The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1875-12-17
NO. 49,.


should have large number of ships OF this
character. while this situation and the ma
tllre OF Our ports continues to make those
nI other nations of but little danger to the
United states under such circumstances.
our navy does contain, however, consid@
efHDic number of ironclads of the monitor
class, which. though not properly cruisers
are powerful aad effective for Earbor def
ense and for operations near our own shores.
" tiieses al the single turreted. fifteen in
NUMBER, nave been substantially rebuilt,
their wooden beams replaced with irol-
huils strengthened. and their engines and
machinery thoroughly replaced, so that
theY are now IN most efficient condition,
anu ready for sea as soon as they can be
manned and put in commission. The five
double-turreted ironclads belonging TO the
navy, by far the most powerful of our ships
Tor hghtiiig purposes, are also In hand UNI
dergoing complete repairs, and could be-
ready for sea In periods varying from four
to six months. With these completed ac-
cortling to the present design, and our two
iron torpedo boats, now ready, our ironc1ad
fleet will be, for the purposes of defense ac
home. equal to any force that can be readily
brought against it. Our wooden navy, ALSO
cruisers of various sizes, to the nu,nJer of
about forty, including those now in COM
mission, are in the Atlantic and could be
ready tor duty as fast as men could be en-.
listed. OF those not already in cominission,'
one-third are, in effect, new ships. and all
though of the remainder considerable re-
pairs to their boilers and machinery arc
necessary, they are or can readily be made
effective. This constitutes fleet of more
than fifty war ships, of which fifteen arc
iron-clads now on hand. On the Atlantic
coast the navy has been brought to this
condition by a judfcious and practical APP
plicatioh of what could be spared from the
current appropriations of the last few years,
and from that made to meet possible
emergency two years ago. 1t has been
done quietly, without proclamation or dis
play, and thonghit has necessarily straight
ened the department in its ordinary expen-
diture, and as far as iron-c.ads are Concern
ed, has added nothing to the cruising force
of the navy, the result is not less satisflcto-
ry, because it is to be found a great increase
OF real than apparent force. The expenses
incurred in the maintenance Of navaT
force in all its branches are necessarily
large. but such force is essential to our
population, relations and character, and af-
fects seriously the weight of our principles
and policy throughout the whole sphere of
naval responsibilities. The estimates for
the support OF this branch of the service tor
the next year, amount to a little less in the
aggregate than those made for the current,
but some additional appropriations are ask
ed for objects not included i'll the ordinary
maintenance of the Iaavy, but believed to bc
OF pressing Importance at this time. 4E
would. in my opinion, be well at once to-
afford sufficient means for the fHimediate
completion of the double turreted monitors
now undergoing repairs, which must other
wise advance slowly and only as money
can be spared from current expenses. Sup
pieiaented by these, our navy, armed with
these destructive weapons of modern war
fare, manned by our seamen and In charge
of cur instructed officers, will present a
force powerful enough for the home purpvs-
es of responsible though peaceful nation.
THE REPORT OF THE POSTMASTER GENERAL,
Herewith transmitted. gives full history
Of the workings OF the department for the
year Just passed. 1T will be observed that
the deficiency to be supplied from the gem
eral treasury is increased over the amount
refunded for the preceding year. In
conitry so vast in area as the United States
with large population, sparseIy settled, it
must be expected that this important sery-
ice will be more or less Il burden ON the
Treasury for many years but there is no
brancl, of tile public service which interests
the wtole people more than that of cheap
aud IA pid transmission of the mails to eve
ry Inhabited part of our territory. Next
to the tree schools the postofiice is the great
educator of the people, and it may well re-
ceive the support OF the General Governs
ment. The subsidy of $3.50. 600 per annnni,
given to vessels Of the Unired States fof
carrying the mails between New York and
Rio De Janeiro. having ceased on the 30tb
of September last, we are without direct
mail facilities with South America. This
Is greatly to be regretted, and do not lles=
itate to recommend the Authorization OF a
renewal of that Contract. and also that the
service may be increased from monthly to-
scmi-niOlIthly trips. Fhe commercial ad-
vantagcs to be gained by a direct line of
American steamships to the South Ameri-
can States will far outweigh the expense of
the service. by act of Congress approved
March Sd. 1875, almost all matter, whether
properly mail matter or not, may be sent
any distance through the mails. IN packa-
ges not exceeding four pounds IN weight.
tor the sum of 16 cents per pound. so lar
as the transmission of real mail matter IS
concerned this would seem entirely proper,
but suggest that the law be SO amended as
to exclude from the mails merchandise OF
all descriptions and limit this means OF
transportation to all articles enumerated
and which may be classed as mail matter
proper.
THE BLACK HILLS.
The discovery OF gold in the Black Hills.
portion of the Sioux Reservation. has had
the effect to induce large emigration OF
miners to that point. Thus far the effort
to protect the treaty rights of the Indians
of that section has been successful, but the
next year will certainly witness large iil-
crease of such emigration. The treaties
for the relinquishment Of the gold fields.
having failed, 1t will be necessary for Con-
gress to adopt some measures to relieve the
sSSsttStts Osxt Va thc ezft1SGS
named. The Secretary Of the Interior sug-
gests that the supplies now appropriated
for the subsistence of that people. being no
longer obligatory by the treaty Of February
., put simply gtatrity. may be issned OF
withheld at his discretion.
INDIAN TERRITORY.
Tile conditions or the Indian Territory to
which have referred In several of my for
nier anntial messages remain practically
unchanged. The Secretary of the Interior
has taken measures to obtain a full report
of the condition OF that territory, and viii
make it the subject OF 4 special report at am
early day. It may then be necessary tQ
make further Recommendation in regard
to legislation for the government Of that
territory.
THE PATENT OFFICE
The steady growth aud increase Of the
business of the Patent Office Indicates an
some measure the growth of the inqlstFiai
prosperity of the country. The Feceipts g
the Office are in excess of its expenditures
and tile Office generally In prospeEos1s
aud satisfactory condition.
sfrxt 1sfFnf ffT f.AR Rx41s.