The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-12-03

compact colony, Is OF great interest
Ordnance Department, thus leaving
that branch OF the service without
sufficient officers to conduct the business
al the different arsenals on q large scale,
If ever required.
NAVY DEPARTMENT.
During the past year our Navy has
been depleted by tho sale OF some vessels
no longer ct for naval service, and by the
condemnation Of others not yet disposed
OF. This, however, has been more than
compensated for by the repair of six Of
the old wooden ships, and by the build
Ing Of eight moro sloopsot.war, author
lied by the last Congress. The building
of these latter has occurred at o doubly
fortunate time. They are being complet'
cd at time when they may possibly be
much needed and the work upon them has
not only been giving direct employment TO
thousands OF men, but has, no doubt, been
the means Of keeping open establishments
for other work at time of great financial
distress. a'
Since the commencement Of the last
month, however, the distressing occur.
FENCES which have taken place In the Car.
ribbean sea, almost on our very sea board,
while they illustrate most torcibly the
necessity always existing, that nation
situated like ours should maintain
In efficient condition a navy adequate
to It's responsibility, has at the same
time demanded that the effective force
we really have shall be put In immediate
readiness for warlike service. This has
been and Is being done promptly and
effectively, and am assured that oil the
available ships and every authorized man
oil the American Navy will be ready fol-
whatever action Is required for the safety
of citizens or the maintenance oil our
honor. This, Of course, will require the
expenditure for q short time Of some Of
the appropriations which were calculated
10 extend through the fiscal year; but
Congress will, I doubt not, understand
and appreciate the emergency, aud will
provide adequately not only for tho pres
emit preparation but for the future main
tenance Of our navy, for the Secretary oil
the Navy has during the past year been
quietly putting some OF our most effective
monitors In condition for service, and thus
the exigency finds us In a much better
condition Tor work than we could posi-
bly, hsve been without his action.
PosToFFIcE DEPARTMENT.
A complete exhibit Is presented In the
accompanying report oil the Postmaster
General OF operations Of the Postottice
Department during tho year. The or
binary postal revenues for the fiscal year
ending June 80, 1873, amounted Ia
500 900, 74l 81, and the expenditures Of
all kinds TO $99OS4,o45 ". The in
crease Of revenues over 1879 was
81 ,081, 315 90, and the increase Of
expenditures $242,675,338, independ-
emit ofthe payments made from special ap
preparations for mail steamship lines
The amount drawn from the general
treasury 10 meet the deficiency was
So, 2G5, Ala The constant and rapid ex-
tension of our postal service, particularly
upon railways, and the improved facilities
for the collection, transmission, distribu-
ton and delivery Of the mails, which are
constantly being provided, account for
the prosperity Of this branch oil
the public service. The total num-
Der Of post offices in operation on
the 30h OF June, 1878, was 1924,
net increase Of 1881 over the number re.
ported the preceding year. The number
OF Presidential offices was 1868, an in.
crease Of 1903 during the year. The total
length OF the railroad mail routes at the
close OF the year was 03,457 miles, an in.
crease OF 5,54G miles over the year 1879.
Fifty.nine railway post office lines were
In operation on the 30ih Of June, 1878, ex.
tending over l ,S6G miles ofrailroad routes,
and performing an aggregate service Of
81, 925 miles daily. The number ofletters
exchanged with foreign countries was
81, 459 1856, an increase Of 3,096,6S5 over
tho previous year, aud the postage
thereon amounted to $2,02l $40 SO. The
total weight oil correspondence exchanged
In the mails with the European countries
exceeded 912 tons, an increase Of % tons
over the previous year. The total cost OF
the U. s. Ocean Mail Steamship Service,
including $725, 600 paid from special APP
preparations 10 the subsidized lines OF mail
steamers, was $40, 727,l35.
POSTAL CONVENTIONS.
New or additional postal conventions
have been concluded with Sweden, Nor
way, Belgium, Germany, Canada, New
Foundland and Japan, reducing the pos
tai rates on correspondence exchanged
with those countries, and further efforts
have been made 10 conclude sat-
isfactory postal conventions with
France, but without success. invite the
favorable consideration of Congress to the
suggestions and recommendations for the
free delivery system In all cities having
population III not less than 10000; TO the
prepayment oil postage on newspapers and
other printed matter OF the second class |;
TO uniform postage; TO limit OF weight
on miscellaneous matter; TO an adjust
ment OF the compensation OF all post
not appointed by the President,
BY the old method oil commissions on the
actual receipts OF the office, instead OF
the present mode OF paying by salary
upon special returns, and especially
do urge favorable action by Congress on
the important recommendation Of the
Postmaster General for the establishment
Of United States Postal Savings Deposit
aries. Your attention Is also again called
10 a consideration Of the question Of Postal
relegraphs, and the arguments in support
hereof, In the hope that you may take
Iuch action In connection Herewith as In
POUR judgment will most contribute to
he best interests Of the country.
aH UTAH AFFAIRS.
The Department Of Justice affairs In |
Utah require your early and special atten.
ion. The Supreme Court OF the United
,tates, In the case Of Stanton o.. Engle-
,recht, decided that the United States
Marshal OF that Territory could not law.
ully summon Jurors for the District
Jourts, and those Courts held that
he Territorial Marshal cannot law.