Year: 1873




duced cost of material which has taken
place, 1t may reasonably be hoped that


this change will be maintained and even


increased. However, as we pay about


EIGHTY MILLION DOLLARS PER AssynT


to foreign vessels for the transporta-


ton of our surplus products to a mar


ket, thus increasing the balance of trade
against us to that amount, the subjec is
one worthy of your serious considera-
tion.


CHEAP TRANSPORTATION


is a subject that has attracted the atten-
tiOn of both producers and consumers
for the past few years and has contri-
buted to, if it has not been the direct
cause of, the recent panic an stringen-
cy. As congress at its last session ap-
pointed a special committee to invas-
tigate this whole subject during the va
cation and report at this session, have
| nothing to recommend until their re-
| port is ready.


/ SMALL FAvORs THANKFULLY RECEIVED.
There is one work, however, of ma
tiOnal character In which the greater
portion of the east and west, the north
| and south are equally interested, to
| which I viii invite your attention.
! The state of New York has a canal con-
Meeting lake Erie with tide water on the
| Hudson river. The state of Illinois has
a similar one connecting lake Michigan
with navigable water on the Illinois
river, thus making water communica-
| tiOn inland between the east and the
west and south. These great artifcisl
water cOureas are the property of the
states through which they pass and pay
toll to those states. Would it not be
wise craftsmanship to pledge these
states that if they viii open these ca
nails for the passage of large vessels
the government viii look after and keep
In navigable condition the great
public highways with which they
connect, to wit a: the uverslough
on the Hudson, the st. Clair
flats and the Illinois and Mississippi
rivers? This would be a national work
and one of great value to the producers
of the west and south in giving them
cheap transportation for their produce
to the seabOard, and a market 20 the
consumers in the east, in giving them
cheaper delivery of those articles of
food which do not find foreign mar
kot, and the prices of which, therefore.
are not regulated by foreign demand.
The advantages of such a work are too
obvious for argument. I submit the
subject TO you, therefore, without fur
ther comment.


NAVIGATING THE AMAZON.


In attempting to regain our lost COM
merce and carrying trade, have here
tofore called attention to the states
south of the United States as Offering
field where much might be accomplish
ed. To further this object, I suggest
a small appropriation be made accompa-
MED with authority for the secretary of
the navy to fit out naval vessel TO as
cend the Amazon river where the mouth
of the Medeira enters, thence to explore
that river and its tributaries into Boil
via, and to report to congress at its next
session or as soon as practicable the ac-
feasibility of the country by water, its
resources and the population so reached.
Such an exploration Will cost but little
It can do no harm and may result in es-
tablishing trade of value TO both ma
tions.


In further connection with the treas
uIy department, I would recommend a
revision and codifcation of the tariff
laws, and the opening of more mints
for coming money, with authority to
coin for such nations as may apply.


THE WAR DEPARTMENT.


The attention of congress is invited
to the recommendation IN the report Of
the secretary of war, herewith accom-
panying. The apparent great cost of
supporting the academy is fully ex-
planned in the report, and it will receive
your attention. While inviting your
great attention to all the recommenda-
tiOns made by the secretary of war,
there are two which would especially
invite you TO consider:


First. The importance of preparing
for war in time of peace by providing
Na ont FOR
defense. A proper armament is of vast
ly more importance than Notifications.
The latter can be supplied very speedily
for temporary purpose when needed.
The former cannot.


The second is the necessity of re-
opening promotion IN the staff corps of
the army. Particularly is this necessi-
ty felt in the medical, pay and ordnance
departments. At this time it IS neces-
sary to employ contract surgeons TO
supply the necessary medical attention
required by the army. With the pres
ent force of the pay department, it is
now difficult to make the payments to
troops provided by law. Long delays
in payments are productive of deser-
tions and Generalization, and the law
prohibits the payment of troops by 9th
er than the regular army paymasters.
There are now sixteen vacancies In the
ordnance department, thus leaving that
branch of the service without sufficient
officers to conduct the business of the
different arsenais on a large scale, if ev-
er required.


THE NAVAL DEPARTMENT.


During the past year the navy has
been reduced by the sale of some yes
sells no longer fit for naval purposes, and
by the condemnation of others not yet
disposed Of This, however, has been
more than compensated for by the re-
pair of six of the old wooden ships and
by the building of eight new slOOps-ef-
war authorized by the last congress.
The building of these latter has occur
red at a doubly favorable time. They
are about being completed, when they
Will possibly be much needed, and the
work upon them has not only given en-
plOymenb TO thousands of men, but has
no doubt been the means of keeping
open the establishments for other works
at a time of great financial distress.


Since the commencement Of last
month, however, the distressing occur
rences which have taken place in the
Caribbean sea, almost on our very sea-
b Iard, while they illustrate most forcl-
bic the necessity always existing, that a
nation situated as ours, should MAINTAIN
in a state of efficiency a navy adequate
TO its responsibilities, has at the same
time demanded that all the effective
force we really have shall be put IN i'm
mediate service. This has been, and Is
being done promptly and effectively,
and 1 am assured that all the available
ships, and every authorized man OF the
American navy will be ready for what
ever action is required for


TIE SAFETY OF OUR CFGzENs,