CHERAW GAZETTE
AND
PEE DEE FARMER. : . .
M. MacLcan, Editor and Proprietor. CHERAW S. C. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 26, 1838. Vol. IV. No> 6.
1 _ > v
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AGRICULTURE. !'
FAFTEMNG POKK, CURING HAMS, &C. 1
I am satisfied that it is " not good econ.
omy" to endeavor to make manure from .
hogs by keep ng them up in a pet). I am j
convinced that len bushels of corn, fed on a
clean board flour, will make as much good : j
solid pork, as fifteen fid on a dun:* heap? ! j
and with this additional recommendation, iu:
the pork is perfectly sweet and entirely Iree |
from that nauseous flavor which is so pc- .
culiar to pork k"pt in a filthly state, and
h iving their Ibod administered to tliem in J
dung or litter. The greatest care must be
observed* The hog is not by any means
naturally a dirtv animal.
I have noticed fivquent inqniri *s in the .
Cabinet as to t!iu best metnoJ of curing ,
|>ork and hams, i woul i inform a!! inquirers
that thev cannot have good, sweet meat.
+ 0 *
unless it is both good and sweet before it ,
goes into the tub. The host of salt cannot
make bad meat good?but v\iil prevent .
good meat becoming bad. In some parts of
the country where I have dined, the pork
served up at table has tasted so strongly of
the pen that I could not ''a' it. o.> ni ton .
lor making manure from hogs. I ;.ave always
had goo i pork and hams sua: I f <j ,
my hogs 0:1 a board fijor, which is kept',
well cleans-ad. ,
On one occassion I purchased a l<?t of
.Jersey pork, 2.00J ponn s. Itwisiarnnd ,
very hatidsom lv drosso I, bat it lacked one ,
cssenti d requisite?tliat good fl u or which ,
character.-/ s a!! good pork. Subsequently, <
I bought a lot of 'd.otH'O lbs. raised in ;
Hacks county. The hogs were fed on a
, clean board floor, with Indian meal ; they 1 ]
had an abundance of water. No one could
desire finer or sweeter meat. A few years
since, I put up some pork fa'toned on sweet
apples, with tiie exception o! the last two
weeks, during winch tune tney were corn
fed ; and the pork was as sweet, solid, and
line us any 1 ever saw. The hogs roamed 1
ul large in ;ho orchard until { not them i*.j>
to be led on corn.
RECEIPT TOR CURING i'ORK AND IIA.'IS.
As soon as the pork becomes cool I cut
nod sort taking grout rare to have !h<*
tubs perfectly sweet and ci .-an. in cubing.
1 take out all llie spare rib;, mid make
pickled pork of all the side between she ham
and lite shoulders ; cu ing i: tu:o peees of
sui'able s:zo for family us'*. I trim the
hams and shoulders w? II. I cover the
bottom of the lubwi.ii ro d; sail, and then
put in a layer of pork, nicely packed ;
ihen cover this layer with su'r, and very i
bountifully. In six or eight days make u j
pickle of sail and cold water, Jns strong j
as possible, and cover the pork previously j
salted with if. It will tnrn Keep ior years
if you choose.
In preparing th~ l ams and shoulders* I
weigh several, to come at lac probable
weight of the whole. They .ire packed with '
great care in suitable tubs. My process
is to sprinkle some coarse salt at the
bottom, then pack in the haras and should-1
ers firmly, side by side, being careful not;
to put the back of one flat on the top of
another.?The spaces are filled up with
chines, hocks, and jowls. To about every
three huncred weight of meat I take thirty
pounds of rock salt, one pound of saltpetn',
and fourteen pounds brown sugar, or half
a gallon of good molasscss, [generally the
latterl. Take as much pure water as will
cover the meat, put it in a clean vessel,
add the above articles, boil it, removing
the scum as it rises, an J when no more
rises, set it to cool, after which pour it on
the meat until it is covered 3 or 4 inches.
If the hams are smaii,
12 to 15 lbs., let them remain in the pickle
live weeks?if from 12 to 21, sii weeks
?if from 35 to 45, seven weeks. Wheu
you remove them for the purpose of smoking,
put them in clean, cold water for two
or three hours. If there is too much sal;
or saltpetre adhering to the surface of the
bams, the water will take it off. The
smoke should be made of clean green luck.
