The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1875-12-10

considerable repairs, and their boilers
and machinery need rebuilding, they all
are or can readily be made elective
This constitutes feet of more than fifty
war ships, of which fifteen are iron clad
now in hand on the Atlantic coast. The
navy has been brought TO this condition
by JudiciouS and practical application
OF what could be spared from the current
appropriations of the last few years and
from that made TO meet the probable
emergency of two years ago. 1t has been
done quietly, without proclamation or
display, and though it has necessarily
straitened the department in its ordinary
expenditures. and as far as the iron -clads
are concerned has added nothing to the
cruising force of the navy. but the result
il most satisfactory, because it is found
in a great increase of real rather than
apparent force. The expenses incurred
III the maintenance of aii effective naval
force in all It's branches are necessarily
large, hut such force is essential to our
present relations, and affects seriously
the weight of our principles and policy
throughout the whole sphere of naval
responsibilities. The estimates for the
regular supply of this branch of the ser
vice for the next year amount to little
less in the aggregate than those made for
the current year, but some additional
appropriations are asked for objects not
included in the ordinary maintenance OF
the navy bureau, but believed to be of
pressing Importance at this time. 1t
would, in my opinion, be wise at once to
afford sufficient means for the immedi-
ate completion of the five double turret-
kaI 10 L. l.
must otherwise advance slowly and only
as money can be spared from current ex-
penSes Supplemented by these cur ma
W, armed with the destructive weapons
of modern warfare, manned by our sea
men. and in charge of our instructed of
fcerS, will present a force powerful for
the purposes of a responsible tho peace
nj nation.
POSTAL SERVICE
The report of the Postmaster General
Herewith transmitted gives "a full history
OF the workings OF the Department for
tile year Just past. Il will ba observed
that the deficiency to be supplied from
the general treasury has Increased over
the amount required for the preceding
year in a country so vast in area as
the United States, with large portions
sparsely settled, it must be expected that
this important service will be more or
less a burden upon the Treasury for ma
ny years to come, but there is no branch
of public service which interests the
whole people more than that of cheap
and rapid transmission of the mails TO
every inhabited part of our territory
Neyt to the free school, the post Office is
the great educator OF the peoTt' and il
may well deserve the support of the
General Government. The subsidy of
$3.50. 900 per aunum given 10 vessels of
the United States for carrying the mails
between New York and Rio De .Ianeiro'
having ceased on the 30th day of Sep
tember last, we were without direct mail
facilities with the South American
States. This is greatly TO be depIored.
and do not hesitate to recpE.mend the
authorization of a renewal of that con-
tract, and also that the service may be
increased from monthly to semi monthly
trips. The commercial advantages to
be gained by direct line of American
steamers to the South American States
will far outweigh the expense of the ser
vice.
By act of Congress. approved March
3rd, 1875, almost all matter, whether
properly mail matter or not. may be
sent any distance through the mails in
packages not exceeding four pounds in
weight, for the sum of sixteen cents per
pound. So far as the Transmission Of
real mail matter goes, this would seem
entirely proper, but l suggest that the
law be 20 amended as to exclude from
the mails merchandise OF all description,
and limit this transportation to all arti
cies enumerated and which may be class
ed as mail matter proper.
BLACK HILLS AFFAIRS.
Tho discovery of gold in the Black
Hills. portion of iiie SiQgkreseryation,
has had the effect to iudGce large eIni-
grafton of miners to that point Thus
far the effort TO protect the treaty lights
of the Indians of that section has been
successful, but the next year will GER
tainly witness large increase of snch
immigration. Negotiation for the relin-
quishment OF the gold fields having fail
ed, it will be necessary for Congress to
adopt some measures TO relieve the en-
barrassment growing our of the causes
name.i. The Secretary OF the Interior
suggest JIldt TIE supplies now apprOprI-
ted for the sustenance of that people
being no longer obligatory under the
treaty of 1868, but simply gratuity,
may be issued or withheld at discretion.
The condition of the Indians in the
Territory, to which 1 have referred in
several fIny former annual messages. re-
mains practically unchanged The See
retary of the Interior has taken meas-
ures to obtain a full report of the eondi-
tion of that territory, and " i'll make it the
subject OF Il special report at an early
day. 1t may be enecessafy to make some
further recommendations ia regard to |
legislation for the government of that ter
itOry.
PATENT OFFICE.
The steady growth and increase OF the