The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1884-12-06

Lieutenants HARDER and SchuetZe.
The remains were taken from their
grave in the Lena Delta in March, 1888,
and were retained at Yakutsh until the
following winter, the season being too
far advanced to admit of their immedi.
ate transportation. They arrived at
New York, February ~, 1884, where
they were received with suitable hon.
Ors. In pursuance of the joint res0lu
ton of Congress, approved February
Is, 1854, a naval expedition was fitted
out for the relief of Lieutenant "A. W
Greedy, United States army, and of the
party who had been engaged under his
command in scientific observations at
Lady Franklin Bay. The fleet consist.
ed of the steam sealer ThetiS, purchaS-
ed in England. the Bear, purchased 4,
st. Johns, n. F., and the Alert, which
was generously provided by the British
Government. Preparations for the ex-
petition were promptly made bay the
Secretary of the Navy, with the active
cooperation of the Secretary of War.
Commander G.. w. Coffin was placed in
command of the Alert, and Lieutenant
W. II. Emory in command of the Bear.
The Thetis was entrusted to Command
er Winfield $. Copely, to whom also
was assigned the superintendent of
the entire expedition. Immediately
upon its arrival at Cpernavik the fleet
began the dangerous navigation of Mel
vile Bay. and, in spite of every obsta-
Gle, reached LittletOn Island on June
"a fortnight earlier than any vessel
had before attained that point. On the
same day it crossed over to Cape Sa-
bine, where Lieutenant Greedy and 9TH
er survivors Of his party were discOv-
cred. After taking on board the liy-
ing and the bodies of the dead the re-
lief ships sailed for st. Johns, where
they arrived on July II. They were
appropriately received at Portsmouth,
n. H., on August |. and at New York
on August s. One of the bodies was
landed at the former place. The others
were put on shore at Governors Island,
and, with the exception of one which
was inferred in the National Cemetery,
were forwarded thence to the deStina-
ton indicated by friends. The Organi-
zation and conduct of this relief eXpe-
dition reflect great credit upon all who
contributed to its success.
THE NAVY.
In this, the last of the state messages
that | shall have the honor to transmit
to the Congress of the United States,
cannot too strongly urge on its atten.
ton the duty of restoring our navy az
rapidly as possible to the high state of
efficiency which formerly characterized
it. AS the long peace that has lulled
us into a sense of fahcied security may
at any time be disturbed, it is plain
that the policy of strengthening this
arm of the service, is dictated by con.
sideratiOnS of use and economy: of
just regard for our future tranquility,
and of true appreciation of the dignity
and honor of the republic.
THE POSTAL SERVICE.
The report of the Postmaster Gener.
al acqllaints You with the present con-
1t diScloSeS the gratifying fact that the
the rate in letter postage, rs recon-
mended in my message of December.
1882. and affected by the act of March
3. 1883. has been much less than was
generally anticipated. My recommen-
datiOn of this reduction was based up
on the belief that the actual falling of
in receipts for letter postage for the
year Immediately succeeding the change
of rate would be $3,0OOOOO. 1t has
proved to be only S2,275,OOO. This is a
trustworthy indication that the revenue
will soon be restored to its former vol
ume by the natural increase of sealed
correspondence. | confidently repeat,
therefore. the recommendation of my
last annual message, that single rate
postage upon drop letters be reduced to
cent wherever payment of cents is
now required by law. The double rate
is only exacted at ofiic ..where..the car.
rier system is in operation, and it ap
pears that ut these offices the increase
in the tax upon local letters defray the
cost not only of their own collection
and delivery. but of the collection and
delivery of all other mail matter. This
is an inequality that ought no longer
to exist.
approve the recommendation OF
the Postmaster General. that TIE unit
of weight in the rating of tirst-claSs
matter should be one ounce instead OF
one-half ounce. as it now is. In view
of the statistics furnished by the de-
partment. it may well be doubted
whether the change would result in any
loss of revenue; that it would greatly |
promote the convenience of the public
is beyond dispute. The free delivery
system has been lately applied to five
cities, and the total number Of offices
in which it is now in operation is $50.
Experience shows that its adoption.
under proper conditions, is equally an
accommodation to the public and IN |
advantage To the postal service. 1t is /
more than self-Sustainng. and for the |
reasons urged by the Postmaster Gen
eral, may properly be extended. 1t IS
the opinion of that officer. that it Is |
proper to provide means whereby ex-
CeptiOnal dispatch in dealing with let /
ters in freedelivery offices may be Sc
cured by the payment Of extraordinary |
postage. This scheme might be made /
by the employment of spec
lal stamp whose cost should he common
surate with the expense OF the extra !
service. In some of the large cities
private express companies have under
taken to outstrip the Government mail
carriers by affording for the prompt
of letters better facilities
than have hitherto been at the com
mand of the poStotfice. 1t has ALWAYS
been the policy of the Government To
discourage such enterprises and IN no
better way can that policy be maintain
LII. l,a. Il . l..