The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-12-08

can have. Hence Il is advisable to lear. by sz.
lion as well as effect; IS. A permanent organi-
zation for the signal service corps.
necessity ne:e Of peace as wen as war under
the advancement made by the present able
ior cSmpans the eesI records 1I ord q the war
etc. The condition OF our navy at this time Is
is true. anv OF the powerful cruising ironclads
which make so much Of the maritime strength
of some other nations, but neither our conI-
requ res that we should have large number of
ships OF this character, while this situation
those nS Of otaer nations little dangeross to us
under any circumstances.
OUR NAVY
does contain, However, constdera-
. BILE number of ironelads OF the monitor
class, which, though not properly
cruisers, are po Terful aud effective for harbor
defense and for operation near our own shores.
| OF these all the single turreted ones Is In mum
r. have besn sub It sntially rebuilt, their ret
/ ten wood been replaced with iron. their hulls
strengthened and their engines and machinery
tho ouehIy repaired. so that they are now In an
efficient condition and ready for sea as soon as
The i've double turreted lroncads belonging to
our navy, by far the IN Dst powerful sf our ships
for nghting purposes are also In hand and un;
be ready for sea In periods varying
from f1ur to six months. with these completed
iron torpedo boats now ready. our ironclad
feet viii be for the purposes OF defense at home
against H. OF our wooden nav also,
cru Sers OF various sizes TO sne
those now in commission, are in the Atlantic
and could De ready for duty as fast as men could
OF those. one third are in effect new ships, and
though some Of the remainder need considerable
repairs on their boilers and machinery: they all
are or ca be readily made effective. This CON
stitutes fleet of
MORE THAN FIFTY WAR SHIPS,
OF which fifteen are ironclad 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 m ade to meet the possible emergency of
wo years ago. 1t has been done quietly, with
out proclamation display, AID though 1t has
Necessarily Strengthened the department in its
cIsds arr concerned. has added nothing to the
cruising force OF Tue navy, yet the result Is not
the great increase Ofreal, rather than apparen'
force, the expenses occurred in the main
enance OF an en- ct1ys navel force In al us
branches are neces' arily rye. But such force
Is essential TO our positions, relations and char
peter, ana affects seriously the weight OF orr
sphere of naval respon slbilities. The estimates
Tor the regular support of this branch OF
lille less in the aggregate' Than
no Il made for the current year, but some ad-
litional appropriations are asked for objects not
included in the ordinary maintenance of the
nsvv, but believed to be of pressing Importance
DC this time. 1t would, in my opinion, be wise
for the immediat. completion of
he I'VE double turrsted monitors now under
going repairs, which must otherwise advance
Owly and only as the money can be spared
rom the eTTTs1t it fps By
Feapons of modern warfare, manned by our
|eamen and in charge OF our instruc ed officers,
i present force RoWe5fnl for the home p1p
The report of the postmaster general, herewith
transmitted, gives iull history OF the WORK.
S be % tGr e s
Plied from the general treasury is increased
ver the amount required for the preceding
ear. In country so vsat in area as the United
tates with isrse portions s sPsTseIy settled, II
will be more or less burden upon the treasury
or many years to come. hut there In pc
Tests r Se Whole peoDe more IMAM that
the cheap and rapid transmission
the malls. The commercial advantages to be
be South American states will go far TO out
Weigh the expenses OF the service. BY an act OF
er. Whether properly mail matter or NOT, may
e sent srny distance through the mails in PACK
ges not exceeding four pounds in weight for the
um offs cents per pound. So far an the trans
hission ofreal mail matter goes, this would
be a entirely proper, but suggest that the law
e so amended as TO exclude rom the mails
herchandize OF all descriptions and TO limit this
transportation to all articles enumerated and
he discovery OF gold in
THE BLACK HILLS,
portion of the Sioux reservation, has had the
rect to induce large emigration of miners e
bat point. Thus far the EFFORT to protect the
teaty rights of the Indians of that section has
cen successful, but the next year will certainly
Fitness q large increase of such emigration. The
egotiations for the ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF the gold
elds having failed, it will be necessary for con
res to adopt some measure to relieve the EN-.
arrassment growing out OF the causes named
ne secretary OF the interior suggests that u,
longer Obligatory y"' unaer Gpt the tPe eh
1888 but simply gratuity, may be issued or
indian territory to which 1 have referred il
Pveral of my former annual messages remains
terror has taken measures to obtain fun re
Dirt OF the condition of that territory and will
AXE 10 the subject of a special report at an
make some futher recommendations IN
be business ofthe patent Office indicates In
me measure the progress of the industrial &C
witty OF the country. The receipts OF the offiet
e IN excess of it's expenditures, and the ONO.
sneraIIy Is In a prosperous and satisfactory con
Ows that there were 3 400 acres less disposet
during this than during the hast year
sposed OF undsr the homestead aud timber
bltuFe laws. The cause OF this decrease is sup
psed 20 De round In the graeShOpper sc0urgt
ID the drouths which prevailed so extensively
some OF the frontier states and territories dur
z thattime ~ TO discourage and deter entree
actual settlers. Tue cash receipts ver'
BY s1O,s22 % than during tn
seeding year. The entire surveyed
ea OF the public domain Is 6cO,
BO94 acres, OF which 26,U77.5sI acres wer
ryeyed during the past year, leaving Lisa,
mmissioner presents many interesting sug
stisns IN regard 70 the management and dis
sition of the public domain and the mod flea
IN OF existing laws, the ap pareat importanc
which should insure for them the careful
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