New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-12-06
surveys and estimates for improvements at


vsrious localities.
The estimates now presented are about
sc, 900 900 in excess Of the appropriations
tor the years 1874, 1875 and 1876. This in.
crease is asked in order to provide for the
increased cavalry force, should their ser
vices be necessary. to prosecute economi-
cally work upon important pubic build
ings, to provide fer armament of fOrtihca.
tions and manufacture of small arms. and
to replenish the working stock in the sup
ply department.. The appropriations for
these last named have for the past few
years been so limited that the accumula-
tions in store will be entirely exhausted
during the present year, and it will be
necessary to ct once begin to replenish
them.
invite your special attention to the fol-
lowing Recommendations Of the Secretary
of War:
First-That the claims under the act of
July 4, 1864, for supplies taken by the army
during the war be removed from the offices
of the Quartermaster and cOmmissary gen.
erals and transferred to the Southern
claims commission. These claims are Of
precisely similar nature to those now be-
fore the Southern claims commission, and
the War Department bureaus have not the
clerical force for their examination, nor
proper machinery for investigating the 10y
atty Of the claimants.
Secund-That Congress sanction the
scheme of an annuity fund for the benefit
OF the families of deceased officers, and that
it also provide for the permanent Organl-
zation of the signal service, both of which
were recommended by me in my last an
nual message.
Tbird-That the manufacturing opera
tions of the ordnance department be con-
centrated at three arsenals and an armOry,
and that the remaining arsenals be sold
and the proceeds applied to this object by
! the ordnance department.
The apprOpria ions tor
RIVER AND HARBoR IMPROVEMENTS.
For the current year we're $5,0l5 900. With
my approval the Secretary of War directed
that Of this amount 81, 900, 600 should be ex-
pended, and no new works should be begun
and none prosecuted which were not of ma
tional Importance. Subsequently this
amount was increased to 81, 237 900, and the
works are now progressing on this basis.
THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE SOUTH PASS
OF the Mississippi river, under James B.
Eads and his associates, is progressing
favorably. At the present time there is q
channel of twenty and three-tenths feet in
depth between the jetties at the mouth of
the pass and eighteen feet six inches at the
head of the pass. Neither channel, how
ever, has the width required before pay
commission of engineer officers is now ex-
amining these works, and their reports will
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 possible to
keep il with the means and authority given
the depar ment. 1t is, of course, not pos
sible to rival the costly and progressive es-
tablshments of great European powers
with the old material OF our navy, to which
no increase has been authorized since the
war, except the eight small cruizers built to
supply the place of others which had gone
to decay. Yet the most has been done
that was possible with the means at COM
mand, and by substantially rebuilding
some of our old ships with durable material,
and completely repairing and retitting our
monitor fleet, the navy has been gradually
SO brought up that, though it does not
maintain it's relative position among the
progressive navies of the world, it is now in
condition more powerful and effective than
it ever has been IN time of peace. The COM
plste repairs Of our five heavy ironclads are
only delayed on account of the inadequacy
of the appropriations made last year for the
working bureaus of the department.. which
were actually lass in amount than those
I made before the war, notwithstanding the
greatly enhanced price of labor and ma
terals, and the increase in the cost of the
naval service growing out of the universal
use and great expense Of steam machinery.
The money necessary for these repairs
should be provided at once, that they may
be completed without further unnecessary
DELAY and expense. When this is done, all
the strength that there is in our navy will
be developed and useful to it's full capacity,
and it will be powerful for purposes of de-
fense and also for offensive action, should
Coz hot
able distance from our shores.
The fact that our navy is not more mod.
ern and powerful than it is has been made
q cause of complaint against the Secretary
of the Navy by persons who at the same
time criticize and complain of his eDdeavOrs
to bring the navy that We have to its best
and most efficient condition; but the coun-
try will understand that it is really due to
his practical action that We have at this
time any effective naval force st commend.
The report OF the
POsT3AsTER GENERAL
Shows tho expenditures Excluding expen-
| ditures on account of previous years. over
receipts for the fiscal year ending june 80
| 1876, to be S4,l5I 1888 &c Estimated expend-
lures tor the fiscal year ending June 80,
1877, are $36, 723 432 43; estimated reve-
nue. for same period is $50, GAS, l65; leaving
| estimated excess of expenditure to be ap-
prOpriated as o deficiency OF e6S26, 743.
| The Postmaster General, like his predeces-
| sor, is convinced thatA change in the basis
| of adjusting tho salaries of postmasters of
| the fourth class is necessary for the good of
| the service "a well as for the interests of the
government, and urgently recommends
| tina the compensation OF the class of post
| III mssteys above mentioned be based upon the
| business of their respective Officss, as ascer-
| tanned from the sworn returns to the audi
| tor Of stamps Cancelled.
A few postmasters in the Southern States
have expressed great apprehension Of
THEIR PERSONAL SAFETY
On account Of their connection with the
postal service, and have specially requested
| that their reports of apprehended danger
should not be made public, lest it should
| result in the loss of their lives. But no
positive testimony of interference has been
submitted, except in the case OF mail mes
senger at Spartanburg in South Carolina,
who reported that he had been violently
driven away while in charge Of the MALE,
on account of his political affiliations. An
assistant superintendent OF the railway mall
| service investigated this case, and re-
| ported that the messenger had disap-
peared from his post, leaving his
work to be performed by q substitute.
The Postmaster General thinks this case
is sufficiently suggestive to justify him in
recommending that more severe punish
ment should be provided for the offense of
assaulting any person in charge of the
mails, or retarding or otherwise obstruct-
ing them by threats of personal injury.
A very gratif ing result is presented in
the fact that the deficiency of this depart
ment during the last fiscal year was re-
dncad to $4,08i, ,790 Is as against $6,l69,-
935 SO of the preceding year. The differ
no tr,t 1a~ in,
lis ordinary receipts, which greatly ex-
la.lt hc os I'm a zoo fharafor and aliuhf