Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1873-12-08


Illinois and Mississippi Rivers This
would be national work one of great
value to the West and South in giving
them cheap transportation for their pro-
ducts to the sea-board and a market
and the consumers in the East, in CIV
ing them cheaper food, particularly of
those articles of food which do not find
foreign market, and the prices of
which, therefore, are not regulated by
foreign demands. The advantages of
such work are too obvious for argu-
ment. l submit the subject to you,
therefore, without further comment.
THE WAR DEPARTMENT..
The attention of Congress is invited
to the recommendations contained in the
report of the Secretary of War, herewith
accompanying. The apparent great cost
of supporting the army is fully explain
ed by this report, and hope will re-
ceive your attention. While inviting
your attention to all the recommends
lions made by the Secretary of War,
there are two which 1 would especially
invite you to consider. First, the impor-
lance of preparing for war in time of
peace, by providing proper armament
for our seacoast defences. Proper arma-
ment is Of vastly more Importance than
Notifications. The latter can be supplied
very speedily for temporary purposes,
when needed the former cannot
NAVY DEPARTMENT..
During the past year, our navy has
been depleted by the sale of some vessels,
no longer fit for naval service, and by
the condemnation of others not yet dis
posed Of This, however, has been more
than compensated for by the repair of
six of the old wooden ships, and by the
building of eight new sloops-of-war, au-
thorized by the last Congress. The
building of the latter has occurred at a
doubly fortunate time. They are about
being completed at time when they
may possibly be much needed, and the
work upon them has not only given di-
rect employment to thousands of men,
but has no doubt been the means of keep
ing open establishments for other work
at a time of great financial distress.
Since the commencement of last month,
however, the distressing occurrences
which have taken place in the waters Of
) the Caribbean Sea, almost ON our very
, seaboard, which thus illustrate most for.
chilly the necessity always existing that
a nation situated like ours should main
tain in state of possible efficiency ma
Wy adequate to its responsibilities, ha:
at the same time demanded that all the
effective force we really have shall b.
put in immediate readiness for warlikt
: service. This has been and is being don,
promptly and effectually; and ] am as
| sured that all the available ships ant
3 every authorized man of the American
&. navy will be ready for whatever actor
: is required for the safety of our citizen
e and the maintenance of our honor. Thi
q of course, will require the expenditur
r In short time of some of the appropri
ations which were calculated to exten,
r through the fiscal year, but Congress
: will, doubt not, understand and appre
d ciate the emergency, and will provid
: adequately, not only for the presen
n preparation, but for the future mainte
p nance of our naval force The Secretar
! of the Navy has, during the past yeal
Il been quietly putting some of our mos
It effective monitors in condition for sci
y vice, and thus the exigency finds us i
Re much better condition for work tina
e we could possibly have been without hi
n action.
'. POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT..
1t A complete exhibit is presented in tt
< accompanying report of the Postmaste
General of the operations of the Po
Office Department during the year. II
l. ordinary postal revenues for the fsc;
IN year ended June 80, 1873, amounted /
h S22,996,74l 81, and the expenditur
If of all kinds to 500, 1854, 945 81. II
u increase of revenues over 1872 was 81
ce 0o1,315 20, and the increase of expe
ar ditures $2,426,723 SO, independent
g the payment made from special appr
of priations for mail steamship lines. II
mt amount drawn from the general treasu
er to meet deficiencies was S5,265,37
e. The constant and rapid extension of o,
en- postal service, particularly upon ra
at ways, and the improved facilities f
nd collection, transmission, distribution al
ay delivery of the mails, which are co
On stantly being provided, account for t
IT. increased expenditures of this popul