The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1880-12-09

ern Notifications and ships came into use
among the nations. and our earthworks left,
by sudden failure of appropriations some
! years since. in all stages of incompletion, are
now being rapidly destroyed by the elements.
IMPROVEMENT OF SAvIGABLE WATERS.
The two great rivers of the North American
Continent, the Mississippi and the Columbia.
have their nav igable waters wholly within the
limits of the United States, and are of vast
importance to our internal and foreign com
merce. The permanency of the important
work on the south Pass of the Mississippi
River seems now TO be assured. There has
been no failure whatever in the maintenance
of the maximum channel during the six
months ended August 3, last. This expert
ment has opened q broad deep highway to
the ocean, and is an Improvement, upon the
permanent success of which congratulations
may be exchanged among people abroad and
ut home, and especially among tile com
munities of the Mississippi Valley, whose
commercial exchanges float In an unobstruct-
ed channel safely to and from the sea.
A comprehensive Improvement of the Mis-
sissippi and its tributaries is "A matter of tran
scendent importance. These great water
ways comprise a system of inland transport
tatiOn spread like network over large por-
ton of the United States, and navigabe to
the extent of many thousands of miles, Pro
ducers and consumers alike have a common
interest in such unequaled facilities for cheap
transportation. Geographically, commercially
ly and politically they are the strongest tie
between the various sections OF the country.
1neSe cnulnelS OF communication Al1u inter
change are the property of the Nation. Its
jurisdiction is paramount over their waters,
and the plainest principles of public interest
require their careful and intelligent supelvi-
sion with a view to their protection, improve
ment, and the enhancement OF their useful
ness.
The channel of the Columbia River, for 4
distance of about one hundred miles from its
| mouth is INSTRUCTED by a succession of bars
| which occasion serious delays in navigation,
and heavy expense for lighterage and tOwage.
| A dRntl M 81 WI n tide
| should be secured and maintained, to meet
| the requirements of the extensive and
! growing inland and ocean commerce it sub
serves. The most urgent need, however, for
| this great waterway is permanent improve
ment of the channel at the mouth of the
| river.
From Columbia River to San Fran
cisco, distance of over six
hundred miles, there is no harbor
on our Pacific coast which can be
approached during stormy weather. An APP
preparation of $4,000 was made by the Forty
fifth Congress for the commencement of a
break water and harbor of refuge, to be locat-
ed at some point between the straits of Fuca
and San Francisco, at which the necessities
of commerce, local and general, will be best
accommodated The amount appropriated is
thought to be quite inadequate for the pur-
pose intended The cost of the work, when
finished, will be very great, owing TO the want
| of natural advantages for site at any point
| on the coast between the designated limits
! and it has not been thought to be advisable to
| undertake the work without larger apprO-
| prlat1on. l commend the matter to the at
The completion q the new building for the
| War Department is urgently needed and the
/ estimates for continuing its construction are
| especially recommended.
GENERAL GRANT.
| / commend to the attention of Congress the
| great services of the Com mander- in Chief of
| our armies during the war for the Union, whose
| wise. firm, and patriotic conduct did so much
| to bring that momentOus conflict to a close.
! The legislation of the United states contains
| many presidents for the recognition OF dis
| tinguished military merit, authorizing rank
and emoluments to be conferred for eminent
| services to the country. An act of Congress
| authorizing the appointment of "A Captain
| General of the Army, with suitable provisions
| relating to compensation, retirement, and
other details, would, in my Judgment, be al
| together fitting and proper, and would be
warmly approved by the country.
THE NAVY
The report of the Secretary of the Navy
exhibits the successful and satisfactory man
| agement of that Department during the last
fiscal year. The total expenditures Tor the
| year were Sl2,9l6,639 45, leaving unexpended
at the close of the year S2,l4l,6 S2 % of the
amount of available appropriations. The ap-
prop iations for the present fiscal year end
| ing June 80, 1881, are Sl5,O95, O6l As and the
total estimates for the next fiscal year end
| ing June so, 1882. are $685. ISL 81. The
amount drawn by warrant from July l, 1880,
| to November l, 1880, is s., 04l $40 As.
The recommendation of the Secretary of
| the Navy, that provision be made for the es-
adjustment of some form of civil government
! for the people of Alaska, is approved. At
present there is no protection of persons or
property in that Territory, except such as is
afforded by the officers of the United States
ship jamestown. This vessel was
| without the immediate presence of the Ma
tional authority, there was impending danger
! of anarchy. The steps taken to restore order
have been accepted in good faith by both
white and Indian inhabitants and the neces
sity tor this method of restraint does not in
my opinion, now exit. If, however, the
jamestown should be Withdrawn, leaving the
people, as at present, without the ordinary,
judicial, and administrative authority of or
ganiZed local government serious conse
quences might ensue.
THE POSTAL DEPARTMENT.
The report of the Postmaster General ex-
hibits the con inual growth and the high state
of efficiency of the postal service. The opera
tons of no Department of the Government,
perhaps, represent with greater exactness the
increase in the population and the business of
the country. In 1850 the postal receipts were
$S,5lS 067.40 in 1880 the receipts were S}3, 3l5,
47934. All the inhabitants of the country are
directly and personally interested in having
proper mail facilities and naturally watch
the Post Office very closely. This careful over
sight on the part of the people has proved a
constant stimulus to improvement, During
the past year there was an increase of ., l4
Post offices, and the mail routes were extend
ed p, iii miles, making additional annual
transportation of l0,S0i, l9l miles. The reve
nues of the postal service for the ensuing year
penditures at S42 475 .932 leaving a deficiency
to be appropriated out of the Treasury of 3d.
$50, 1880.
The Universal Postal Union has received the
accession of almost all the countries and col
onies of the world maintaining organized
postal services, and it is confidently expected
that all the other countries and colonies now
outside the Union will unite Herewith, thus
realizing the grand idea and aim of the
founders of the Union, of forming, for pur-
poses of international mail communication, a
ba
with complete uniformity of postal charges
and conditions of international exchange for
all descriptions of correspondence. To enable
the United States to do its full share OF this
great work, additional legislation is asked by
the Postmaster General to whose recon-
mendations especial attention is called.
The suggestion of the Postmaster General
that it would be WISE to encourage, by appro-
pirate Legislation, the establishment of Amer
lean lines of steamers by our own citizens to
carry the mails between our own ports and
those of Mexico, Central America, South
America, and of trans-Pacific countries, is
commended to the serious consideration of
Congress.
The attention of Congress is also invited to
the suggestions of the Postmaster-Generali in
regard to Postal savings
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.
The necessity for additional provision, to
aid in the transaction of the business of the
Federal courts, becomes each year more APP
parent. The dockets of the Supreme Court,
and of the circuit courts, in the greater num-
Der OF the circuits are encountered with the
constant accession of cases. In the former
court, and in many instances in the circuit
courts, years intervene before 1t is practicable
to bring cases to a hearing.
The Attorney General recommends the es
Enlistment of an intermediate Court of Err
rors and Appeals. 1t is recommended that
the number of Judges of the Circuit Court in
each circuit, with the exception of the Second
Circuit, should be increased by the ad-
dition of another Judge; in the Second Cir
cult that two should be added; and that an
intermediate Appellate Court should be
formed in each circuit, to consist of the Cir
tho C,iI.olit I1,stine mud that