<>ry. A fire should be built only in dry
weather. And when * the meat has nr.
quired a yellow tinge, not red or black
' they are removed, and bung up in a darl
place, whore they are not disMrbcJ by flie;
or vermin.
DAVID COMFORT.
Qth mo., 1533. Farm. Cub.
[To the above recipe, which we. knov
to be a goo ! .?ne, we would onl
add, tbat a little Ted pepper should be rub
bed over the inside of the pieces of mea
and over the top of the hock?:hc object (
the red pepper is to keep out skipper
which it vTjcunHy docs.]?Farmer iV G'li
<t"\v r
Great Value of Apples.?In the fal
of 1S35 (says Mr. Eleazcr Cady. of Can.
naan] I gathered about one hundred ant
fifty bushels of good sound apples of differ
ent kinds, and put them into my cellar, foi
lite purpose of f ediug them out to n?)
stock of cattle and pigs, to s?o what effeci
they would have. When hard weathe;
commenced I had two cows that gave milk ;
I put them into a stable, and commenced
feeding them with half a bushel of apples tc
each cow por day. I charged the boy tiial
milked them, to see if the cows increased
their milk ; and the third day the boy said
the cows gave almost double the quantity
hat they did before I fed them w.th the ap>!es?and
the young woman that had the
:harge of the milk, said that the butter that
vas made from the milk, at the time of
ceding them with apples, was of a fine
favor, and a fine yellow color.
I likewise commenced feeding them to
ny pigs. I fed abou: one bushel a day to
hirieen pigs, with a small portion of corn
?and 1 now defy the state to bring thirteen
is good as mine, that have had no better
; coping.
1 had gathered about five hundred and
iftv bushels of good apples, and put them
:ito a good bin in my carriage house, witn
ho intent of making them into cider ; but
itdbre I got ready to make them into cider,
ise cold weather came on, and ail my np>!es
froze. I immediately covered them
villi blankets, and they remained in that sit.
ration til: a thaw in the latter part of L)e. ember.
I then commenced feeding them
o my stock of cattle, which consisted of
wenty-two head and two colts. I fed
hem about ten bushels per day ; I soon
bund that my cattle would not eat half the
yuantity of hay that they did before I cornuenccJ
feeding them wkh apples?and
when the apples were gone I could see that
ny cattle had gained in flesh, and looked
jeilcr.
Docility and Intelligence on Tin: Ox.
? Tn-r common charge of stupidity urged
iiraiiist ( pat ? u auu mucu-i n u.?,
s who.h unfounded, or, if true, is only so
if 11 lose breeds or individuals a ith wliicli
no pains have been take to cultivate and
improve their nat iral instincts.?Scarcely
ran the horse itself boast a limber decree
id !r rcrabinty or intelligence tbun this am".
ma1, when its powers are excited and eda.
rated. In proof of this, we need only refer
> the fitihlul Buckley oldie Ca fire tribes,
i\l?.isa services in the field or in war, as tl?t
keeper of his master's herds, his protectoi
from robbers^ or the fighter of bis battles
render hhn an invaluable pessess'on to thosi
semi-barbarous hordes. We need not
however, go so far from homo for proob
of intelligence ; the Devonshire oxen
uiiicii are almost excluslvelv employed ii
tlio !ibv>rs of husbandry, exhibit a high degree
of docility, and other mental qualities
which admirably .'it them for the perform,
unce of such services.
Ttw'cara many amusing anecdotes re
corded of this animal, to which 1 beg It
add the following, which was witnessed b}
a lady, a near relation of mine :?A cow
which was feeding iranquilily in a pasture
1
ilu gate of which was open to the roau
war- much annoyed by a mischievous boy
who amused himself by throwing stones a
J O
the peaceful animal ; who, aft r bearinj
with liis impertinence for some time, a
length went up to him, hooked the end c
her horn into his clothes, and lifting hir
from the ground, carried him out of th
field, and laid him down in the road---sh
then calmly returned to her pasture, leav
him in a severe fright and with a torn gai
meat.?Bell's British Quadrupeds.
