The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1876-12-06

crossing on TINS oasis,
The Improvement Of the South Pass
Of the Mississippi river under James B.
Eads and mis- associates is progressing
favorably. At the present time there is
a channel Of 20 3 10 feet in depth be-
tween the ietties at the mouth OF the
passes, and ISL feet at the bead of the
pass. Neither channel, however, has
the width required before payments
can be made by the United States. A
commission Of engineer officers is now
examining these works and their reports
viii be presented as soon as received
The report of the
SECRETARY OF THE NAVY
shows that branch Of the service to be
in condition as effective as it is posi-
bic to kcepit with the means and APP
preparations given the department 1t
Is of course impossible 10 rival the cost
~ and progressive establishments of
great European powers with the old ma
terial OF our navy 10 which no increase
has been authorized since the war ex-
cept the eight small cruisers hnjlt to
supply the place OF others which had
gone to decay. Yet the most has been
Mt command and by substantially re-
building some Of our old ships with
durable material and rehttlng our moui-
tor feet, the navy has been gradually
80 brought up that though il Goes not
maintain Its relative position among the
progressive uQvies OF the world, it is
now il q condition moro powerful and
effective than IL ever has been in time
of peace. The complete repairs OF oar
i've heavy non c,aGs aro only delayed
on account OK the iuaaequacv OF the APP
preparations made last yeur for the
working bureaus OF the department,
which were actually loss IN amount than
those made before the wan, notwith-
standing the greatly enhanced price Of
labor and mat giH.5s ana the increase in
the cost Of tho naval service growing out
of the universal use and great expense
Of steam machinery The money
necessary for those repairs sho1ll be
provided at once that they may be com
pleted without further unnecessary de-
lay and expense. When this is don, III
the strength that there is ia the navy
will be developed and it viii hou~etuI
to its full capacity, and VIII be safi-
GENTLY powerful for the purpose Of de-
tense and also for defensive action should
necessity for that arrive 1T reasonable
distance from Our shores. The fact that
our navy Is not more mod IL and power
ful than it is bu, been maue cause Of
complaint against the Secretary OF the
Navy by persons who at tie same time
criticize and complain OF his iudeavors
to bring the navy that We have to its
best and most cticiaa. condition.
But the good sense of Size country viii
understand that Is is really TO his practi-
cal action chat We have at This time any
effective navy iOu1e ac command.
The report OF the
POSTMASTER GE>EsAL
shows an excess OF expenditures, eek
cmding expenditures on account Of pre-
vious years, over receipts for the hsca
wear ending June 30, 1876, to be $E,l5l,
98S.66, The estimated expenditure,
for the fiscal year ending june
80, 1873 are S36,72343243. The
estimated revenue for the same poriot
is S30,645. 165OO leaving au estimated
excess OF expenditures 10 he app-oprIa
ted as a deficiency. OF SCOTS, 267.43. Thu
Postmaster Genexal, like his prcdecas
sor, is convinced that a~chango in TN
basis Of adjusting The salarics of post
masters OF the fourth class IL ncces~ar,
for the good Of the service as wcll as 70
the interests of the Government, an
urgently recommends that the comPen
sation OF the class o. postmusters aboN
mentioned, be based upon the bushes
Of their respective Offices as ascevtainet
from the sworn returns to the Auditor
Of stamps cancelled. 4 few postmaster
in tho Southern States have expressed
great apprehension OF their persona
safety on account Of their connection
with the postal service, and have spe
cially requested thut their reports o
apprehended danger should NOT be mad
public lest it should result in the loss q
their lives, but no positive testimony O
interference has been submitted, cyceT
in the case Of Il mai. messenger at Spa,
tanburg, in South Carolina, who report
Cd that he had been violently drive
away while in charge Of the mails o
account OF his political aiHIiation
An assistant superintendent
the railway mail service II
vestieated this case and reported til,
the messenger has disappeared from h
post, leaving mis- work TO be pcrforme
by q substitute The Postmaster Gen
eral thinks this case is sufficiently sn.
gestive TO Justify him ia reconmendiu
that q more severe punishment shoul
be provided for the offence Of assaultin
any person in charge Of the mails or
retarding or otherwise ohstructinE the
by threats of personal injury. A vu
gratifying result is presented in the ia
that the deficiency in this departmel
u 4 Z