The Portland daily press., 1875-12-08

Fourth--The trial with torpedoes under the corps
Of en- sineers and appropriation for the same Should
war ever occur between the United States and any
maritime power, torpedoes will be amsng. If not the
most effective and cheapest auxiliary for the de-
fence of harbors and also In aggressive operations
that we can have. Hence it is advisable to learn by
experiment their best construction and application
"a well as effect.
Fsfth-A permanent organization for the signal
service corps This service has now become neces-
sity Of peace as well war, under the advancement
made by the present able management
Sixth-a renewal of the appropriation for compil-
Ing the official records Of the war, &c.
The Navy.
The condition of our navy at this time is subject
of satisfaction. 1t does not contain it is true any
of the powerful cruising iron clads which make 80
much of the maritime strength Of some other ma
tions but neither our continental situation nor our
foreign policy requires that we should have large
number Of ships Of this character while this stua
ton and the nature of our ports combine to make
those of other nations little dangerous to us under
any circumstances Our navy does contain, however,
considerable number Of iron-clads of the monitor
class which, though not properly cruisers, are pow
full and effective for harbor defence and for operations
near our own shores. Of these all the single turret-
ed--ffteen in number-have been substantially re-
built their rotten. wooden beams replaced with iron
their bulls strengthened and their engines and ma
chinery thoroughly repaired that they are now in
the most efficient condition and ready for sea as soon
az they can be manned and put in commission. The
Ave double turreted ron.clads belonging to our navy
BY far the most powerful of our ships for fighting
purposes are also in hand undergoing complete re-
pairs and could be ready for sea In periods varying
from four to SIX months. With these completed ac-
c,rdng to the present design and our two iron tor
pedo boats now ready iron-cad feet will be fer
the purposes Of defence at home equal to any force
that can readily be brought against it.
OF our wooden navy also cruisers Of various sizes
to the number of about forty including those now in
commission in the Atlantic, could be ready for
duty as fast as men could be enlisted for those not
already in commission. OF these, one-third are in
effect new ships, and though some of the remainder
need considerable repairs to their boilers and ma
chinery they all are be readily made effective.
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 iudicious and practical application Of
what could be spared from the current appropria-
tions Of the last few years and from that made to
meet the possible emergency Of two years ago. 1t
has been done quietly without proclamation or dis
play and though 1t has necessarily Strengthened the
department in its ordinary expenditure, and as far
% the ironcads are concerned has added nothing to
the cruising force Of the navy, yet the result is not
the less satisfactory because it is to be found in
great measure OF real rather than apparent force.
The expenses incurred in the maintenance Of an
effective naval force in all its branches are necessari-
iy large but such force is essential to positions
relations and character, affects seriously the weight
Of our principles and policy throughout the whole
sphere Of naval responsibilities. The estimates for
the regular support OF this branch Of the service for
the next year amount to little less in the aggregate
than those made for the current year. but some ad-
ditions appropriations are asked for objects not in
cluded In the ordinary maintenance of the navy, but
believed to be OF pressing importance at this time
It would. in my opinion, be wise at once to afford
sufficient means for the immediate completion Of the
Eve double turreted monitors, which must otherwise
advance slowly and only as money can be spared
from current expenses. Supplemented by these our
navy armed with the destructive weapons of modern
warfare, manned by our seamen and in charge Of
our instructed officers. will present force powerful
for the home purposes of responsible though peace
full nation.
Postal Matters.
The report Of the Postmaster General herewith
transmitted gives full history of the workings Of
the department for the year just past. 1t will be
observed that the deficiency to be supplied from the
general treasury is increased over the amount re.
quired for the preceding year. In country so vast
In area as the United States with large portions
sparsely settled it must be expected that this i'm
portant service will be more or less a burden upon
the treasury for many years to come but there no
branch Of the 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. Next to the free school the postoce
10 the great educator Of the people, and it may well
receive toe support of the general government The
subsidy OF $4,000 per annum given to vessels of
the United States for carrying the mails between
New York and Rio De Janeiro having ceased on the
3oth Of September last without direct mail IA
cihties with the South American states This is
greatly to be regretted and do not hesitate to re-
commend the authorization of renewal of that con-
tract, and also that the service may be increased
from monthly to semi-monthly trips. The CONNER
caai advantages to be gained by direct line Of
steamers to the South American states will far out
weigh the expense Of service. By act of Congress
approved March 3d. 1876 almost all matter, whether
properly mail matter or not, may be sent any dis
lance through the mails in packages not exceeding
kVOk III WciBut AOE JIG ouiu VI 1o CcHeS pct
pound. So far as the transmission of mail matter
goes this would seem entirely proper, but suggest
that the law be 90 amended as to exclnde from the
transportation to all articles enumerated and which
may be classed as mail matter proper.
The BLACK Hills Territory.
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 has been successful,
but the next year will certainly witness large in
crease such emigations. The negotiations for the
REIMBURSEMENT Of the gold fields having failed it
will be necessary for Congress to adopt some meas
ures to relieve the embarrassment growing out of the
causes named. The Secretary Of the Interior sug-
gess thai the supplies now appropriated for the sus
tenance Of that people being longer obligatory
der the treaty Of 1858, bnt simply gratuity may be
issued or withheld at his direction. The condition of
the Indian territory to which have referred in sew
eral Of my former annual messages remains practi-
cally unchanged The Secretary of the Interior has
taken measures to ootaiu full report of the condi-
ton Of that territory and wi make it the subject of
special report at an early day. 1t may then Ibe
necessary to make some further recommendations in
regard to legislation for the government of that ter
ritory.
The Patent Once.
The steady growth and increase Of the business of
the patent Office indicates in some measure the pro-
gross Of the industrial activity of the country. The
receipts Of the Office are In excess OF its expenditures
and the Office generally is in prosperous and salts
factory condition.
The Public Domain.
The report Of the general land Office shows that
over acres less disposed of during this than
during last year. More than one-halt of this de-
crease was in lands disposed of under the homestead
and agriculture laws. The causes of this decrease is
supposed to be found in the grasshopper scourge
and the drouths which prevailed so extensively in
some Of the frontier states and territories during
that time to discourage and deter entries by &C.
tual settlers. The cash receipts less by $780,
322.23 than during the preceding year. The entire
surveyed area of the public domain is So,253,osa
acres, Of which 5sl acres were surveyed during
the past year, leaving 1852 acres still unsur-
veyed.
The report Of the commissioner presents many in
teresting suggestions in regard to the Management
and disposition Of the public domain and modifca-
ton Of the existing laws the apparent Importance of
which should ensure for them the careful copsdera-
ton of Congress.
Pensions.
The number Of pensioners still continues to de-
rreasa fte highest number havino heeu raacbad dur