Pig Trough.?A write: in the Gennese
Parmer, a few vears ago, described
? W #
method of making this article which wecoj
ied into the Maine Farmer and which w
have also practised, and find it to be
great improvement
It is simply this :?Take two pieces i
| board or plunk of the length that.you wi:
?\i,t (iv<? r>P tliun. orlni'; icinf't
j JUUI lll,U?ll , j?ni. w. im.t? *wo-I
t?r r.t right angles. thus V, and nail the
strongly. Hion tali': two pieces some wli
; longer than the trough is wide, and nail up<
; the raids. Then take some clay mort
j and fill up the chinks to prevent i.sleukir
an'-1, it is done. The food settles down
the angle at the bottom of the trough, ai
j the pig will fay his sharp unicr jaw into
completely, while the long ends prevent
; being upset so easily as the old kin I. A
body who can saw u board o.1', and dri
a nail, can nnke one. If you have
; trough for your pig, just try vottr hand
making one on litis plan.?Mc. Fanner.
From the New York Lounger.
SUPI'iSR TO DR. ERASMUS IIUMBCG.
11 On Monday, cf last week, a splendid si
j i per was given to I)r. Humbug, the iiiiuu
blc inventor ofihe "incomparable \voo(
] leg liniment." This supper was the in
complimentary to the worthy octor, as
was got up entirely without fiis coilusic
!, and knowing as wo do?his cxtrc
k i :infl mtirinir manners?we have
^ ll.U JUOi v ?%??? - r-,
doubt but that, had he been aware of it
season, he \wj1J have endeavored to f
! vent this public testimony to his worth n
i man an 1 a physician, however gratify
v . sue!) a manifestation might have bcci
y ' his feelings. But, as before hinteJ, he 1
i- entirely ignorant ol the proceedings unti
t, tiie arrangements were made, and then,
>t"; course, it was too late to decline the p
5, fered honor.
r. At about tour o'clock, t!ie couipan
which cor.s's'.cl evclMSiv- iv of men
I j wooden legs, who had been the Doctor's G
, | patients, and had received invaluable bene- j
j j fit from his incomparable wooden liniment j
.! ?sat down to a sumptuous repast?pre- di
r pared by the noted landlord of the "Four :1,1
r alf Moons," in Ciean-strcct. j S
t The hilarity which took place on the re- j to
moval of the cloth, was preceded by the ! st
; presentation to the doctor of a large arid j yi
I splendid spittoon, beautifully japanned and j tli
> 1 otherwise elegantly ornamented. This | 01
: delicate and appropriate gift was totally un.1 w
!; e.xpecteJ by Mr. Humbug, up to the mo- j n<
I j ment of its presentution.and create d, as may I gi
j be well supposed, no little embarrassment to ti<
him at first. However, he soon recovered , C
(j his composure, and listened with his accus*' ^
i ?/\morl kmkii.ii, 4^ run n./iconh 11 fin tidi i fabii. f nl
lumvu ouuruv iu liia j^iv-aciiiiuivii v?j | ?
which Wits delivered by John Gump, Esq.,'
in:i strain of eloquence seldom equalled*? i th
' Dr. Humbug replied in another speech, un. I o|
j surpassed by any thing we ever heard, ex- j tli
cvpt ihe previous effort of Mr. Gump?and j ti<
i concluded by giving, as a toast,? ki
''The health of all the wooden legs in tli
Christendom" [This was drank with great bi
applause, anJ a tremendous thumping oj ' V
; wooden legs under the table.] tc
.? * fi
Several letters were then read, from dis- j ^
tn guished individuals who had been invited , tc
| to the supper, but all of whom hud declined , c
j attending. The following, from the Duk
I of Rigmarole, we take the liberty to pub0 h
j lish:~ ' !!'
J ft
"Attention ! all the universe ! I, Duke j
I of Rigmarole, Universal Astronomer, and'
j Grand master of the Occult Sciences, hav- I 1
ing been invited to sup with the honorable i (
j discover of the "Incomparable Wooden- j u'
leg Liniment"?can't come.
