The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1875-12-11


of some other nations, but neither our con-
tnental situation nor our foreign policy
required that we should have large number of
ships OF this character while this situation aud
the nature of our ports combine TO make these of
other nations little dangerous TO us under any
circumstances. our navy does not contain,
however, II considerable number of iron clads of
the monitor class, which, though not properly
cruisers, are powerful and effective for harbor
defense and for operations near our shores. or
these the siuglc turreted ones (ttteen i'll
number) have been substantially rebuilt, their
rotten wooden beams repaired with iron, their
hulls strengthened and their engines anu
machinery thoroughly repaired SO that they
are now in the most eftcient condltoh
and ready for sea MS soon as they can be
moved and put in commission. The five double
turrettcd iron cads belonging to our navy by
far the most powerful OF our ships for lighting
purposes, are also IN hand undergoing complete
repairs and could be ready for sea in periods
varying IRON four to six months. With these
completed according to the present design and
our two iton torpedo boats now really, our iron
clad fleet Will be for the purposes OF defence nt
home equal to any foe that can readily be
brought against IL. OF our wooden navy also
cruisers of various sizes to the number of about
forty, including those now in commission are IN
the Atlantic and could be ready for duty as fast
as men could be enlisted for those not already
in commission. OF these one-third are in erect
new ships, and though some of the remainder
need considerable repairs to their boilers and
machinery, they all are or can readily be made
effective. This constitutes n fleet OF more than
fifty war ships, of which fifteen are iron clad,
has been brought to this condltionby q jadicious
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 display, and though 1t has ne
cessarily Strengthened the Department in its or
dinary expenditures, aud as far as the ironclads
are concerned, has added nothing to the cruising
force OF the navy, yet the result is not the less
satisfactory, because 1t is to be found in great
iucrpagn pf rao rntb prt a n
expenses incurred i'll the malntcnAnc OF an el-
fective naval force in all It's branches are neces
sarily large, but such force is essential to our
position, relations and character, and affects Sc
riously the weight of our principles and policy
throughout the whole sphere of national respon-
sibility, The estimates for the regular sup
port 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 additional appropriations are asked for
objects not included in the ordinary mainten-
ance of the navy but believed to be of pressing
Importance at this time. II would in my opinion
be wise at once to afford sufficient means ior
the immediate completion of the five double tur-
retted monitors now undergoing repairs, which
must otherwise advance slowly and only as
money can be spared from the current expenses.
supplemented by these our navy, armed with
the destructive weapons of modern warfare,
manned by our seamen and in charge oil our IN
structed officers, will present force powerfulto for
the home purposesof q responsible though peace
ftl nation.
The report of the postmaster general herewith
transmitted gives n full history of the workings
of the department for the year just past. twill
he observed that the deficiency to be supplied
from the general treasury is increased over the
amount required for the preceding year. In a
country so vast in area MS the United States,
with large portions spaTsely settled, 1t must be
expected that this important service Will be
more or less burden upon the treasury Tor
many years to come. But there is no branch OF
the public service which interests tho whole
people more than that of cheap and rapid trans
mission of the mails 10 every inhabited part of
our territory. Next to the free school the post
Office is the great educator of the people, aud
it may well receive the support OF the
general government. The subsidy Of Sl50,00O
per annum given TO vessels of tho United States
for carrying the nails between New York and
Rio de Janerio, having ceased ON the 81 I'll day OF
September last we are without direct mail facil-
tiles with the South American states This is
greatly to be regretted, and do not hesitate to
recommend the authorization of renewal of
that contract and aso that the service may be
increased from monthly to sem-monthly trips.
The commercial advantages to be gained by
dipect line of American steamers TO the south
American states will far outweigh the expense
of the service. BY act OF congress, approved
March 3, 1875, almost all matter, whether prop
erly mail matter or not, may be sentauy distance
through the mails In packages not exceeding
four pounds in weight for the sum Of 81 Stccn
cents per pound. So far as the transmission of
real mail matter goes this would seem cutirely
proper, hut suggest that the law be so amended
as to exclude from the mails merchandise OF all
descriptions, and limit this transportation 10 the
|
as mail matter proper.
The discovery gold in the Black Hills, por-
ton of the Sioux reservation has had the effect
| to induce u large emigration of miners to-that
point. Thus far tho effort to protect the treaty
rights OF the Indians TO that section has been
successful but the next wear will certainly wit
ness large inarease OF such emigration. The
negotiations for the relinquislment Of the gold
fields having nilcd il will be left for congress TO
adopt some measures 10 relieve the cmbaIrass-
ment growing ouC OF the cases named. lhe sec
rotary of the interior suggests that the supplies
nnw appropriated for the sustenancc OF that peo-
pie being no longer obligatory under the treaty
OF 1865, but simply gratuity may be issued or
withheld at his discretion.
The condition OF The lnoian terri ory to which
have referred in seve,a OF my former annual
messages, remains practically unchanged. 1ho
secretary OF the interior has taken measures 10
obtain n full report of the condition ot that tor
ritory, and H. will make it the subject OF n spe-
cial report at an early day. 1t may then he ne
cessery TO make some farther 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 ac-
uvity of the country. Toe receipts of the Office
are in excess Of its expenditures, and the ofilcc
dition.
The report of the general lald ofnce shows
| that there We're 2i59,6Ol acres less disposed OF
| during this than during the last year, These
| were disposed of under the homestead and tim
| Der culture laws. The causes of this decrease
| Is supposed TO be found In the grasshopper
scourge and the droughts which prevailed 50 oX-
tensively in some Of the frontier states and ter
| ritories during that time as TO discourage and
| deter entries by actual settlers. The last re-
| ceipts were less by 500 032 223 than during the
| preceding year. The entire surveyed area Of the
public domain is $50, ,253 ,09i acres, OF which
26 ,0II ISL acres were surveyed during the past
year, leaving l54 762 acres still unsuryeyed.
| The report of tho commissioner presents many
| interesting suggestions in regard to the man.
| agement and disposition of the public domain,
| and the modification of existing laws, the appa-
| rent m nOrtancO which gbOtt1l fnr