The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1873-12-11
tablishing trade of value to both na-

tions.
In further connection with the treas
UIy department, would recommend
revision and oodifcstion of the tariff
/ laws, and the opening of more mints
/ for coming money, with authority to
coin for such nations as may apply.
THE WAR DEPARTMENT..
The attention of congress is invited
/ to the recommendation II the report If
the secretary of war, herewith accom-
/ panying. The apparent great cost of
supporting the academy is fully ex-
/ planned Ia the report, and il Will receive
| your attention. While inviting your
1 great attention to all the recommenda-
tiOns made by the secretary of war,
there are two which would especially
invite you TO consider
First. The Importance of preparing
for war In time Of peace by providing
the proper armament for our sea-coast
| defense. A proper armament is of vast
! Iy more importance than fortihcations.
! The latter can be supplied very speedily
for temporary purpose when needed.
| The former cannot.
The second is the necessity of re-
/ opening promotion IN the staff corps of
/ the army. Particularly is this necessi-
| ty felt IN the medical, pay and ordnance
I II [
/ sRry to employ contract surgeons to
supply the necessary medical attention
required by the army. With the pres.
ent force of the pay department, it il |
now difficult to make the payments to |
troops provided by law. Long delays |
In payments are productive Of deser- |
tions and decentralization, and the law |
prohibits the payment Of troops by 9th |
er than the regular army paym=sters. |
There are now sixteen vacancies in the |
ordnance department, thus leaving that |
branch of the service without sufficient /
officers to conduct the business Of the |
different arsenals on large scale, if ev- |
er required.
THE NAVAL DEPARTMENT..
During the past year the navy has |
been reduced by the sale of some ves-
sells no longer ht for naval purposes, and /
by the condemnation of others not vet /
disposed of. This, however, has been |
more than compensated for bv the re-
pair of six of the old wooden ships and |
by the building of eight new sloops-af- |
war authorized by the last congress.
The building of these latter has occur
red at a doubly favorable time. They /
are about being completed, when they /
will possibly be much needed, and the /
work upon them has not only given en-
ployment to thousands Of men, but has
no doubt been the means of keeping
open the establishments for other works
at time of great financial distress.
Since the commencement of last /
month, however, the distressing occur
rences which have taken place in the i
Caribbean sea, almost on our very sea-
board, while they illustrate most forci- /
bic the necessity always existing, that a |
nation situated as ours, should maintain /
IN Naka r,F
to its responsibilities, has at the same
time demanded that all the effective i
force we really have shall be put in inn
mediate service. This has been, and is
being done promptly and effectively,
and am assured that all the available
ships, and every authorized man OF the
American navy viii be ready for what
ever action is required for
TEE SAFETY OF OUR orMzREs,
or the maintenance of our honor. This.
of course, Will render necessary the ex-
pen1iture in a short time of aome of the
appropriations which were calculated TO
extend through the fiscal year, but con-
gress Will, 1 doubt not, understand and
appreciate the emergency, aud viii pro-
vide adequately not only for the pre-
paration, but for the future mainten-
ence of our naval force. The secretary
Of the navy has during the past year
been quietly putting some OF the most
extensive monitors in condition for SER
vice and thus the exigency finds us in
a much better condition for work than
we could possibly have been without
his action.
THE PosroFFIoE.
A complete exhibit is presented in the
accompanying report of the postmaster
general of the operations Of the post
office department during the year. The
postal revenues for the fiscal
year ending June 80, 1873, amounted to
so, $50, 741 81, and the expenditures of
all kinds to $26, ,OS4, ,945.6 The in
crease in the revenue for 1873 was 81
O0l, 1880, and the increase in expendi- ,
lures S246, ,567.36. Independent of pay !
ments made from special appropriation I
for mail ocean ship lines, the amount 8
drawn from the general treasury 20 meet s
deficiencies was S246, ,547.55. The con- ,
slant and rapid extension of our postal
service, particularly upon the railroad, !
and the improved facilities for the col G
lection, transmission, distribution and c
delivery of the mails which are con-
5tently being provided, account for the !
expenditures of this popular /
branch of the public service. Q
FTGuRATTvE.
a
sration on the 30th of June, 1873. was {
'3, ,244, q net increase of ], 1,3SI over the .
lumber reported the proceeding year. r
The number of presidential Offices was 1,
,363, an increase of 163 during the :
rear. The total length of the railroad q
nail routes at the close of the year was g
}, ,345,770, an increase of So, ,466 miles 9
,ver the year 1872. Fifty-nine railway p
OOstoffice lines we're in operation on the q
'Oth Of June, 1873, extending over a. n
'66 miles Of railroad routes and per P
ormiDg an aggregate service of "a, ,925 =
niles. Ihe number of letters exchanged | :
With foreign countries was q, $50, 155, e
IN increase of 999, ,6S5 over the previous
rear, and the postage thereon amounted
% s., ,021, $40. SO, and the total weight Q
II correspondence exchanged IN the h
nails with European countries exceeded =,
~ tons, an increase Of 81 tons over the 81
lrevious year, at q total cost of United q
states ocean mail steamship service, Z
S735, 600 paid frOm special /,
70 subsidized lines Of q
nail steamers, of 81 ,047, ,271.55. 2
New or additional postal connections p
AVE been concluded with Sweden, Nor ~ =.
gay, Belgium, Germany, Canada, New
oundland and Japan, reducing the pos
al rates on the correspondents exc p
hanged with these countries. Efforts n
ave been made 10 conclude a Ratisfac- =
ory postal convention with France, but 7.
Without success. n
REoOAnEHDATIoEB-P SAVINGS =
BANKS. q
/ invite the favorable consideration :,
( congress 70 the suggestions and
recommendations of the postmaster "
General for an extension Of the free de- =
ivery system In aIl cities having pop g
Ilation Of not less than TO- 600 for the d
Of postage on newspapers "
nd other printed matter Of the second ~
lass for the uniform postage and e
INIT Of weight Of miscellaneous mat :,
er for the adjusting the compensation -
4 all postmasters not appointed by the a
resident by the old method Of Oom- n
lissions on actual receipts Of the Office, q
instead Of the present mode Of fixing h,
be salary in advance upon special re- n
1Kns, and especially do urge fay0ra- lb
le action by congress on the important n,
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