"Rigmarole." i01
Tiie fallowing toasts were then drank : si
1>V Mr. Rump?Wooden legs?as good fc
as /lesh ones to those who know how to use ej
Tl )rnnI: etniiflinit mt nnn I#> f ]
uiiu oiuiiuau^ \>i) viiv iv j
By Air. Mump?Medical Science?In C
the hands of such professors as our disiitj. n;
guished truest, it can never sutler. [This i tli
, well merited compliment had such an eficct o?
i upon tiie doctor, that he was obliged to torn rc
i a .vay his head to hide his modest blushes. ti<
! As soon as he recovered, no turned round tr
r and smiled complacently on .his friends,
i who had been watching ins countenance ; tli
, widi intense anxictv. J C
9 ~ 1
'? By Mr. Lump?Our d s:inguishod gues\ it
The whole familv of woo len logs have ul
cause to bless lum lor his discovery of the tc
' "Incgmpnranie Wooden Leg LintmCnt/* j zi
'[Drank wi;h cheers.] ! v
By Mr. Thump?W ooden legs?A hies-; ^
saig :o those who are ac(|uainted with the s|
virtu: s of 'Dr. Humbug's celebrated and
incomparable Wooden-leg Liniment."
Mr. .Stump hero rose, and made the .
1 ' following eloquent remarks:?Mr. Pressden?,?
As 1 am a stranger to most of you- ;
' and personally unacquainted with your dis- 11
' tiuguisbed guest, it may be thought iodecoi
rous in me to trespass a moment on the
valuable time of this company. Dull can. c
} not refrain, even at the risk ut being thought . j1
/ I.^?. *.?ct tn '
; presumptuous, irom ueuimg i-.:;uiiui?j
', the beneficial efleets which tne "lncotnpara- 1
'*; hie Wooden-leg Linimet," the invention of 1
' oar worthy guest?{long nnv he live)?
' ; has had on ine?or rather on my leg.
i Some months since, I had a quarrel with 1
? . my wife, who had forgotten to put salt in J
^ j her pudding, [cheers] and, seizing my Sun- '
' dav leg, which stood in the corner, 1 struck *
11 ' * I
i her over the head. Instead, however, of
' cracking Iter skull, as I intended, 1 only I
r ! splintered my weapon. Having read of j
the wonderful effects of Dr. Humbug's ;
r* "Wooden-leg Liniment,"! procured a but- j,
tie of if, and before 1 had used it half, my ?J
!4) i leg was as well as ever. Gentlemen, I will,
a | give you?
). Dr. Erasmus Humbug?The honest i:i- !
e ven'.ovbfan incomparable medicine.
a ' By John Gump Esq. ?" The created
loveliness of the E cited States?its women"
of ?would that they all had wooden legs, that
they might become acquainted with the
wouderful virtues of the inimitable I )r. 11 urnm
bug's "Incomparable Wooden-leg Lini.
i " r'Pknn/4 nCCAinMntl'Ol! I)V
I llieij I. [lint O U liU^l Cj U\. U\/i?i|/uiaiv* ? .
30 j rattling and thumping of wooden legs.]
,ir ! After drinking a fotV more toasts, the :
I if ' *-2 7
r'; company broke up, when an incident hop.
|j 1 pened which rather marred i!io pleasure of
. i the evening. As they were passing in a!
i body through the hull of the '"Four Half i
,ts Moons," the landlord made his appearance,
n;t and impudently presented u bill for the sup. ;
vc per to the doctor himse f! This insult to
their distinguished guest was resented on ,
the spot bv liis indignant friends. John
j Gump, Fso., unstrapping his wooden leg, ;
flourished it over his head, and was just on i
' the point of cracking the landlord's crown ;
but being scarcely able to stand on two legs,
n may well be supposed he couldn't on one,
and so, making a pirouette, he fell headJon
'?ng 0:11^10 fl?or' The rest of the coinore
i Pny Allowed his example as if by instinct,
,j' and, of course, met with the same fate?
>n . ' every one making a circumgiration, and
ino falling lo a dead level with their leader.
