The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1873-12-04

as practicable, the accessibility Of the coun
try by water, it resources, and the popula
ton so reached. Such an exploration will
cost but little it can do no harm, and ma
result in establishing trade of value to bot
!. nations. p, E ~
In further connection with the trcasur
department, I would recommend revision
and modification of the tariff laws, and tn
opening of more minis for coiuing money
with authority to coin for such nations a
may apply. s3@$@@ ~ 't
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 by this report
and hope will receive your attention. While
inviting your attention to all recommends
tions made by the Secretary Of War, there
are two which i. would especially invite you
to consider. First, the importance of pre-
pairing for war in time of peace by providing
proper armament for our seacoast defences.
Proper armament is Of vastly more impor-
lance than Notifications. The latter can be
supplied very speedily for temporary purpo-
ses when needed The former cannot. The
second, is the necessity of re-opening pro-
motion in the staff corps Of the army. Par
ticularly is this necessity felt in the medical,
pay and ordnance departments At this
time it is necessary tie employ contract sur
geons to supply the necessary medical atten-
dance required by che army. With the pres
ent force Of the pay department tits now diff
Gcult to make the payments to troops proyid-
ed for by law. Long delays in payments
are productive of desertions and other de-
moralizatien, and the law prohibits the pay
ment Of troops by other than regular pay
masters. There are sixteen vacancies In the
ordnance department, thus leaving that
branch of the service without sufficient off,
GERS to conduct the business Of the different
arsenals on large scale, if ever required
| NAVY DEPARTMENT.
| During the pasl year our navy has been
depleted by the sale of some vessels no lon
ger fit for naval service. and by the condem
nation 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 the building of eight new 'sloops-of- war,
authorized by the last Congress. The bull
ding of these latter has occurred at a doubly
fortunate time. They are about being COM
pleted at time when they may possibly be
much needed, and the work upon them has
not only given direct employment to thou
sands of men, but has no doubt been the
means otkeeping open establishments for 9TH
er work at time of great financial distress.
| {bon Of fba lost until hOw
ever, the distressing occurrences which have Ia
ken place in the waters Of the Caribbean Sea- al
most on our very seaboard, while the illustrate
most forcibly the necessity always existing that
nation like ours should naintain in a state Of
passable efficiency navy adequate to it, respon-
sbilities has at the same time demanded that all
the effective force we really have shall be put in
| imm edate readiness for warlike services.
This has been and is being done promptly and
| am assured, that all the available ships and
every authorized man of the American navy will
| be ready for whatever action is required for the
safety of our citizens or the maintenance of our
honor. This, Of course, will require the expend-
| iture in shsrt time of some of the appropria>
tons which were calculated to extend through
the fiscal year, but Congress will, doubt not,
understand and appr eciate the emergency, and
will provide adequately not only for the present
preparation but for the future maintenance of
our naval force. The Secretary of 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 much
better condition for work than we could possibly
have been without this action.
PosT-oFFICE DEPARTMENT.
complete exhibit is presented in the accom-
panying report of the Postmaster-General of the
operations of the Posoftice Department during
the year. The ordinary postal revenues for the
fiscal year ending June so, 1873, amounted to
$22, 1885, 81, and the expenditu res of all kinds
$23 1854, 1857. The increase of revenues over
1872 was ST 081, Sl5 20, and the increase of ex-
penditures 81, 426, 1853 SO. Independent of the
payment made from special appropriations for
mail steamship lines the amount drawn from the
general treasury to meet deficiencies SIS, 1885,
| 475. The constant and rapid extension of our
postal service, particularly upon railways, and
the improved facilities for the collection, trans
mission, 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
offices in operation Oh the 30th of June, 1873, was
| SO, 244-a net increase of 1881 over the number
reported the preceding year. The number OF
presidential offices was 1868, an increase of 16S
during the present year. The total length OF
railroad mail routes at the close of the year was
l s. 457 miles. an increase of SAG miles the
y
were in operation on Both June, 1873, extending
over II, 1855 miles railroad routes, and perfor-
ming an aggregate service of 81, 925 miles daily.
The number Of letters exchanged with foreign
countries was q, $50, 1856, an increase Of 1906,
655 the previous year, and the postage
thereon amounted to 2,O2l ,3l086.
The total weight of correspondence exchanged
in the mails with European coun-
tries exceeded 9l2 tons, an increase of 81 tons
: over the previous year. The total cost of the
United States ocean mail steamship SERVICE in
Guiding $725,000 paid from special appropria-
tions to subsidized lines of mail steamers, was
81 ,047 ,27i.35. New or additional postal con
ventions have been concluded with Sweden, Nor
way, Belgium, Germany, Canada, Newfoundland
and japan, reducing postage ties on correspond
ence exchanged with those countries, and furthe
efforts have been made to conclude satisfact or,
postal convention with France, but without sue
cess l invite the favorable consideration o
Congress to the suggestions and Recommendation
ofthe Postmaster General for an extension of tn
free delivery system in all cities having q popu
lation of not less than ten thousand for the pre-
payment of postage on newspapers and other
printed matter of the second class; for niforr
postage and limit of weight on miscellaneou
matter; for adjusting the compensation Of al
postmasters not appointed by the Presby the oil
, method of commissions on the actual receipts 9
the Office instead of the present mode of fixing
the salary in advance upon special returns, an
especially do urge favorable action bySCongrss
on the important recommendations of the postmas
ter General for the establishment of UntedState