Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-12-03
dance of freight. The progress for the last
year in shipbuildipg has been very satistac-

per cent, in the amount transported 10 Ameri-
can vessels over the amount Of last year.
With the reduced cost of material whicn
has taken place, it may reasonably De nopeu
that this progress will be maintained anu
e en- increased.
However, as we pay about eighty million
dollars per annum to foreign vessels Tor tue
transportation OF our surplus products to a
market, thus increasing the balance OF trade
against us to this amount, tho subject IL one
worthy of your serious consideration
INTERNAL TRANSPORTATION.
Cheap transportation - is subject that
has attracted the attention of both producers
and consumers for the past few years, and
has contributed to, If it has not been the
direct cause OF, the recent panic and strln-
gepcy. As Congress at its last session ap-
pointed SPECIAL committee to investigate
this whole subject during vacation and report
at this session have nothing to reconm nd
until their report is read. There is one
work, however, of a national character in
which the greater portion of the East and
West, the North and the South. are equally
interested, to which | Till invite your atten-
ton.
The State of New York has canal connect
ing Lake Erie with the tide water on the
Hudson river, and the State of Illinois has
similar work connecting Lake Michigan with
navigable waters on the Illinois river, thus
making a water communication inland be-
ween the East and the w est and South.
These great artificial water courses are the
property OF the States TIN ough which they
pass, and pay toll to those States. Would 1t
not be wise craftsmanship to pledge these
States that if they will open these canals for
the passage OF large vessels the General Gov
ernment Will look after and keep in navlga-
bic condition the great public highways with
which they connect, to wit, the overslaugh
on The Hudson, the St. Clair flats and the
Illinois and Mississippi Rivers.
This would be national work, one OF
great value to the producers OF the West and
South IN giving them cheap transportation
lor their produc 10 the seabJard and a mar
ket; and te consumers In the East, IN glvin.
them cheaper food, particularly those arti-
ces Of fuOl y inch do not find d foreign mar
ket, and the prices OF which, therefore, are
not regulated by foreign demands.
The advantages Of such work are to- OBJ
vious for argument. | submit the subject
TO you, therefore, without further comment.
TRADE WITH SOUTH AMERICA.
In attempting to regain our lost commerce
and carrying trade | have heretofore called
your attention to the States south of the
United States, Offering field where much
might be accomplished to further this OBJ
ject.
suggest that small appropriation be
made, accompanied with authority, for the
Navy to fit out naval vessel to ascend the
Amazon river to the mouth OF the Medeira,
] ~. "A
ries into Bolivia, and to report to Congress
at It's next session or as soon as practicable
the accessibility of tie country by water, its
resources and the population so reached
Such an exploration vii cost but little; 1T
can do DO harm, aud may result In establish
ing a trade OF value to both nations
In further connection with the Treasury
| Department l would recommend revision
ana codifcdtion of the tariff laws and the
opening OF more mints for coming money,
with authority to cJin for such nations as
may apply.
THE WAR DEPARTMENT.
The attention of Congress is invited to the recon
mcndatOnS contained IN the report of the Sccreta
| ~ of " ar herewith accompanying. The apparent
great cost of supporting the army fully explained
| by this report, and hope will receive your atten
ton. While mvitn% your attention to all the recon-
mendatons made Ov the Secaetary of War, there
are two which would especially invite you to con
| slider.
! First the impor ance of preparing for in time
! of peace by providing proper armament for oui
sea coast ,iefcnces. Proper armament is OF vast
| more importance than forticatIons. The la LEI
can be supplied very speedily for temporary pur-
| poses when needed the former cannot The sec
ond Is the necessity OF rcopening promotion IN the
stan Corps of the Army. Parucul trlv Is this ne
cessty felt in the Medical, Pay and Ordinance De-
! partments. At This time it is necessary to employ
contract surgeons TO supply the necessary medical
! auendane' required by the ARMY
| WITH tue present 70 &C of the PAY Department. il
/ is now difficult 10 make the payments to troop
| provided Tor bv law. Lon. delays in pavmc l.