;no r Here they lav, pe'l me'l, swinging their
jn legs in the air, and Iiiiting oaeli otiier right
?.,n i.,rt MufUm. t?I! n general r.iflca:u
>rc? cujvi ivii, at .... ?
ts a sued. At this juncture, a -poise of watchmen
-in.? - arrived, or,d took them al! to the watch,
j (;) house, including the amiable doctor, with
ivas spittoon under his arm.
I all With the exception of this trilling intcr,
cl? ruption, notliing occurred to disturb the ha.
rof? j mony of tlio evening. Wo cannot close
: this brioj''notice without exclaiming "Long
y? ' life to the inventor of the 'ncomnarab'e
w'h W'Wiff.mJya Ifn'mrv
JOVEROR DUDLEY'S MESSAGI
Internal Improvements Continued.
The public prints in Virginia have alreac
irccted the attention of her statesmen
ie feasibility of drawing the traJo of 01
tate even as far as the Oeracoke counti
> their markets ; to seizing upon ar
ripping the carcass, whilst the limbs a
'X quivering with life. Shall we submit
is? Drained by South Carolina on tl
lehand, and by Virginia on the other, ct
e exist with honor or profit ? Shall v
at rather play back upon them their ov
ame? The Rail Road, from the head
Ie water on the Cape Fear, flanking Sou
arolina, may remedy our humiliating pos
on in tltc one instance, and the openii
i inlet at Nngshead, in the other.
Some twelve hundred vessels now cro
ie Oeracoke bar annually ; and produc
f the value of one million of dollars, pass
irough the canal, besides immense quan
?s in other directions to the Virginia ma
Dts. Not only all this trade embracit
ie whole of that in the Albet marie countr
t a I o n /Mint f envopol PAlintlPC
ill a aniuuiii iiuui oi.tuiui \.uum>v?
irginia lying on the tributaries of our w
t courses, would seek nn outlet through o
late by the opening of Nagshcad, and {
) build up a market in its neighborhoo
qual, if not supperior, to any in Virgin!
A survey and estimate of a ship chanr
om the Neuse to Beaufort would afto
tc necessaiy information both of the pra
cability and cost of a work to relieve t
avigation and trade of that section of cou
y. The outlet at Nagshead would ha
?me beneticial influence here, with t
se of the Sound, and a more direct comm
ication by a rail road to the town looatii
ii the Albermarle,
Tho selection between the rail road at
lip channel, would bo decided by the i
irmation to be required bv the survey ai
>t i mate.
It is very evident that the [trade of t
ape Fear cannot be curried to ihe A lbc
inrie, and vice versa. Two poin's w
icrefore become necessary, at which to I
tic our home markets, and to these a!! o
>ads and other improvements of navig
on should be made to look and conce
ate.
If roads should b; located, running frc
ie ports and markets of Virginia and Sol
arolina, through the interior of our Stat
is very clear that all the produce and tra
hove such a lino of road, would bo carri
> those markets, dividing our State ho
an tatty, upper tYoni lowy,irtually
transferring the upper portion
ur sister S ates. Tlisy getting ihe si
Sauce, we retaining the semblance of
ta'c. But if the figure be reversed t
pox of die angle resting on our own Po
nd Markets, running its legs into our ri
Ucrior North West, the effect would be
oncentrate our wealth and resources wil
a our own limits.
Let Wilmington be one point, \v
lo&us running to the North, the dirccti
>fthe Wilmington and Raleigh Rail Ro;
in J to the West, the direction of the Ro?
leretofore recommended, and she m
eventually, at least, receive the produces
rade of those sections, and commensura
V increase in s'ze and importance.
Let a market town, at the head of the
oermarle, if we succeed in opening Na
iead, or at Newborn, if a ship channel <
jo made to Beaufort, be I lie other point s
similar roads resting upon it, will give
tie trade of the country through which tl
oassa similar direction. And the inters
ion of the northern road from Wilmingt
with the western road from the point on
Albemarle or Newborn, would lay open
intercourse between ail parts of the S:t
The transportation of trroops in the time
war, to the points of invasion and attack
the seaboard, with rail road facility, wo
be of incalculable importance. The tra
pofintion of tho mail to our cmnmec
points, adds no li'tle to the value of s:
roads.
