Daily Kennebec journal., 1880-12-07

ed. The attention cf Congress is invited to
the necessary appropriations for CARRYING in
TO effect the provisions of the act referred to.
TRADE AND CoMssRcE.
The efforts of the Department of State TO
enlarge the trade aud commerce of the United
States. through the active agency of consular
officers and through the dissemination of in
formation obtained from them. have been un-
relaxed. The interest in these efforts. as de-
veloped in our commercial communities. and
the value of the Information secured hy this
means. TO the trade and manufactures of the
country. were recognized by Congress at its
last session. and provision was made for the
more frequent publication of consular and
other reports by the Department of State.
The first issue ofthis publication has now been
prepared, and subsequent issues may regularly
be expected. The importance and interest at
tached to the reports of consular officers. are
witnessed by the general demand for them by
all classes of merchants and manufacturers
engaged in our foreign trade 1t is believed
that the system of such publications is de-
serving of the approval of Congress, and that
the necessary appropriations for its contin-
uance and enlargement will commend itself
to your consideration.
STEAM PosrAL COMMUNICATIONS.
The prosperous energies of our domestic
industries, and their immense production of
the subjects of foreign commerce, invite. aud
even require, an active development of the
wishes and interests of our people in that
direction. Especially important is il that
our commercial relations with the Atlantic
and Pacific coasts of South America with
the West Indies and the Gulf of Mexico
should be direct, and not through the circuit
of European systems. and should be carried
on in our own bottoms. The fnll apprccis-
ton of the opportunities which our front on
the Pacific ocean gives TO commerce with
Japan. China and the East Indies, with
Australia and the Island groups which lie
along these routes of navigation should
inspire equal efforts to appropriate to our
own shipping and to administer by our own
capital, due proportion OF this trade.
Whatever notifications of our regulations of
trade and navigation may be necessary or
useful to meet and direct these impulses to
the enlargement of our exchanges and of our
carrying trade. | am sure the wisdom of
Congress will be ready to supply One
initial measure. however, seems to me so
clearly useful and efficient that venture to
press it npon your earnest attention. 1t
seems to be very evident that the provision
of regular steam postal communication. bv
aid from government. has been the fore
runner of the commercial prcdominance of
Great Britain on all these coasts and seas, n
greater share in whose trade is now the
desire and intent of our people. 1t is also
mantes; that the efforts of other European
nations to contend with Great Britain for
share of this commerce have been successful
in proportion with their adoption of regular
steam-postal communication with the markets
whose trade they sought. Mexico and the
States of South America are anxious to re-
ceive such postal communications with this
country. and to aid in their development
Similar cooperation NAV be looked for in
due time. from the Eastern nations and from
Australia. 1t is difficult to see how the lead
in this movement can be expected from
private interests. In respect of foreign COM
merce. quite as much as internal trade, postal
communication seems necessarily a matter of
common and public admini(rat and thus
pertaining to Government. l respectfully
recommend to your prompt attention such
just and efficient measures as may conduce
to the development of our foreign commercial
exchanges and the building up of our carry
ing trade.
TRANsMARINE CABLE.
| In this connection desire also to suggest
the very great service which might be expect
ed in enlarging and facilitating our commerce
on the Pacific ocean, were a transmarine ca
Bile laid from San Francisco to the Sand
wich Islands, and thence to Japan at the North
and Australia at the South. The great in
huence of such means of communication on
these routes of navigation, in developing and
securing the due share of our Pacific coast in
the commerce of the world, needs no illus
tration or enforcement 1t may be that such
an enterprise. useful and in the end profitable
As it prove to private investment, may need
TO be accelerated by prudent legislation by
Congress in its aid. and submit the matter
to your careful consideration.
OUR NAVY.
An additional, and not unmportant, al
though secondary, reason for fostering and
enlarging the Navy may be found in the un-
questionable service to the expansion of our
commerce. which would he rendered by the
frequent circulation of naval ships in the seas
and ports of all quarters of the globe. Ships
of the proper construction and equipment.
to be of the greatest efficiency in case of
maritime war, might be made constant and
active agents in time of peace in the advance
ment and protection of our foreign trade.
and in the nurture and discipline of young
seamen, who would. naturally, in some num-
bers. mix with and improve The crews of our
merchandising. Our merchants at home
and abroad recognize the value to foreign
commerce of an active movement of our ma
val vessels, and the intelligence and patriotic
interest of their countrymen, is just SUBJ
ject of national pride.
FINANCIAL AFFAIRS.
| The condition of the financial affairs of the
government, shown by the report of the
Secretary of the Treasury, is very satisfac-
tory. II is believed that the present finan-
cial condition of the United States, whether
considered with respect to trade, currency,
credit, growing wealth or the extent and va
riety Of our resources. is more favorable than
that of any other country of our time. and
has never been surpassed by that Of any
country at any period Of its history.
All our industries are thriving: the rate Of
interest is low; new railroads are being con-
structed; vast immigration is increasing
our population, capital. and labor; new enter
prises in great number are in progress and
our commercial relation. with other coun-
tries are improving.
The ordinary revenues, from all sources.
for the fiscal fear ended June 80, 1880, we're
From CUSTOMS sls65ea oG4 GO
From internal revenue, l230O2,373 82
| From sales Of public lands l.ol6,506 &C
From tax circulation and deposits
| of national banks, 7.0i4,o7i n
| From repayment; Of interest by Pa
-cifc Railway Companies, l,707, ,3s7 u
| From sinking fund for Pacific Rail-