/ are pro lu"tve of assertions and other demon xa
ton, and The law prohibits ne payment OF troops
/ by other than regular army payma-t tiers.
Thee are now 81 Neen Va 'tncIeS IN The Ordnance
! Department thus leaving that branch OF he ser
! vice without sufficient officer t. conduct the bu>I
ness of the different arsGdL on 4 large scale /
| ever required.
NAVY DEPARTMENT.
! During the past year our navy has been depleted
by The sale of some sells no longer lit tor nlva
service, and bv the condemnation Of others not We
disposed of This. however, mas been more than
| compensated Tor by the repair of SIX of the oil
wooden ships, and by the building of eight new
! sloops-ot-war authorized by the last Congress.
The building of the latter has occurred at
doubly fortunate time. Theg are about being com
/ pleted at time when they NAV possibly be mucl
needed, and the wo'k upon them has not only CIV
en- direct employ to thou sands of men but has
no doubt been the means OF keeping open establish
mcntS for other work at time ct great hnancla
distress
| Since The commencement of last MONTH however
the distressing occurrences which have taken plac,
! in the waters of tie Caribbean sea almost on GU
very GARD while they illustrate most forcibl y
| the necessity liNavs existing that nation situa
ted ike ours should maintain in state of possihl,
efficiency Navy adequate TO its responsible ties IA;
/ at the ne time demanded that all the effective
force we really have shall be PUT IN immediate read
mess for warlIke service This has been and is be
| in done ~ omptlV and effectually aud am assur
eli that all the aSallaDle ships aud every author
man OF the American Navy will he ready Tor what
ever ac N Is required for the safety OF citizens
| or the N IntcudnGe OF our honor.
| THIS of course Will require the expenditure, in
short time, of some OF the appropriations which
ere calculated to extend through the fiscal wear
| but Congress Will, doubt not, understand and ap
precIate the emergency. and Will provide ade
quately not only for the present preparation but 10
The future mlIntcn NICE of our avail force.
The secretary OF the Navy has during the pas
year been quietly putting sone OF our most efcc
tive monitors IN condition for service, and thus th
eXigencies finds IN a mach better condition 10
work than we coulI posstoIy have been without HI;
acton.
POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT.
| A complete exhibit is presented in the accom-
panying teport of the Po~tm a-tcr General of the
operations of the Post Office Department during
the year. Inc ordinary postal revenues for the ifs
| cal year ending June 80, 1873 amounting to S13,-
800 74l51, and tho expenditures of all kinds Il
| $40 ,0S4 1885,
The Increase of revenues over 1872 was sl.osI,
80 20, and the increase OF the expenditures S425
| 1886, independent of The pay ments made from
special appropriations for mail steamship lines
The amount drawn from the general treasury L
meet deficiencies IS. 265 415.
The constant and rapid extension of our posta
service, particularly upon railways and the i'm
proved facilities for collection transmission, .stri
button and delivery of the mails, which are con
stantly being provided, account for the increase,
expenditures of this popular branch OF the public
service. The total number of Post Offices ii
operation on June goth, 1913, 33 PA. Il net in
crease of 1881 over the number reported the prece
ding year.
The number 1ofi pres denfial offices was 1868
an increase of l63 during the year. The tota
length of railroad mail routes at the close of tn
year 63 Az miles, Increase OF IS Is miles owe
the year 1872. flfty-ninc railway post Office line
were in operation on the 3Dth of June 1873, extend
ing over ii $50 miles of railroad routes and per
forming an aggregate service of 1923 miles daily
The number of letters exchanged with foreign
countries - ,459. lS5, increase Of 096, IS
over the previous year, and the postage Thereon
appointed to 3, 02l 3l0.S6. The total weight 0
correspondence exchanged with European coun
tries exceeded 9l2 tons increase of 9s tons owe
the previous year. The total cost OF the UnItet
States ocean mail steamship service, including
1928 900 paid for special appropriations to subsI
diZed lines of mail steamers was 81 o4i 30.
| New or additional postal conventions have been
concluded with sweden, Norway, Belgium, Ger