The construction of a turnpike road fi
Raleigh via Chapel Mill to the west, lias b
spoken of as highly desirable. < hi so roi
and broken a route, I am inclined to
liove that its cost would be more comm
surate with its utility, tinm Ttiat OT IT
road. And if a rail road should not be c
structed from Raleigh interscciiug ttie \
mtr.gton and Raleigh rail roa k whic
laghly important, I should recomnierr
oontinuance of the turnpike on that rot
tkimately to be continued to the Albem
cr Newborn, the selected point for a ma
town in the cash
Home markets of consumption w
naturally spring up along tho line of
provemout?and home markets lor exjx
tiun and importation on the seaboard,
valuable results of this state of things,
Uc the establishment of common schoc!;
Lie increase of the population and weal
the State?the bringing together the
reus of remote districts into an intercc
of trade and friendship?the removal ot
tional and geographical jealousies?am
assumption of tnat elevated position ai
onr sister States, to which every hotly
incentive impels us.
The currency of the Statu is intiui
connected with the subject of domestic
kets. The essential requisites to oui
' rcncy arc, that it be adequate to the cx<
gcs of commodities 111:0 .1 cireit
medium, and thai it bo so used.
As almost the whole of the agriou
products of this State are sold i.i the
kots of other States?it follows that
money paid for these, consist prim
?>t lite currency of the Stales :u which
matpv such ctrrevrv :< py*
lation even in this State, to the exclusion n
of our own?bur when merchandise is pur- n
jv chased in foreign markets for consumption v
t"0 here, and paid for in the currency of this
Jr State, it is brought back for redemption in o
ry sp cic. Thus, by this operation, the circu. 7
1(j lation of the currency authorised by this n
rc State, is restricted between the smallest lim- n
t0 its?if, indeed, it can be properly said to s
have any circulation at all. w
m Home markets in which our people could
ve both buy and sell, would permit the circu. i;
m lating medium of the State to pursue its
nf appropriate function, without embarrasmpsnt. d
tj, Having no foreign rival to struggle against, n
-j. the amount might be safely increased to the ti
1<T extent required by the various wants of the d
community?it would be kept in active era. g
ss ploy men t, and be absorbed in domestic c
)Qt commerce. Without home markets, its i
es amount must necessarily be fluctuating
ti. and uncertain, because depending on caus- 1
r. es beyond the control of the agents authortg
ised by this state to apply it.
Vi 1 know that to .accomplish these works, 1
of and to carry into effect the system of Gen.
a. eral Improvement I have proposed, neceslir
sarily involves the expenditure of a large
TQ amount, and I know too that our people are
,df too poor and too sparselv spread over a
J# large territory to enable us to command the B
iej means at once from our private resources.
rd We have but one alternative, and that has
c. no bugbear terror to a mind of enlarged and ^
he patriotic views, I mean the employment of
n. the State's credit in f reign markets. In
ve England money is abundant, and may be ^
iie borrowed on State stocks on excellent
u- tc"ns, say from 3 1-2 to 5 percent, interest, j
3n This is a most fortuuate conjuncture, and
| may never happen to us again. Wars de^ I
"" 9L,uzu,/uu. in K.a:i rvoaa 3iock,^ouu,uuu. i?
c as soon as the last in>t Omen: of the Stale's t
10 subscription has been paid. Of the surplus i
!'J" ?$200,U00, for draining swamp lands; I
$61,654 11 in cash and nous on hand; <
1 $33,500 stock Cape Fear Navigation
lon Company ; $25,000 in Roanoke NaviguI''
tion Company; making the sum of
ld* $1,939, 851 11, besides the income arising!
