Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1873-12-11

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with the reduced cost of material which has
taken place, 1t may reasonably be hoped
that this change will be maintained and
even increased. However, as we pay about
$50 GOO, 600 per annum to foreign vessels Tor
the transportation Of our. surplus products to
market, thus increasing the balance OF trade
against us TO this amount, the subject is one
worthy of YOUR serious consideration. Cheap
transportation is subject that has attracted
the attention Of both producers anc consumers
for the past few years, and has contributed to,
II II has not been the direct cause OF, the re-
cent panic and stringency. As Congress, al
It's last session, appointed special committee
TO investigate this whole subject during Ihe
vacation. end report at this session, ! have
nothing TO recommend until their report is
ready.
INLAND WATER NAVIGATION.
There is one werk, however, of national
character, In which the greater portion OF the
East and the West, the North and the South,
are equally interested, to which / will invite
your attention. The State OF New York has
8 canal connecting Lake Erie with tide-water
on the Hudson River The Stste of Illinois
has q similar one connecting Lake Michigan
with the BaTigable waters OF the Illinois
River, thus making water communication
inland between the East and the West and the
South. These great artificial water courses
are the property OF the States through which
they pass and pay toll to those states; Would
States that il 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 over
slough 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
aCsth In Giving them cheaD
transportation for their produce to
the seaboard, and a market to the con-
sumers in the East, in giving 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 demand. The advantages OF such
q work are too obvious for argument. sub
NIT the subject to you, therefore, without
further comment
EXPLORATION OF THE AMAZON.
In attempting to regain our lost commerce
and carrying trade, heretofore called atten-
ton to the States south Of us as offering field
where much nigh; be accomplished to fur
ther this object. suggest that small APP
preparation be made, accompanied with au-
thority for the Secretary Of the Navy to fit out
a naval vessel to ascend the Amazon River to
the mouth of the Madeira, thence to explore
that river and its tributaries into Bolivia and
to report to Congress at its next session, or as
soon as practicable, the accessibility OF the
country by water, its resources, and the popu-
lation SO reached. Such an exploration will
cost but little. 1t can do no harm, and may
result in establishing trade of value to both
nations.
REVISION OF THE TARIFF LAWS.
In further connection with the Treasury
Department, / would recommend revision
and codifcation of the tariff laws, and the
opening of more minis for coming money,
with authority to coin for such nations as may
apply.
WAR DEPARTMENT.
The attention OF Congress is invited to
the recommendations of the Secretary of
War herewith accompanying. The apparent
great cost Of supporting the Academy is
fully explained in the report, and it will
receive your attention. While inviting your
attention TO all the recommendations
made by the Secretary of War, there are two
which would especially invite you to con-
slider: First, the Importance OF preparing for
war in time Of peace by providing for proper
armament for our seacoast defenses. Proper
armament is of vastly more importance than
Notifications. The latter can be supplied very
speedily for temporary purposes when needed;
the former cannot. The second Is the neces-
sity Of reopening promotion in the staff corps
of the army. Particularly is this necessity felt
In the medical, pay and ordinance departments.
At this time 1t necessary to employ by contract
surgeons to supply the necessary medical at
tention required by the army. With the
present force Of the Pay Department, it is now
difficult to make the payments to troops pro-
vided for by law. Long delays in payments
are productive Of assertions and dernoraliza.
ton, and the law prohibits the payment OF
troops by other than regular paymasters.
There are now sixteen vacancies in the Ord
nance Department, thus leaving that branch
of the service without sufficient officers to
conduct the business of the different arsenals
on large scale, II ever required.
NAVY DEPARTMENT.
During the past year our navy has been reduced
by the sale of some vessels no longer ut for naval
purposes and by the condemnation of others not yet
disposed of. This however. has been more than
wooden ships, and by the building Of eight new
sloops OF war authorized by the last Congress.
The building of these latter has occurred at
completed when they will possibly be much need
ed and the work upon them has not only given
employment to Thousands OF men, but, no doubt,
has been the means OF keeping open establish:
ments OF other works at 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,
along very eeaboard, while they illustrate most
forciby the necessity always existing that nation
situated as ours should maintain in state OF eff.
cheney anavy adequate To Its responsibilities, has
at the came time demanded that ali the
Elective force we really have shall be
put In Immediate readiness for warlike
service. This has been and Is being done
promptly and efficiently, and am assured that all
the available chips and every authorized man OF
the American navy will be ready for whatever &C
ton 10 required for the safety OF our cities or the
maintenance Of our honor. This, OF course will
cause the expenditure In short time OF some OF
the appropriations which we're calculated to ex-
tend through the fiscal year; but Congress WILL 1
doubt not, understand and appreciate the emer-
gency, and will provide adequately. not only for
the present preparation but for the future main
tenance Of our naval force, The Secretary of the
Navy has during the past year been quietly put
ting some OF our most extensive monitors In con-
dition for service, and thus the EFFICIENCY finds us
In much better condition for war than we could
possibly have been without this action.
Posr-oFFIcs DEPARTMENT.
complete exhibit IL presented In the accom-
panying report Of the PoetmasterGeneral of the
operations Of the Post-Office Department during
the year.
The ordinary postal revenues of the fiscal year
ending Jcne 30, 1873, amounted to $a2 995, TAI 81
snd the expenditures Of all kiads 10 $290Si 9456
The increase OF revenues over LA was 0s1 .sf5
30 and the ncreass In expenditures, ,1b3 a6
independent OF the payments made from special
appropriations for NATL steamship lines the amount
drawn from the general Treasury to meet de6cien-
cies was $5.265, rs. The constant and rapid ex-
tension Of our postal service, particularly
upon railways, and the improved facilities for the
collection transmission, distribution and delivery
OF the mails which are constantly being provided
account for the increased expenditures OF this
popular branch Of the public service. The total
number Of post-oflces In operation on the 30th OF