n case of a foreign war. Nature
has provided the greater part of this route, and the obstacles to
overcome are easily within the skill of the engineer.

I have not alluded to this subject with the view of having any further
expenditure of public money at this time than may be necessary to
procure and place all the necessary information before Congress in an
authentic form, to enable it hereafter, if deemed practicable and
worthy, to legislate on the subject without delay.

NAVY DEPARTMENT.

The report of the Secretary of the Navy herewith accompanying explains
fully the condition of that branch of the public service, its wants and
deficiencies, expenses incurred during the past year, and appropriations
for the same. It also gives a complete history of the services of the
Navy for the past year in addition to its regular service.

It is evident that unless early steps are taken to preserve our Navy in
a very few years the United States will be the weakest nation upon the
ocean, of all great powers. With an energetic, progressive, business
people like ours, penetrating and forming business relations with every
part of the known world, a navy strong enough to command the respect of
our flag abroad is necessary for the full protection of their rights.

I recommend careful consideration by Congress of the recommendations
made by the Secretary of the Navy.

POST-OFFICE DEPARTMENT.

The accompanying report of the Postmaster-General furnishes a full and
satisfactory exhibit of the operations of the Post-Office Department
during the year. The ordinary revenues of the Department for the
fiscal year ending June 30, 1872, amounted to $21,915,426.37, and the
expenditures to $26,658,192.31. Compared with the previous fiscal year
the increase of revenue was $1,878,330.95, or 9.37 per cent, and the
increase of expenditures $2,268,088.23, or 9.29 per cent. Adding to the
ordinary revenues the annual appropriation of $700,000 for free matter
and the amounts paid to the subsidized mail steamship lines from special
appropriations, the deficiency paid out of the General Treasury was
$3,317,765.94, an excess of $389,707.28 over the deficiency for the
year 1871.

Other interesting statistical information relating to our rapidly
extending postal service is furnished in this report. The total length
of railroad mail routes on the 30th of June, 1872, was 57,911 miles,
8,077 additional miles of such service having been put into operation