The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1875-12-08

reuoEus VI tAS war Nt' LIE cOniiiiDp i,
our navy at this time is a subject ' ~ Of
faction, 1t does not contain, il aus
any OF the powerful cruising liam J T''
which make so much Of tie m,, t'+N
strength OF some other nation. Inn n,t ,''l'
our continental situation or or ,',''f
eigu policy requires that We .b 'o5,
have a large number OF ship, oftbi,'cIErl
acter, while this situation and III, ,, g''4'
OF our ports continue To maxi ll"',
other nations lite daugcrou. la NV ~. %
der any circumstances, Cur pay u
contain, however, considerable rnm "Le
OF iron.clads Of the Monitor cIas. , "Iy3
though not properly cruisers, are r ov,A
full and elective for harbor deirDr.. ' W.T.
for operations near our own sh6rr. ~.
these, all the single-turreted one. Gi,. W
in number, have been substantial
built, their rotten wooden beam, renl,''
with iron, and their hulls strcnp,bsr'I
and their engines aud macbirs,
thoroughly repaired, so that thew ~,
now in a most effective conlitio1 ,,
will be ready for sea as soon a. the" ., 1 1,s
be manned and put in commission IT, I1a
five double-turrCited iron.clad. belor,tis.'
to our navy, which are by lar tbenay s
powerful OF our ships Tor fghtipy nv,
poses, are also in hand, undcrgoinD, t rrg
plete repairs, and could bc ready IA, y =.
in periods ranging from iour IA \,
months. With these complete aceon,i,
to the present design, and our Iva i,ss
torpedo boats along, our iron.clal, viii
be, for purposes Of defence at home cor,i
to any force that can readily he b,o5cl,
against it. OF our wooden navy AZ"
cruisers OF various sizes, to the nunbr,J
about forty, including those now in car,
mission in the Atlantic, cCald he resiy
for duty Ms iast as men could h. eBli.,,j
for those not already in commission M
these One.third are in effect new ,bin
and though some OF the remainder MI
considerable repairs and others boiler
and machinery, they all can readily /,
made effective. This constitute. i,,t
Of more than fifty war ships, oiwhich n
teen are the irOn.clads now in hand an
the Atlantic coast. The navy la. hen
brought to this condition by jalIciCu.
and practical application Of what couJ
be spared from the current apptopr,,
tions Of the last few years and lnu
that made to me two years ago. Ith,
been done quietly, without proclamation
or display, and though it has neCcsariy
Strengthened the department in il oMi.
nary expenditure, and rs far as the lion.
clads are concerned has added nothing ia
cruising for the navy, yet the result /,
not the less satisfactory, because il ,lo
be found in u great increase Of real rah.
or than apparent force. The expense,
incurred In the maintenance Of an effect.
i've naval force in all its brancIt, ate
necessarily large, but such a force /, q.
sential to the United States position
relations and character, and affect. ,ef
ously the weight Of our principles aud
policy throughout the whole Il hCte d
naval responsibility, The estimate, lot
the regular support Of this branch d
service for the rest Of the year amount
tOa little less in the aggregate ihanlho'e
made for the current year, but some ad
dltional appropriations were asked iot
objects not included IN the ordlnarymalh'
tenanCC Of the navy, but believed led
pressing importance at this time II
would, in my opinion, to wise to aioId
sufficient means for the immediate com
pletion Of the live double tllrreled moni
tors now undergoing repairs, which maN
otherwise advance slowly ana OhIyntht
money can be spared from the c,I'rtoleI
pcnses. Supplemented by these out
navy, armed with the destructive weapons
Of modern warfare, manned by our 'ei'
men, and in charge Of our instructed
officers, will present u force powerful
enough for the home purposes Of IT,
sp0nsible though pCaCeablc nation,
The report Of the Postmaster 'ieDetil
herewith transmitted gives luII I,''oIy
Of the workings Of the departmental I.t
year past. 1t will he observed Thai TIE
deficiency to be supplied from the gehC''
al treasury increased the amount fe
quired for the preceding year ~ ,
country so vast in SIZE as the lnI'a
States with large portions spartIy ST.
tied, II must be expected that Ib'
important service Will he more or ItA
aburdcn upon he treasury IOT many year
to come, but there is no branch o. pub
lie service which interests the WhoIrEo
pie more than that OF cheap ana Tlpi
transmission Of mails to every lnIla'l'o'
part Of our territory. Next to Tie 'iT
school the pOstOillcc y the great yI'il.
tor Of the people aud It may well De
serve the support Of the general Govern
mcnL The subsidy Of Sl5O0OO gIyeDlo
vessels Of the United States Tor caiF{iI'
Jancrio having ceased on the .Oll o.
September last We were without ait".
mail facilities with the South Amtil,ll
States. This Is greatly to be reIte'V'
and do not hesitate to suggest 'I'e a.'
thorizatiOn Of Il renewal OF that coI'fa'
and also that the service may DC lO'fs ii.
ed from monthly to q ssmI'lnonn9
trip, and the commercial advantage, "
be gained by a direct line oil Alns g,0,a.
steamers to the South American s'a"
will far outweigh the expense o. 'ny 81
vice. by an act Of Congress, Maf'u ~
1875, almost all matLermail matter otlg
may he sent any anccthtongl' tue inl.'
the matter not exceeding Tour pou,lu,n
weight, for the sum OF sixteen ceO'' ~
pound. So far rs the transmission o. we, i,A
inail matter goes this would seem fn.l's
ly proper, but J suggest tha1 Tue IN
10 amended as TO exclude from tue iI.,i'