Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-12-09


shall fail to induce domestic
manufacturers to undertake the
large expenditures that are required
to prepare for this new manufacture.
If no other steps are taken by congress at
Its coming session, the secretary contem-
plates with dissatisfaction the necessity
of obtaining abroad the armor and the
gun-steel for the authorized ships. 1t
would seem desirable that the wants of
the army and the navy in this regard
should be reasonably met, and that by
uniting their contracts. such inducemenG
might be offered as would result in secur-
ing the domestication of these important
interests.
THE POSTAL SERVICE.
The affairs of the postal service
show marked and gratifying improve
ment during the past year. A particular
account of its transactions and condition
is given in the report of the postmaster
general, which will be laid before you is
the reduction of the letter postage in
1888, rendering the postal revenues in
adequate to sustain the expenditures and
business depression also contributing re-
suited in an excess of cost for the fis-
cal year ended June 80, 1885, of eight and
one-third millions of dollsrs an addition
al check upon the receipts by doubling
the measure of weight in rating sealed
CORES pondence and diminishing one-half
the charge for newspaper carriage as was
imposed by the legislation which took
effect with the beginning of the
past fiscal year. While the con-
slant demand of our territorial de-
velopment and growing popularity for the
extension and increase of mail facilities
and machinery necessitates a steady an
nual advance in outlay and the careful es
innate of year ago upon the rates of
expenditure existing contem plated the
unavoidable augmentation of the de-
fciency in the last fiscal year by nearly
two millions of dollars. The anticipated
revenue for the last year failed of realiza
ton by about sixty-four thousand dollars,
but proper measures of economy have so
satisfactorily limited the growth of ex-
penditure that the total deficiency
in fact, fell below that of 1886
and at this time the increase is in gaining
ratio over the increase of cost, demon
strat1ng the sufficiency of the present
rates of postage ultimately to sustain the
service. This is more pleasing because
our people enjoy now both cheaper post
age proportionately to distance, and
vaster and more costly service than any
other upon the globe.
INFRINGEMENT HAS BEEN EFFECTED
IN the cost of supplies since expenditures
unwarranted by law have ceased, and the
OUTLAWS for mail carriage have been sub
Jecte6 to beneficial scrutiny. At the
close of the last fiscal year the expense OF
transportation on star routes stood at an
annual rate of cost less by over S560,00O
than at the close of the previous year;
and steamboat and mail messenger SER
vice at nearly 100000 less. The service
has been in the meantime enlarged and
extended by the establishment of new of
fees, increase of routes of carriage, ex-
pansion of carrier delivery conveniences,
and additions to the railway mail facili-
ties, IN accordance with the growing ext
gencles of the country and the long-es-
tabllshed policy of the government. The
postmaster general calls attention to the
existing law for
CoMPENsATING RAILROADS,
and expresses the opinion that method
be devised which may prove more just to
commerce and beneficial to the government
and the subject appears worthy of your
early consideration. The differences
which arose during the year with certain
OF the ocean steamship companies have
terminated by the acquiesence of all in the
service OF the government approved by
congress In the last postal appropriation,
and the department now enjoys the ut
most service afforded by all vessels which
sail from our ports upon eth
er ocean, service generally
adequate TO the needs of our
intercourse. Petitions have, however, been
presented to the department by numer-
Gus merchants and manufacturers for the
establishment of a direct service to the
Argentine Republic and for semi-month-
ly dispatches to the empire of Brazil; and
the object is commended to your consid-
Grafton. 1t is an obvious duty to provide
the means of postal communication
which our commerce requires and with
prudent forecast of results, the wise ex-
tension of it may lead to a stimulating
intercourse and become the harbinger of
a profitable traffic which will open new
avenues for the disposition of
the products of our industry.
The circumstances of the
countries at the far south of our contin-
ent are such as to invite our enterprise,
and afford the promise of sufficient adj
vantages to Justify an unusual effort to
Of1uS dDOuG the close relations which
greater freedom of communication would
tend to establish. I suggest that as dis
from grant or subsidy for
the mere benefit of line of trade or
travel, whatever outlay may be re-
CURED to secure additional postal service
necessary and proper, and not otherwise
should be regarded as within
the limit of legislative compensa-
ton for such service. The extern
ton of the free delivery service
as suggested by the Postmaster General,
has heretofore received my sanction, and
it is to be hoped suitable enactment
may soon be agreed upon. The request
for an appropriation sufficient to enable
the general inspection of fourth class
offices has my appreciation. I renew my
approval Of the accommodation of the
Postmaster General that another assistant
be provided for the post-ofice depart
ment, and invite your attention to the
several other recommendations In his
report.
The conduct of
THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE