The Portland daily press., 1883-12-05
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE,


CONCLUDED FROM FIRST PAGE.1
reduction of one-third of their number, which
at present is but SO.
INDIAN RAIDS.
From the report of the Secretary of War II
Will De seen that in only a single Instance has
there been any disturbance OF the quiet condi-
lion OF our Indian tribes,-a raid from Mexico
lnto arizona by small party of Indians,
which was pursued by General Crook into the
mountain region, from which it had come II
is confidently hoped that serious outbreaks will
not again occur, and that the Indian tribes
which nave for SO many years disturbed the
west Will hereafter remain in peaceable sub
mission.
COAST DEFENcEs.
again call your attention to the present
conoitlon OF our extended sea coast upon
winch are SO many large cities whose wealth
and Importance to the country would il time
OF war invite attack from modern armored chi M
against which our existing defensive works
couio give 70 adequate protection. Those
WORKS were QUILT before the introduction of
modern heavy rifled guns into maritime war
rare, and II they are not put in an efficient
condltion we may easily be subjected to hu-
initiation by hostile power greatly inferior to
ourselves. ~
as germane to this subject, 1 call your at
tention to the importance of perfecting our
submarine torpedo defences. The board an.
thorized by the last Congress to report on the
method which should be adopted for the man
uiacture OF heavy ordnance adapted to mod
ern warfare, has visited the principal iron and
steel works in this country and in Eurone IT
is hoped that its report viii soon be made and
tnat congress will thereupon be disposed to
provide suitable facilities and plans for the
manufacture OF such guns as are now inner
atively needed
STATE MILITIA.
On several occasion during the past wear
offlcers OF the army have at the reuueSt of
the state authorities visited state military en-
campments for the inspection of the troops.
FROM the reports OF these officers am induced
10 Delleve that the encouragement of the state
militia organization by the national govern
ment would be followed by very gratifying
results and would afford it in sudden emer.
gencies the aid of a large body of volunteers
duties.
The secretary of the navy reports that under
the authority of the acts of August s. 1882 and
March ., 1888. the work OF strengthening our
navy by the construction of modern vessels
has been auspiciously begun. Three cruisers
are are IN process OF construction, the Chicago of
Atlanta each of $500 tons. They are to be-
6ullt OF steel with the tensile strength and
ductility prescribed by law, and in combine
hon OF speed endurance and armament are ex-
pected to compare favorably with the best nm
srmored war vessels OF other nations A
iourtn vessel, the Dolphin, is to be construc-
ted OF similar material and it is intended to
serve as fleet despatch boat The double
turreted monitors Puritan, Amphitrite and
Terror have been launched on the Delaware
river ana a contract has been made for the
supply OF their machinery. A similar monitor.
the Monadnock, has been launched In Cali.
fornia. The naval advisory board and the
secretary recommend the completion of the
monitors, the construction of four gunboats
and also OF three additional steel vessels like
the Chicago, Boston and Dolphin as an i'm
portant measure of material defense. The
secretary urges also the immediate creation of
an interior coast line of water ways across the
penlsular OF Florida along the coast from
FLORIDA to Hampton roads between the Chesa-
peake bay and the Delaware river and through
cape COO. l feel bound to impress upon the
attention OF Congress the necessity of con-
tInued progress in reconstruction of the navy.
The condition of the public treasury, as have
already slntimated, makes the present an
suspicious time for putting this branch of the
service in state OF efficiency. 1t is no part of
our pollcy 70 create and maintain navy able
to cope with thso OF the other great powers of
the world. We have no wish for foreign con-
quest and the peace which we have long en-
1oyed Is IN no seeming danger of interruption
But that our naval strength should be made
adequate for the defence of our harbors. the
PAoeSo'.oh VI OuL COlumeTCldl interests and the
maintaince of our national honor is a PROVOST
ton from which no patriotic citizen can with
hold his assent.
THE PoBToFFIcE DEPARTMENT.
The report of the Postmaster-General con-
tains gratifying exhibit of the condition and
prospects OF the interesting branch of the pub
lie service committed to his care. 1t appears
that on June 30, 1888, the whole number of
post-offices was AZ 1868, of which 1852 were as
tablirhed during the previous fiscal year. The
number of offices operating. under the system
of free delivery was 154 At these letter Of
fees the postage on local matter amounted to
81, 1876, 23052, sum exceeding by 81 ,O21 1894 OF
the entire cost of the carrier service of the
country. The rate of postage on drop letters
passing through these offices is now fixed by
law at two cents per half ounce or fraction
thereof. In offices where the carrier system
has not been established the rate is only half
as large. II will be remembered that in 1863
when free delivery was first established by law
the uniform single rate postage upon local let
ters was one cent and so it remained until
1872 when in those cities where carrier service
was established 1t was increased in order to de.
fray the expense Of such service. It seems TO