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the grounds and appurtenances thereunto belonging, known as the Memphis navy-yard, in Shelby county, Tennessee, be, and the same is hereby, ceded to the mayor and aldermen of the city of Memphis for the use and benefit of said city, and that the Secretary of the Navy order the commandant of said navy-yard at Memphis to surrender to the mayor of Memphis said property." In pursuance of that provision of law, I addressed a communication to the mayor of the city of Memphis, to ascertain the views of the mayor and aldermen as to the acceptance of the donation. On receiving from them a certified copy of their proceedings, expressing their readiness to receive the property, an order was issued to the commander of the navy-yard at Memphis to surrender the grounds and appurtenances to the mayor. The order was obeyed, and in due form the surrender was made, and the property is now in the possession and under the control of the corporate authorities of Memphis. It is perhaps proper that I should state that there were sundry articles of property belonging to the Government used in connexion with that yard, the sale of which the department has for the present suspended, at the request of the mayor and aldermen, on their communicating to the department that they had resolved to appeal to Congress to re-establish the navy-yard.

The ground and appurtenances, however, have, in pursuance of the law, been unconditionally surrendered, and the yard abandoned by the Government.

Miscellaneous.-The Naval Academy has during the past year continued to present to the country practical evidence of the wisdom and foresight of its projector. Under the vigilant superintendence of Commander Goldsborough and his worthy assistants, the strictest discipline has been enforced, to the marked benefit of this institution.

The plan of education is now thorough, and the training of the youth admirable. The cruise in the practice ship is of immeasurable advantage in imparting, at an early age, practical knowledge of seamanship. During the last summer the Preble, with 31 young midshipmen, visited Portsmouth and Plymouth in England, and Brest and Cherbourg in France, thereby affording them an opportunity of examining the naval establishments at those points. The contract has been made for the erection of a machine-shop at Annapolis under the act of Congress authorizing it, and I shall avail myself of the first opportunity when the service will permit to substitute a steamer for the sloop now used as a practice ship. The number of students now at the Academy

is one hundred and sixty. Attention is called to the report of the Chief of the Bureau of Ordnance and Hydrography, and the annual report of the Board of Examiners, as also that of the commander of the practice ship.

The Naval Observatory is still entitled to generous support, and eminently demonstrates the utility of its original establishment.

The achievements on sea quietly and gradually effected by Lieutenant Maury, although not attracting the admiration of the multitude, nor dazzling the beholder with sudden. flashes of triumph, have reflected honor upon himself and his country; have brought remote nations in comparative proximity to each other; have promoted commerce, by pointing out to the mariner new paths on the great deep, where favorable winds and currents lend friendly aid. His "Wind and Current Charts," and "Sailing Directions," are saving millions of money, by shortening the voyages of merchant vessels frieghted with treasures.

I am officially informed "that it was stated in a paper read before the British Association last year, that it was estimated in India that a set of wind and current charts for the Indian ocean, like those that have been constructed at this office for the Atlantic ocean, would produce an annual saving to British commerce in those seas alone of not less than $1,000,000, (£250,000,) and for British commerce in all seas of $10,000,000 a year. This estimate was based on the condition of shortening the voyage only one-tenth, (whereas the average length of the passage to all places beyond the Equator has been shortened much more;) and the estimate was again repeated at the last meeting of the Association in Liverpool." It has also been estimated that the value of these charts to the commerce and navigation of the United States is equivalent in the saving of time to several millions

a year.

I trust that these considerations may prevent all objection to the comparatively small expense annually called for to sustain this establishment.

The department is advised that Mr. Robert L. Stevens, of New York, is now rapidly progressing in the construction of the iron war steamer, to be shot and shell proof, for harbor defence, in accordance with his contract, under the acts of Congress of 1842 and 1852. In his communication of the 28th of October, he informs me that "the boilers will be ready to put on board in about three weeks, and the shafts, beams, cranks, and links are nearly finished and turned," and that he has nearly five hundred men engaged on the

work. It is very desirable that this vessel should be completed, large sums having already been expended by Congress upon it. If the undertaking is successful, and the contractor accomplishes what he promises, the benefits derivable from it for harbor defence are incalculable.

