The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1886-12-15

turc- ms Ia, neen thc SUBJECT OF lANeS-
tigation by two boards and by two con-
mittees Of Congress within t1e last three
years The report of the gun foundry
boards in 1854. Of the Board on F0rtihoa-
tons made in January last and the ~
f port of the select committee Of the two
Hon - made at the last session Of Con-
5 gress have extirely exhausted the subject
- far as preliminary investigation : in
volved, and in their recommendation
they are substantially agreed.
In the event that the present invitation
Of the Department for bids 70 furnish
such Of the material as Is now authorized
shall flii 10 induce domestic manufac-
turers to undertake the large expenditures
required % prepare for this new manu-
facture and no other steps are taken By
Congress AT lis coming session, the Sec
retary coniernplates with dissatisfaction
the Necessity Of obtaining abroad the
aEuor and gun steel for the authorized
ships Ii would seem desirable that the
wants Of the army and navy in this re-
gari should be reasonably met. and that
BY uniting their contracts such induce
ments Nigh be offered as would result in
securing the demonstrating of these i'm
porr8nt Interests.
THE POSTAL DEPARTMENT.
The Affairs Of the postal service shows
marked and gratifying improvement dur
ing the past year \ particular account
Of its transaction and condition J. given
in the report Of the Postmaster General,
which viii be laid before YOU. The re-
duction Of the letter postage IN lSS3 rem
dering the postal revenues inadequate to
sustain the expenditures. and business
depression also contributing. resulted in
an excess Of cost for the fiscal year ended
June 80, 1855, Of eight and one-third
millions Of dollars an additional check
upon receipts by doubling the measure
Of weight in rating sealed correspondence
and diminishing one-half the charge for
newspaper carriage was imposed by legis-
lation which took effect with the begin
ning Of the past fiscal year.while the con
stant demand Of our territorial develop
ment and growing population for the ex-
tension and increase Of mail facilities and
machinery necas-itated a steady annual
advance in outlay, and the careful est
mates Of a year ago upon the rates OF ex-
lenditGre then existing. contemplated
the unavoidable augmentation Of the de-
ficiency in the last fiscal wear BY nearly
tvoJuiilioHs Of dollars. The anticipated
revenues for the last wear failed of reaii-
zation about $4,000, but proper measures
Of economy have - satisfactorily limited
the growth Of expenditure that the total
deficiency IN fact fell below thar Of ISSJ.
and at this time increase OF revenues j.
in . gaining ratio over the increase Of cost.
demonstrating the sufiiciency Of the pres
. ent rates Of postage ultimately to sustain
the service. This Is the more pleasing be-
/ cause our people enjoy now both cheaper
I postage proportionably to distances and a
yaster and more costly service than any
other upon the globe.
SUCCESSFUL RETREScHNESTs.
/ RetrencbInent has been effected in the
cost Of supplies; some expenditures IN
warranted by laa have ceased, and the
I outlaws for mail carriage have been sub
jected to beneficial scrutiny az the close
Of the last fiscal year, the enPen>e Of
transportation on star routes stood at an
annual rate Of cost less by over sJt9.OG0
than At the close Of the previous year,
and steamboat and mail messenger AZ
nearly $4,000 les. The service in the
meantime has been enlarged and ex
tended by the establishment Of new Off
I ceS. increase Of routes Of carriage. ex-
I pansion of carrier delivery, continuance
and additions 70 the railway mail faeili-
/ tie- in accor,isnee with the growing exi-
/ geucies Of the country and the long estAb-
lished policy of the Government. The
/ Postmaster General calls attention 10 the
existing law for eompensating railroads.
snd exprer-e, the opinion that a method
may b. devised which Will prove more
/ Just 10 the carriers and benifieial 70 the
/ Government. and the subject appears wor-
thy Of your early consideration. The
( differences which arose during the wear
I With certain Of the ocean steamship COM
{ panies have terminated by the acquies-
/ cence of all in the policy Of the Govern
{ ment approved by the Congress in the
I postal appropriations al it, last session,
and the Department now enjoys the ut
3 most Servic,. afforded bv All vessels which
sail from our ports on either ocean and a
/ seryice generally adequate to the needso Of
/ our iniec0ur-e-
Petitions have however. been present
( cd TO the Department by numerous Iner-
I chants and manufacturers for the estah-
{ li-imeut II a direct service 20 the Arrcu-
time Republic. and for eemi-monthly di~-
/ patches % the empire of Brazil. and the
subject l. commended 10 your cousidera-
ton II j. an obvious duty 20 provide
. the means Of postal communication which
+ our commerce requires, and with prudent
+ forecast of results the wise extension Of II
I NAV lead 70 stimulating intercourse and
become the harhinger Of a profitable traf-
fic which vii open new avenues for the
disposition Of the products of our indus
try. The circumstance 0f the countries az
the far South Of our continent are such a.
10 invite our enterprise and afford the
promise Of sufficient advantages 10 iusti-
fv an unusual effort to bring about the
/ & o~er relations which greater freedom Of
communication woull tend 10 establish.
suggest that as distinguished from a
grant or subsidy for the mere benefit of
postal service necessary and proper and
Iav may h required to secure additional
anv line Of trade or travel. wh tever out
no, otherwise artainable should be re-
sar,led a. within the limit Of legitimate
CONDENSATION for such service.
TfTE FREE DELIVERY
The extension Of free delivery service
a. suggested by the Postmaster General,
has heretofore received my sanction, and
il is to be hoped a suitable enactment
viii soon be agreed upon. The request
fer an appropriation sufficient to enable
the general inspection Of fourth class Of
fees has my appreciation. / renew NY