ly and effectually and | am assured tn
e all the available ships aud every autho
> lied man OF the American navy will
r ready for whatever action is require
st for the safety OF our cities or the mai
: tenancc of our honor. This, of cOurs
= will render the expenditure for Il sho
1t time of some of the appropriate
n which were calculated TO extend throu,
to the fiscal year, but L doubt not Cougre
lt will understand and appreciate the er
: Eergency and will provide adequately II
" only for the present preparation, but
H. the future maintenance of our nav
s, force. The Secretary Of the Navy
is during the past year been quietly pt
9, ting some of our most extensive moi
al tors in condition for service, aud til
x the exigency finds us in a much betl
ne condition for work than we could pos
er bly, have been without his action.
THE posTOFFICE DEPARTMENT.
oe \ complete exhibit is presented
ba the accompanying report of the p:
n Csl.-