The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1873-12-04

work are too obvious for argument sub.
init the subject TO YOU, therefore. without
further comment. In attempting to regain
our lost commerce and carrying trade, have
heretofore called attention. The states
south of Us Offering a field where much
might be accomplished 10 further this object.
| suggest that an appropriation be made ae-
eompanied with authority for the sec
rotary of the navy TO nj out naval eN-
petition tn ascend the Amazon TO the
mouth of the Madeira. thence to eX lore
that river and its tributaries into Be-
llVia, and TO report to Congress at
| its next session, or as soon as practicable.
The accessibility of the country by water
! and It's resources and population so reached,
such an exploration will cost but little. and
| II can do no harm and may result in estab-
fishing trade of value to both nations. In
further connection with the Treasury De
! partment, would recommend a'reYi>ion and
| certihcation of the tariff laws, and of opening
of more minis for coming money, with au-
thority TO coin money for such national
| banks as may apply.
WAR DEPARTMENT.
The attention of Congress is invited to the
recommendations contained in the report of
| the Secretary of War, herewith accompany
ing. The apparent great cost OF supporting
the army is fully explained bV this report
| and / hope it will receive your attention
! to all the recommendations made by the Sec
rotary 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 proper ar
mament for our a-coast defence. Proper
| armament is of vastly more importance than
| fertilization; the latter can be supplied very
speedily for temporary purposes, when need
ed-the former cannot.
Second-Necessity of re-opening promotion
| in the staff corps of the army; particularly
| is this necessity felt in the Medical Pay and
Ordnance departments. At this time II is
necessary to employ contract surgeons to sup
| ply the necessary medical attendance required
| by the army; with the pres Mt force of said
IL rfWf fi.stN1N 10
| payment to troops, provided by law
| Long delays in payment, are productive of
! assertions and other demOraliZ and the
law prohibits the payment of troops by other
| than regular army paymasters. There are
now sixteen vacancies in the Ordnance De-
| partment, thus leaving that branch of ser
vice without sufficient officers to conduct
| business of different arsenals on large scale,
| If ever required.
| Navy Department.-Durng the past year,
| our Navy has been deplete by the sale of some
vessels no longer hit for naval service, and by
| condemnation, not yet disposed Of. This,
| however, has been more than compensated
| for, by repairs of six old wooden ships, aud
| building eight sloops of war, authorized
! by the last Congress. Building these latter,
! has occurred at doubly fortunate time as
! they about being completed At Il time
| when they may possibly be much needed
and work upon them has not only given en-
| ployment to thousands ofmen, but has no doubt
been the means of keeping open the estab-
I
| a great financial distress. Since the com
| mencement of the last month, however,
distressing occurrences have taken
| place in the waters of the Caribbean sea,
illustrate most forcibly the necessity al
why's existing, that nation situated like
| ours should maintain in state of possible
efficiency navy, adequate to its response
bilities, has at the same time demanded
| that all the effective force we really have
hal no in m pHt at
| warlike service. This has been and Is being
aonepromptly and etfectually, and am as
sured that all the available ships and every
authorized man of the American navy will
be ready for whatever action is require
for the safety of our citizens or the main
tenance of our honor This, of course, will
require the expenditure, in short time, of
the appropriations which were calculated to
extend through the fiscal year, but Congress
will, l doubt not, understand and appreciate
the emergency, and will provide adequately,
not only for present preparation. but for the
future maintenance of our naval force. The
Secretary of the Navy has, dur ring the past
year, been quietly putting some OF our most
effective monitors in coalition for service, and
thus the eXigency funds are in much better
condition for work than we could possibly
have eeen without his action. OF the Post.
office Department, a complete exhibit Is pre-.
scented in the accompanying report OF the
Postmaster General of operations of the Post
office during the year. The ordinary postal
revenues for the fiscal year ended June 30,
1878, amounted to S22 996.T4l 81, and the
expenditures of all kinds. 10 29,0S4 $40 81
The increase of revenues, over 1872. was
i ,0Sl ,315 26, and the inc ease Of eXpendi-
lures, 81, APO, 1913 SO, Independent of the pay
ment made from special appropriation for
mail steamship lines; amount drawn
from the general treasury, to meet differences
was So, 26J,415.
The constant and rapid extension Of our
postal service, particularly upon railroads,
and the improved facilities for the collection,
trar smission, distribution and delivery of
mails, which are constantly being provided
for on account of the increased expenditures
of this popular branch OF the pnblic service.
The total number of post offices in opera
tiOn the 3Gth Of June, 1878, was 33 Pa;
net increase OF 1884 over the number re-
ported the previous year. The humber of
presidential offices was ,3G3, an increase of
1853 during the fiscal year. The total length
of railroad mail routes at the close of the year
was 63 ,451 miles, An increase of 5,546 miles
over the year 1872. F1fty-nIne railroad post
office lines were In operation on the Both OF
June, 1873, extending over l4,Se6 miles of
railroad routes and performed an aggregate
service of 34,925 miles daily. The number Of
letters exchanged with foreign countries was
Il. 4J9, 1SJ, an increase of 3, $3.50 over the
previous year, and the postage thereon |
amounted to S2,02l ,310.s6; and the total |
weight of correspondence exchanged in |
the mails with European countries exceeded |
nine hundred and twelve tons, an increase |
If ninety-two tons over the previous year.
The total cost of the United States ocean mail |
from special appropriations to subsidized |
lines of mail steamers was S1O4, 127 ,l3J. A |
new or additional postal conventions have |
been concluded with Sweden, Norway, Bel
GUM Germany, Canada, Newfoundland and
Japan, reducing postage rates on CORES
pondence exchanged with those countries,
and further efforts have been made to con-
clude a satisfactory postal convention with
France, but without success. L invite the
favorable attention of Congress to the sug
gestions and recommendations of the post
master general for extension of the free
delivery system in all cities having popula-
ton OF not less than 10000 for prepayment
of postage on newspapers and other
printed matter of second class, for
a uniform postage and limit of
weight on miscellaneous matter for
compensation of all postmasters not
appointed by the President by the old
method of commissioners on the actual re-
cepts of the office, instead of the present
mode of liking the salaay in advance upon
special returns, and especially do i urge IA
vorabe action by Congress on the important
recommends tionsiof the Postmaster General,
for the establishment of United States postal
savings repositories. Your attention is also
again called to a consideration of the question
on postal telegraphs, and the arguments adj
duced in support thereof, in the hope that you
may take such action. in connection there
with, as in your judgment will most contrib
ute to the best interests of the country.