Ub| from entries of land, license to retailers of
1 of spirituous liquors, and to auctioneers;
t0* and the swamp lands not granted to individuals
before 1836, which will probably
yield an income of$ 120,000 to $ 150,000
?s" per annum, and would seem to warrant a
:a" commencement of system, which is inten-j
ina de#us a!! that is at present required or prac- \
to ticablc. I
icy
' DEPOSITED SURPLUS REVENUE.
ec0!lj
Three instalments of the surplus revenue I
tlie was received from the United States during i
an the last year by ihe public treasurer, I
t?c ! amounting to $1,433,757 39 cents, which;
? of i has been disposed of agreeably to Me appro- ;
.'on priations of the last session, namely i
uld i 8300,000 in the redemption of the State
ns_ stock?$300,000 subscribed in the stock of
L.jj,| i the Hank of Capo Fear?8200,000 carried |
jell ' to the credit of the Literary Fund, applica!
hie to the draining of the swamp lands?
om $100,000 placed in the public treasury, and
ccn the balance, 8533,737 39 cents, carried to
jrrJi the credit of the Hoard of Interna] Improve.!
[jr.. mcnts for certain purposes agreeably to the I
,eil. resolution.
on- REPORT OF TIIE POSTMASTER
v?!-| GENERAL.
j j Post Office Department,
ite ; December 3, 1S3S.
ar,t" Sir.: The post routes of the United States
rkel In Aiinrntliin nil rh<? 1st dav of July last
i A Vj? Vi Uitwii w
| J ? ^
were as nearly as can lx> ascertained,
ould 131,818 miles in extent. Tiie rate of an",l
mi a I transportation on that day was about
orta- 31,580,202 miles, ami its cost $3,131,008,
The yJZ;
will Miles Cost.
> . by By horse and sulkcy, 11,573,918 0831.028
til of "sugo and coach, 20,593,192 ,889,7921
citi- "steamboat & railroad, 2,413,092 510,483
>ursc 1 31.580,232 03,131.30S
; Tliis is exclusive of transportation by
^ t'10 j steamboats and other vessels, under t!:e 3th
u0llo | and Otii sections of the act of 1825, vvl icli
ruble costs about 610,000 more.
| The let:ings of the present year have
lately j been u eousiJerudle advance on formei
mar-; prices, except those of the express, mails
I : -I. Kr?..n Ml :i savint? Ol* about 2[
r cur- i \vjuc;i a
chaii* j per rent.
latin" 0 avoid dauber ofcmkanassnients fron
" : the rccept check on the revenue of the do
iltural; pnrtmcnt, retrenchments and suspension
mar.! of service have been made to the amount c
; the! Sdo'J.tiil per annum. Great euro lj:i
:ipa!!y been taken to make them in service whic
i s:i!-:s ' '>vas of the least value to the community.
! ' [ 1 fe i eo rr' of th'1 Virc* :\s Is'"'*' I*
nas'er General, herewith transmitted, fur.
lishes interesting details as to the mailser.
ice.
On the 1st July last the camber of post
fficers was 12,510, being an increase of
52 during the preceding year. The
umber established was 1,101, and the
umber discontinued 252* During the
ame year, tho appointments of postmasters
tore 2,069.
The number of post offices on this day
1 12,553.
The number of contractors in servicd
uring the last was about 1,947. Of this
umber 592 havo been lined or had deducions
made from their pay, one account of
ielinquencies and omissions. The &ggre~
;ute amount of fines and dedustiona, ei*
lading remissions, was $67,108 54.
The revenue on the department for the year ending
June 30,1837, wee $4,100,605 43
['he accruing expenditures were 1
about 3,J03,?58 0i
V. -f ? M* ?
n(j siroy sucn opportunities anu are 01 such
n. j frequent occurrence in Europe, that they
nd i may soon break out and rob us forever of
! the golden moment which seems beckonhe
I ?nS us onward to prosperity and improve- i ^
jj-. | ment. The credit of the State is all that is j c
nil required. It will involve no taxation, tor if; ^
|0. the works should be as valuable as I believe j t
ur tin y will be. the profits arising from them j
ra. will not only pay the interest of the debt, j j
n. but the principal also. j j.
co:i:ion schools. 11
iev> rni . i f n
"" I lie important suoject 01 ^ominuu , <
Schools was intrusted to the Board, that' <
they might digest some system applicable to ' 1
the crying wants of the State, and they ; t
^ have given it mos; anxious consideration. i<
rl* A variety of lau-sand systems have been i i
n-^ politely furnished by the Governors of the ! <
,0 States, to aid in the prosecution oftliis work, j i
. The result will also bo communicated in j t
a season- A considerable fjnd has been se- (
' apart for this purpose. In Bank Stock, |
pt c ?/ .. * I, i n in. I >n/.n<i nnn
AJAVW U1 ICVCUUO fVVfylff fU
^he revenue of the department for the yw end*
ing30th June last is estimated to J?
hare been ?4*8.140
he engagement* and liabili tee of
the department for the amsfatr
were 4,680,058
Excess of engagement* and liabili
tics #417*3
Tho surplus on hand has prevented emarrassmenc
from this excess of HabUhjes.