Great difficulty having been experienced in procuring American water-rotted hemp, special agents have been appointed in the districts of country in which it was most likely to be attained. The instructions for its inspection and receipt offer every inducement to encourage its preparation. The supply of hemp has been principally drawn from Russia, and the present state of affairs in Europe demonstrates the importance of our not being dependent on other countries for our supplies of this necessary article.

The estimates for the support of the navy and marine corps for the year ending June 30, 1856, and for all objects coming under the control of this department, are, in the aggregate.......

From which deduct special objects, including transportation of the mail in steamships....

Leaves for the support of the navy and ma

rine corps.....

The estimate for the present fiscal year for the support of the navy and marine corps

was...

The total amount drawn from the treasury during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1854, as exhibited by the statement of appropriations for the naval service prepared by the Second Comptroller of the Treasury,

was......

From which deduct repayments.....

Gives as the total expenditure for all objects under the control of the Navy Depart

ment...... But of this amount there was expended for special objects the sum of.....

Leaving as the legitimate expenditures for the support of the navy and marine corps for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1854...

$16,241,931 53

7,324,634 22

8,917,297 31

$8,351,171 19

$11,750,236 32 948,391 04

10,801,845 28

3,910,012 29

6,891,832 99

There are, however, outstanding claims to be paid out of the appropriation for the fiscal year 1853-54.

Your attention is invited to the reports and estimates of the chiefs of the several bureaus connected with this department. I perform but an act of justice in testifying to the fidelity and attention to business of all these officers, and in suggesting that the compensation to the heads of the Bureau of Construction, Equipment, and Repair, and Medicine and Surgery, should be the same as that now allowed to the others.

You will perceive, from reference to the report of the chief of the Bureau of Ordnance and Hydrography, the importance of the action of Congress in making necessary appropriations for ordnance, which will be much larger than usual, in order to enable the department to supply the six new steam-frigates with armament, which, it is designed, shall be of different and heavier calibre than heretofore used.

In pursuance of the suggestions of the chief of the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, the Naval Laboratory in connexion with the Hospital at Brooklyn was reorganized in the fall of 1853, and placed on a basis to secure its success and enlarge its benefits to the service. Since January last the entire supply of medicines for the navy has been prepared at that laboratory, thereby giving assurance that a reliable article is supplied, and that the service will not suffer from the imposition of spurious and deleterious drugs. As a matter of economy, also, the advantages will not be inconsiderable.

The letters of Commander Charles H. Davis, touching the Nautical Almanac, and of Professor Alexander, in regard to the character of alimentary substances, accompany this report, and will explain the progress made in their depart

ments.

I have the honor to be, with great respect, rour obedient servant, J. C. DOBBIN.

To the PRESIDENT of the United States.

V. THE POST OFFICE.
V.—THE

POSTMASTER GENERAL'S REPORT.

POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT,

December 4, 1854.

The whole number of post offices in the United States, on the 30th of June, 1854, was 23,548. Of this number 257 are offices the annual commissions from which amount to one thousand dollars or upwards, and the appointments at these offices are therefore made by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, agreeably to the provisions of the act of 1836. The number of offices established during the last fiscal year was 1,842, and the number discontinued 614, showing a net increase in one year of 1,228. The number of which the sites and names have been changed in the course of the year was 499. The number of postmasters appointed during the year was 8,618. Of these, 4,185 were appointed to fill vacancies occasioned by resignations; 1,977 by removals; 320 by deaths; 294 by change of names and sites; and 1,842 on establishment of new offices.

The total number of offices on the 1st of December, 1854, was 23,925.

On the 30th June last there were in operation 6,697 mail routes. The number of contractors was 5,167.

The length of these routes is estimated at 219,935. The total annual transportation of mails was 63,387,005 miles, costing $4,630,676, and divided as follows, viz: 21,267,603 miles by modes not specified, at $1,092,833, about 5 cents per mile.

20,890,530 miles by coach, at $1,290,095, about 6 cents per

mile.

15,433,389 miles by railroad, at $1,758,610, about 11 cents 4 mills per mile.

5,795,483 miles by steamboat, at $489,138, about 8 cents 4 mills per mile.

Compared with the services of the 30th June, 1853, there is an increase of 1,494,463 miles of transportation, or about 24 per cent., and of $134,708 cost, being about 3 per cent.

The increase of railroad service is 2,446,684 miles, and the expense $157,281, being 19 per cent. in transportation, and not quite 1 per cent, in cost.

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