The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1875-12-15

effect. Fifth, a permanent organiza-
ton for the Signal Service Corps
This service has now become a ne
cessity Of peace as well as war, I'M
der the advancement made by the
present able management. Sixth, a
renewal of the appropriation for COM
piling the official record of the war,
etc.
THE CONDITION OF OUR NAVY
at this time is a subject of s~atisfac-
ton. 1t does not contain, il is true,
any of the powerful cruising iron
cleds which make so much of the
maritime strength Of some other ma
tions, but neither our continental sit
uation nor our foreign policy re.
auires that we should have a large
number of ships of this character,
while this situation aud the nature of
our ports continue to make those of
other nations little dangerous to Us
under any circumstances. Our navy
does contain, however, a consic-
cradle number Of iron clsds of the
monitor class, which, though not
properly cruisers, are powerful and
effective for harbor defense and f r
operations near our own shores. Of
these all the single turreted ones, if-
teen in number, have been substan-
tially rebuilt, their rotten wooden
beams replaced with iron, their hulls
strengthened, and their engines and
machinery thoroughly repaired, so
that they are now in most efficient
condition, and ready for sea as soon
as they can be manned aud put IN
commission. The five double terret-
ed iron clads belonging to our navy,
by far the most powerful of our ships
for sighting purposes, are also In
hand, undergoing complete repairs,
and could be ready for sea IN perlocs
VARYING from four 90 six months
With these completed according to
the present design, and our two iron
torpedo boats now ready. u IRON
clad fleet will be, for the purposes OF
defense at home, equal to any force
that can be readily brought against
it. OF our wooden navy alsJ, cruls-
ers of various sizes TO the number Of
about forty, including those now IN
commission, are in the Atlantic, and
could be ready for duty as fast as
men could be enlisted for those not
already in commission. OF these one
third are in effect new ships, and
though some of the remainder need
considerable repairs to their boilers,
and machinery, they are all or can
readily be made effective. This con-
stitutes a feet of more than fifty war
ships, of which fifteen are iron ciads,
now in hand on the Atlantic coast
The navy has been brought to this
condition by a judicious and practi-
cal application of what could be spar
ed from the current appropriations OF
the last few years, and from that
made to meet the possible emergency
of two years ago. 1t has been done
quietly, without proclamation or dis
play, and though it has necessarily
straitened the department in its Ordi-
nary expenditure, and as far as the
iron clads are concerned, has added
nothing to the cruising force of the
navy, yet the result is rot the less
satisfactory, because it is to be found
in a great increase of real rather
than apparent force. The expenses
incurred in the maintenance of any
effective naval force in all its branch
es are necessarily large, but such
force is essential to our position, re-
lations and character, and affects Sc
riously the weight of our principles
and policy throughout the whole
sphere of naval responsibility. The
estimate for the regular support of
this branch of the service for the next
year amount a little less in the aggre-
gate than those made for the current
year, but some additional %appropria-
lions are asked for objects not inclu-
ded in the ordinary maintenance of
the Eavy, but believed to be OF press
ing Importance at this time. 1t would,
in my opinion, be wise at nee to af-
ford sufficient means for the immedi-
ate completion of the fise double tur-
reted moRitors now undergoing re-
pairs. which must otherwise advance
slowly aud only as money can be
spared from current expenses. Sup
plemented by these, our navy, armed
with the destructive weapons of
modern warfare, manned by our sea-
men, aud in charge of our instructed
officers, will present a force powerful
for the home purposes Of a responsible
though peaceful nation.
THE REPORT OF THE POSTMASTER GEN
ERAL,
herewith transmitted, gives a full
history of the workings of the de-
partment for the year just past. 1t
will be observed that the deficiency
to be supplied from the general treas
ury increased over the mou re-
quired for the preceding year. In
a country so vast in area as the
United States, with large portions
sparsely settled, it must be expected
that this important service will be
more or less a burden upon the
treasury for many years to come;
but there is no branch of the public
service which interests the whole peo-
pie mere than :bat of the cheap trans
mission of the mails to every inhabit-
ed part of our territory. Next to the
free schools, the ~postoffice is the
great communication OF the people,
and may well receive the support Of
the General Government. The sub
sidy of $l50,000 per annum given to
vessels of the United States for car
rying the mails between New York
Rio De Janeiro having ceased ON the
Both day of September last, We are
without direct mail facilities with
the South American States. This is
to be regretted, and | do not hesitate
to recommend the authorization of a
renewal of that contract, and also that
the service may be changed from
monthly to semi-monthly. The COM
mercial advantages to be gained by a
direct line of American steamers to the
South American States will far out
weigh the expense of the service.