The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1883-12-07

Those works were built before the introduc-
ton Of modern heavy ritied guns into I'M mari q,
| efficient condition, we may be easily subject
ed to humiliation by hostile power greatly
inferior to ourselves. As germsin to this sub
| ject, call your attention to the importance
pedoes. The Board authorized by the last
| Congress to report on the method which
| should be adopted for the manufacture of
heavy ordinance adapted to modern warfare,
has visited the principal iron aud steel works
| in this country and in Europe. 1t is hoped
| that its report will soon be made Snd that Con-
gress will thereupOn be disposed to provide
suitable facilities and plans for the nsanufact-
ure of such guns as are now imper2tiyely
| needed.
The Secretary of the Navy reports that I'M
der the authority of the acts of August 5,
1852, and March B. 1882 the work of strength.
ening our navy by the construction of mod
ern vessels has been auspiciously begun.
Three cruisers are In process of construction
Boston and Atlantic, each of 9, 800 tons. They
are to be built of steel with the tensile
strength and ductility prescribed by law, and
in combination of speed, endurance and orna-
ment, are expected TO compare favorably
with the best unarmed war vessels of other
nations. A fourth vessel, the Dolphin, is to
ne constructed of similar material and is in
tended TO serve as a feet dispatch boat. The
double turreted monitors, Puritan, Amphi-
trite and Terror, have been launched on the
Delaware River, and q contract has been
similar monitor, the MonadnOck, has been
launched in California. The Naval advisory
Board and the Secretary recommend the
completion of the monitors, the construction
of four gun boats, and three additional steel
vessels like the Chicago, Boston and Dolphin,
as an important measure of defense. The
Secretary urges also the immediate creation
of an interior coast line of water ways across
the Peninsula of Florida, along the coast from
Florida to Hampton Roads, between
River and through Cape Cod. / feel bound
to impress upon the attention of Congress the
necessity of continued progress in the recon-
structiOn of the navy. The condition OF the
public Treasury, as have already intimated,
makes the present an suspicious time for put
ting this branch of service in a state of eff
cheney. 1t is is no part of our policy to create
and maintain navy able to cope with that of
the other great powers of the world. We
have no wish for foreign conquest, and the
seeming danger of interruption. but that our
naval strength should be made adeqate for
the defense of oGr harbors, the protection of
Our commercial interests and the maintenance
OF our national honor, is proposition from
which NO patriotic citizen can withhold his
assent.
THE POsT-OFFCE DEPARTMENT..
The report of the Postmastcr-Gcneral con-
tains gratifying exhibit of the condition and
prospects of the interesting branch of the
public service committed to his care. 1t APP
pears that on June 50, 1883, the whole number
of post-offices was 1853, of which ], 62 were
established during the. previous fiscal year.
The number of offices operating under
these latter ofIices tbe hostage on Local
matter amounted to 81. Ia5 sp52 a sum ex.
ceeding by s1.e1 .s9i.0l. the entire cost of the
hostage on dron letters nassino through thesr
Offices is now fixed by law at two cents per
half ounce or fraction thereof. In Offices where
the rate is one-half as large II will he re,
membered that in 1863, when free delivery was
first established by law; the uniform single
and 80 IL Remained till 1s;2 when in those
cities where carrier service was established n
was increased in order to defray the expense
of such service. n seems To me that the old
rate NAV now with nronrietv no restored and
that too even nj the risk Of diminishing for
n time at least the. receipts from hostage IInon
local letters. I can see no reason WHY thar
particular class of maiI matter should he held
accountable for the entire cost of NOT only
its own collection and delivery, but the col
am CONFIDENT. after full consideration of the
subject. that the reduction of the rate would be
followed by such growing accession of bust
loss to the revenues of the post-office.
posr,r rrrro,,pus
rto d.. ,o,.s,a. E'.,Ssi i,.o., ~..I
he re,lop, ~ ~ onsi5ara,inr -; niuem VI
tbe teIegranh Snch ret,ection a. I bat,a hee,,
ahIa 20 s1;r ~, .hiS s,,ti.,t So. - a.. a.
nuai message has not led me to Change the
view which T then exnressed in JissentinS
from the Observation-Disclosures of the postmastar'
GenaraT that the Gnxern IN asSmrna a.
$500 -.,,,.nI - az ,ola..,,t u,L;ah :. -
aImars axarn;Sed o,,er The nil sJm;,,im
thar ;ts amthnritr in the nren,ises "a as amnis
% has been cIai,1ed for Il ~ xronld No. =; p,
ind~ment he . wise use Of thar autboritv ~
or ass,,me the control ~ oxiS,ino
rfeiagranb lines or 70 co,sfr,ct otbors Ter
vie,S of enterino INFO a General cnm,etition
r;,h ,rirata antnrnr;sa TLa nhiont;nns
,yh;cb ma. TX i,is,Ir nrre5 aaafGS, a;,tsar -
,haSe nrniecrs and ,ndsed as,ainst amer am sv VI
tem wbicb would reniire a5 enormous
craasa in The civil sart;ca LIST 40 nnt bam
orar onni, 10 Snno 81 the nl.ns ~ nh;oS h,,o
ataiy nrnyo H. ii n'hl; nnmpR,a, ali d;sn,,
Sion' r. has heep eIaimed fnr e,a anu ,ha,
Comr-aSs NIGH, ,r;seiv an+bo o tn Pns,n '
ter.Generai 70 contr,c, With some nr;rste re,.
Z. orarnmonf lpUnar,-;s;on yrin', '1nt
snba,naa 81 the sonpio a,ana.ai ,,.,.S r.. s SUI
Iv difYerino in their sneriai nbar,,ctar;"t;ns
a.. h.,an es, ne - IN, ,'hii,s i;.
NC cSeh eukscseu ~, INC pupncs Pihls,