The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1875-12-09


monitor class, which, though not properly cruisers
are powerful and effective for harbor defense, and
for operations near our own shores. u these, all
the sing1e-turreted ones, fifteen IN number, nave
been substantially rebuilt their rotten wooden
beams replaced with iron, their hubs strengthened
and their engines and machinery thoroughly re-
paired, so that they now in the most efficient
condition, aud ready for sea as soon as they can
be manned and put in commission The nVe
doube-tnrreted ironclads belonging to our navy,
by far. the most powerful OF our SHIPS Ter
fighting purposes, also in hand. under
going complete repairs, and could be ready
for sea in, periods varying from four TO FIX
months. With these completed according to
present designs, and our two iron torpedo boats
now ready, our ironclad feet viii be, for the
purposes of defense at home, equal to any force
that can be readily brought against 1t. VI our
wooden navy, also, cruisers of various Sizes TO the
number of about forty, including those now IN
commission in the Atlantic, and could be ready
for duty as fast could be enlisted for those
not alreadyin commission. OF these, one-thlyd are
in effect new ships, and though of the re-
mainder need considerable repairs to their boilers
and machinery they are, can readily be made,
effective. This constitutes fleet of more than fifty
war ships, OF which fifteen are ironclads,
hand on the Atlantic coast The navy has been
brought to this condition by iudicous and practi-
cal application of what could be spared from the
current appropriations of the last few years, and
from that made to meet the possible emergency
of two years ago. II has been done quietly,
without proclamation or display, and though 1t
has necessarily Strengthened the department. in
its ordinary expenditure, and, as far as the IRON
I
cruising force of the navy yet the result Is not the
less satisfactory because it is to be found in great
increase of real rather than apparent force. The
expenses incurred in thu maintenance of an effec-
tive naval force in all its branches are necessarily
large, but such force is essential TO our position,
relations aud character and affects seriously the
weight of our principles and policy throughout tie
whole sphere IF naval responsibilities The est
mates for the regular support of this branch OF the
service for the next year amount to little less il
the aggregate than those made for the currenS
Int
asked for objects not included in the ordinary main
tenance of the navy but b ed to be OF pressing
importance. At this time itwould, in my opinion,
be wise at once to afford sufficient means for the
immediate completion of the five doubleturretted
monitors now undergoing repairs which must other
wise advance slowly, and only as money can De
spared from current expenses. Supplemented by
these navy armed with the destructive weapons
/ of modern warfare, manned by our seamen aud in
charge of instructed officers, will present force
powerful for the home purposes of a responsible
thoughpeaceful nation.
The report of the Postmaster General, herewith
transmitted gives full history of the workings of
the department for the year just passed 1t viii be
observed that the deficiency to be supplied from the
general Treasury is increased over the amount re-
funded for the preceding year. In country so
vast in area the United States, with large por-
tions sparsely settled il must be expected that this
important service viii be more or less burden
upon the Treasury for many years TO come, but
there is branch of the public service which in
terests the whole people more than that OF cheap
and rapid transmission of the mails TO every in
habited part of our territory. %
Next to the free school, the Postofice is the great
educator of the people, and 1t may we'll receive the
srpport of the General Government.
The subsidy of $15OOOO per annum, given the
vessels of the United States for arrying the mails
between New York and Rio de Janeiro having
ceased on the 30th day of September last, we are
without direct mail facilities with the South Ameri-
States. This is greatly to be regretted, and i
do not hesitate to recommend the authorization of
renewal of that contract, and also that the service
may be increased from monthly to semi-monthy
trips. The commercial advantages to be gained by
a direct line of American steamers to the South
American States will far outweigh the expense of
the service.
BY an act of Congress, approved March g. 1875, al
most all matter, whether properly mail matter or
not, may be sent any distance throughout 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 suggest that the
law be so amended to exclude from the mails
merchandise of all descriptions, and limit this trans
portation to all articles enumerated and which may
be classed as mail matter proper.
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 hus far
the effort protect the treaty rights of the Indians
of that section has been successful but the next year
will certainly witness large increase of such emil
grafton The negotiations the relino ushnent of
the gold field having failed it viii be necessary
for Congress 10 adopt some measures to relieve the
embarrassment growing out of the causes named
The Secretary of the Interior suggests that the sup
plies now appropriated for the sustenance of that
people being no longer obligatory under the treaty
of 1863 but simply gratuity, may be issued or
withheld at his discretion.
The condition of the Indian Territory, to which
have referred in several of my former annual mes
sages, remains practically unchanged. The Secre-
tary of the Interior has taken measures TO obtain
full report of the condition of that Territory and
will make it the subject of special report at an
early day. 1t may then be necessary to make some
further recommendation in regard TO legislation for
the Government of that Territory.
The steady growth and increase of the business of
the Patent Office indicates in some measure the
progress of the industrial prosperity of the country.
The receipts of the Office in excess of it's ex-
penditures and the office generally is in prosper
GUS and satisfactory condition.
The report of the General Land Office shows that
there we're 2,459,601 acres less disposed of during
this taan during the last year. More than one-naf
of this decrease was in land disposed of under
homestead and timber culture laws The causes
Of this decrease are supposed to be found in the
grasshopper scourge and the drouths which pre-
vailed extensively in some of the frontier States
and Territories during that time, as to discourage
and deter entries by actual settlers The cash
ceipts less by So $685. 900 than during the pre-
ceding year. The entire surveyed of the pub
lie domain JIG $50 253 094 acres of which 26077.53L
were surveyed during the past year, leaving 1,154
At, 762 acres still unsurveyed.
The report of the Commissioner of Pensions makes
interesting suggestions in regard to the manage
ment and disposition of the public domain, and the
modification of existing laws, the apparent import
ance of which should insure for them the careful
sioners stin continues to decrease, the
highest number having been reached during
the year ending June So 1872. During the last year
IL ,557 names added to the rolls, and 2,977
were dropped therefrom, showing net decrease of
1920; but while the number of pensioners has de-
creased the annual amount due on tne pension
rolls has increased Alb 313. This is caused by the
greatly increased average rate Of pensions which. in
the liberal legislation of Congress. has increased
from $g026 in 1872 to $027 in 1876 to each invalid
pensioneIan increase in the average rate Of 10per
cent. in the three years. During the year ending
June so, 1876 there was paid on account of pen
sions, including the expenses of disbursements,
$29, $685. 1l6, being $910,632 less than paid the
preceding year. This reduction in the amount of
expenditures produced by the decrease in the
amount Of averages due on allowed claims and on
pensions, the rate of which was increased by the
legislation of the preceding session of Congress.
At the close OF the last fiscal year there were on
the pension-rols 234 821 persons, Of whom 10,363
were army pensioners, los, 478 being invaDds and
1O4, 1886 widows and dependent relatives s. 100 navy
pensioners, of whom 1886 were invalids and 1,7S4
widows and dependent relatives; 21,038 were pen
sioners of the war of 1872, 1915 of whom
vivors and 5l63 of whom widows. 1t is esti-
mated that S29, $50 600 win be required for the pay