The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1882-12-07

fruitless investigation leaves little doubt tia
all Its members persisted in the sea. As .
slight tribute TO their heroism.I give in this
communication the names Of the gallant men
who sacrificed their lives on the expedition:
Lieut. Commander George W. Dc Long; Sur
geon J. NJ. Ambler;J. ]. Collins. Hans H. Erick-
son. Heinrich Maacki, Geo. A. Bryde, Walter
Lee, Adolph Drassler, Carl A. Gortz, Nels e. Sew
erson, the cook All Sam, the Indian Alexy. The
officers and men in the missing
boat were: Lieutenant Charles w.. Chip,
man, Walter shortell, Albert O. Kuehue, Edwin
Star, Henry Warren aud Peter e. johnson.
Lieut. Giles B. HARDER and Master William II.
Scheutzeklsch are now bringing home the re-
mains of Lieut. De Long and his comrades.
In pursuance OF tho directions Of congress, the
Rodgers, fitted out for the relief Of the JEAN
Of March 8, 1881, sailed from San Francisco
June 16 under command Of Lient Robert NJ
Berry. On Nov 80 she was accidentally de-
stroyed by tre while in winter quarters in St.
Lawrence bay, but the officers and
Grew succeeded in escaping to- the
shore. Lieut. Berry and one Of his officers,
after making search for the Jeannette. along
the coast of siberia, fell In with Chief Engineer
MelviIle's party, and returned by way OF
Europa The other officers and crew of the
Rodgers were brought from st. Lawrence bay
by the whaling steamer North Star. Mr.
Charles F. Putnam, who had been placed in
charge of depot OF supplies at Oade Zsrdsee,
returning to his post from St Lawrence bay
across in binding snow storm, was carried
out to sea and lost Notwithstanding all efforts
to rescue Linn. It appears by the secratary's
report that
THE AVAILABLE NAVAL FORCE
Of the United States consists Of thirty-seven
cruisers, fourteen single-turreted monitor,
built during the rebellion, large number Of
smootLbore guns and Parrot rifles and eighty
seven rided cannon. The cruising vessels
should be gradually replaced by iron or steel
ships, the monitors by modern armored YES
sells and the armament by high-power riled
was recommended Ia my last message, was
begun by congress authorizing. in it's recent
,aot, the construction Of two large unarnaored
steam vessels OF the character recommended
by the late navy advisory board.
and subject to the final approval
Of new advisory board to be organized as
provided by that act call your attention to
the Recommendation OF the secretary OF the
boad that authority be gwen to construct two
moro cruisers Of smaller Dimensions and one
fleet dispatch vessel, and that appropriations
be for high-power rl1el ca0noD for torpedo
service and for other harbor defensos. Pend
ing consideration by congress- of policy here
large navy yards and their expensive estab-
lishnaenta, the secretary ad voosted reduo-
ton Of the expenditures there
for to the lowest possible amounta
for the purpose of afording the officers and
seamen of the navy opportunities OF exercise
and discipline in their profession under appro-
pirate control and directions The secretary
advises that the lighthouse service and coast
survey be transferred, as now organised, from
the treasury to the navy department; and he
also suggests for the reason which he assigns
that similar transfer may wisely be made of
the cruising revenue vessela The secretary
forcibly depicts the internal connection and
inter-dependence Of the navy and the
COMMERCIAL MARINE,
and invites attention TO tho continued deca-
dence of the latter and the corresponding
transfer Of our growing commerce to foreign
bottoms. This subject is one of the utmost
Importance to national welfare Methods Of
reviving American shipbuilding and Of restor-
ing the United States flag in the ocean-carrying
trade, should receive the immediate attention
Of congress. We have mechanical ski l and
abundant material for tho manufacture OF
modern iron steamships in fair competition
with our commercial rivala- Our disadvantage
in building ships is the greater cost of labor
and sailing them, higher taxes and greater IN
terest on capital, while the ocean highways are
petitors. These obstacles should b
some way be overcome. and for our rapid
communication with foreign lands we shOuld
not continue to depend wholly en- vessels built
in tho yards Of other countries and sailing
und.r foreign tiagS VIII no United Stata.
steamers on tho principa! cceau lines, or tor
any foreign ports. our facilities fo- extending
cur commerce are greatly restricted, while the
nations which build the ships and carry mails
aud passengers obtain thereby conspicuous nd
yantages OF increasing their trade.