Compared with the preceding year, the.
evonu has increased about four per ?em.
Phis is an unexpected and most gratifying
esult.
n banks, available, or expected to be so after the
1st January next $84*0 01
n draft of officers and due from the
Canada post office 330,818 74
Tctal $314,068 75
It will be seen that the surplus funds of
he department, which atone time exceeded
1800,000, have been greatly diminished.
The determination of Congress not to reluce
letter postages, as suggesfed in my anlual
report of 1836, was considered in the
ight of an instruction to apply the cash on
land and the increasing current revenue,
o improvement of the mail service. It vu
stimuted that the 700 new routes establish
;d in 1836, and t! e improvements of service
on many old ones, in conjunction with
he usual annual increase of business in the
country, would add at least fifteen per cent.
0 the revenue far ihe lust year, which
would be maintained with n still further
ncrease during the present year. The or*
ension of mail service was accordingly
carried fur enough to consume this aqticil.
>ated increase, and ajso, 'D the progrt^S'jrt
1 few years, reduce the surplus on hand Jb
he lowest amount consistent with the convenience
of the department* The general
financial disasters of last year have not reduced
the revenue, as might have been ex.
pectcd, but have prevented most of tho aq.
ticipated increase, and threw the department
upon its surplus ^to sustain a large portion
of its extensions. The indicatioOsnow
are, that there will be a slight improvement
in the revenue of the current fiscal
year over he preceding, but not enough lor
produce any material effect. An advance
somewhat greater may be reasonably expected
next year, but not great enough to
meet the increasing cost of mail service, and
put into operation the new routes established
at the last session of Congress. It will he ore
be seen, that, for more than a year to come,
the curtailment, rather than the extension of
service, on routes now in operution, is to be
expected.
In minnml i)ip nr*r'niml& rtf nn<jlmas'Prs
are rendered, and the duties of contractors
performed with the utmost fidelity and pre-,
cision. Indeed the world may be challenged
for any similar establishment, embracing so
much intelligence, activity, and energy,
and yielding to millions of mankind flo mach
unqualified good. The Chief obstructions
which it has recently encountered in i:s career
of usefulness, have arisen from the deficiencies
and unreasonable demands of corporate
bodies, which it had employed, or
deemed it useful to employ', in the publit*
service. . jii
managing its funds through the public
! agents, who ore under bonds for their aeco1
rity and removal at will, and in dealing with
; the individ iuI freemen of the Stute and of
i the United Stares in competition with each
j oilier, it finds all its operations easy, safe,
; and prosperous.
At their last session, Congress enacted
i "that each and every railroad within llio
i limits of the United States which now is, or
hereafter may be made and completed shall
bo a oost route, and the Pos master General
s!ial! cause the mail to be transported thereon,
provided he cao have it doue on reui
soaublo terms, and not paying moro than
1 t weary-five prr ceutum over and abovewhat
similar transportation would cost in,
post coaches."
To avoid further trouble with the rail"
i road companies on the main mail lines, it
j was determined to pay tlteca*. upon renewal;
; | of existing contracts, the highest price ;
which ih:s law woulJ admit. But there was
, 1 difficulty in fixing on- that price, (n the
) i first placs, it was to be ascertained what
i meant bv the phrase 44siuuhtr
i! transportation,'' mi : in the n<\xt pi ice* icftat
j that transportation icould cost m post coach*
s : es. It was obvious that tiiey couU not
>f: mean a transportation equal in speed ; fop
,s that would be impossible. They could not
h moan thosar.it transportation or iho transportation
of tiio same mail upon tho same
4 route ; t?r !t: tin? case the wordsamevtouttr