The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1874-12-07

derS, the eAcuPuoH VI ho"T'
received from the sale OF SUB,
sistence stores from icing covered
into the treasury; the use OF
appropriations for the purchase OF suo
sistenee stores without waiting Tor the
beginning of the fiscal year for which the
appropriaton is made, for additional
anpropr,ations tor the collection OF tor
pedo material for increased approprla-
lions for the manufacture OF arms, for
relieving the various states from Indebted
mess for arms oh rged to them during the
rebellion for dropping officers from the
roll of the army without the otfense OF
drawing pay for more than the same
neriod for the encouragement OF the
pIan to pay soldiers by checks and for the
establishment Of professorshlp OF rhe'
toric and English liter ,ture at West
Point. The reasons for the recommends
tiops are obvious and are set forth subj
ciently in the report attached. 1 also
recommend that the sta US OF the stan
corps of the army be fixed where this has
not already been done so that promotions
may be made and vacancies filled as they
occur 10 each grade when reduced below
the number to be fixed by law. The ne
cessity for such legislation is specially
felt nowhere more than in the pay depart
ment. The mum Der Of vacancies 10 that
department being much below the nun Der
adequate for the performance Of the du-
ties required OF them by law.
NAVY DEPARTMENT.
The efficiency Of the navy has been
largely increased during the last year
under the impulse Of the foreign c2mph,
cations which threatened the unlted
States at the commencement OF
the last session of Congress.
Most of our efficient wooden
ships were put in condition for immedite
service and the repairs Of our iron clad
feet were pushed with the utmost vipor.
The result is that most Of these are in
effective condition and need only to be
manned and set 10 commission to gona'
once into service. Some of the new
sloops authorized by Congre Is are already
in commission and most of the remainder
are launched and wait only the compile
ton Of their machinery to enable them to
take their places as part of the effective
force. Two iron torpedo ships have been
completed during the last year aud four
of our large double turreted iron clards
are now undergoing repairs. When
these are finished everything that is need
full for our navy as now authorized will be
in condition for service and with the
advance 10 the science of torpedo warfare
the American navy, comparatively small
as it il. will be found at any time power
full enough for the purposes OF peaceful
nation.
Much has also been accomplished dur
ing the year 10 aid of science and to in.
crease the sum OF general knowledge and
further the interests OF commerce and
civilization. Extensive and much needed
soundlngs have been made for hydrogra-
phic purposes, and to fix the proper
routes OF ocean telegraph. Further sur
veys of the great lsthmus have been
undertaken, and two vessels Of the navy
are now employed in conjunction with
those of England, France, Germany and
Russia, in observations connected with
transit of Venus, useful and interesting
to the scientific world.
The estimates for this branch Of tn,
public service do not differ material,
from those of last year, the general re
port of the service being somewhat less
and those for Improvements at the varou
stations rather larger than the CORE pond
ing estimates made year ago. The reg
ular maintenance and steady increase il
the efficiency of this most important arm
in proportion to the growth n GU
m aT!..@s, --iS,s.saaEss tSS intcre,N
~>>Sxcom to the attention of Co,
gress The use of the navy durinp nea.
might be further utiiiZeu hya ulrect ar
thorization of the employment OF naN'
vessels in surveys OF the supposed nav
gable waters of other nationalitcs in 'h
continent, especially the tributarie OF tt
two great rivers OF South America, ii
Orinoco and the Amazon. Nothing pr
vents, under late law, such exploration
except that expenditures must not
made in such expeditions beyond tho
usually provided for in the apprCprl
tons The field designated Ia unique
auestionably one OF interest, and one C
pable of large development OF commerc'
interest end advantage 70 the peop
reached and to those who may estabh
relations with them.
THE POSTOFFlCE DEPARTMENT.
Education of the people entitled to c
eccise the right OF franchise | regard I
sential to general p o,perlty everywhe
and especially so in republics where DO
education or previous condition does
enter into recount IN giving suttras
Next to the public school the postothce
the great agent of education over our vi
territory. The rapdity with which n
sections are being settled, thus il ,reasi
the carrying of the mails in more raj
ratio than the increase of receipts is !
alarming The report of the Postma'
General herewith attached shows Il
there was an increase Of reveBue in t
department in 1873 over the prevlt
year, of $l,674, All, and an Incre
of cost of carrying the mails and p,yl
employees of $2O4, LAG, 7ol. The report
the Postmaster General gives interest
statistics of his department and coup
sous with the corresponding statistics {
year ago, showing a grosth in ev
branch of the department.. A p,
convention has been concluded with \
South Males An exrh ange of nostal ca