Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1884-12-06

sage of March 26 1851 called attention to the
Recommendation of the Board that the Govern
nent should encourage the production OF private
steel works of the required material for heavy
cannon, and that two Govern. nen factories, one
for the army and one for the navy. should be es-
tabished for the fabrication of guns from such
material No action having been taken, the
Board was subsequently reconvened TO Determine
more fully the plans and estimates necessary for
carrying out its recommendations
1t has received Information which indicates that
there are responsible steel manufacturers in this
country who, although not provided with the nee
essary plant are willing TO construct the same and
70 make bids for contracts with the Government
for the supply of the requisite material for the
heaviest guns adapted TO modern warfare. II
guarantee order of sufficient magnitude, accompa
MED positive appropriation extending over series
of years shall be made by Congress all doubts as to
the feasibility of the plan being thus removed-I
renew my recommendation that such action be
taken by Congress will enable the
Government to construct its own ordinance upon
its own territory, and so 10 provide the arIna
ments demanded BY considerations Of national
safety and honor. The report of the Secretary of
the Navy exhlolts the progress which has been
made on the rev steel cruisers authorized by the
acts of August ), iss2 and March 3, 1883 OF the
four vessels under CO ltract one, the Chicago, OF
i,5o0 tons, is more tn N half finished the Atlanta
1900 tons, has been successfully launched, and
her machinery is lifting; the Boston also. OF
1900 tons, ready for Launching and the Dolphin
despatch steamer of l,5uU tons, is read. Tor de-
livery
Certain adverse criticisms upon the designs Of
these cruisers are discussed by the Secretary, who
insists that the correctness of the conclusions
reached by the Advisory Board and by tho Depart
Glent has been demonstrated by recent develOp
ment in ship building abroad. The machinery OF
the double turreted monitors, Puritan Terror, and
Amphltrite, CONTRACTED Tor under the act OF March
3, 1883 is in process'of construction. No work has
been done during the past year on their armor for
Lack or the necessary appropriations. A fourth
monitor, the Monadnock, still remains unfinished
at the Navy Yard in California. 1t is recon-
nended that early steps be taken TO complete
these vessels and to provide also an armament for
the Aantonomah. The recommendations of tine
Naval Advisory Board, approved by the Depart
cruiser of 800 tons, two heavily armed gun
boats, one hight cruising gunboat, one dispatch
vessel armed with HotchSISs cannon, one armored
ram aud three torpedo boats. the general de-
signs all OF Which calculated to meet the ex
istilg wants OF the service, are now well advanced,
and the construction or the vessels can be under
taken as soon you shall grant the necessary
tnority. The act of Congress. approved August
4, io,2, authorized the removal to the United
states OF the bodies of Lieutenant Commander
George w. belong and companions, of the
Jeannette Expedition This removal has been sue
cesstu1iy accomplished by Lleutenants Harder
and Scnuetze. The remains we're taken from their
grave IN tne Lena Delta March, lso3, and were
retained at Iakutsk until the Ioiowing winter, the
season being TOO lar advanced to ADMIT Of their
immediate transportation They arrived at New
York February 70, 1854, where they wsre received
with suitable nonorS.
THE GREEDY EXPEDITION
In pursuance of the joint resolution If Congress,
approved February H. 1854, naval expedition
WAS lifted out tor the Relief OF Lieutenant A. w.
Greeley, United States Army and of the party who
had been engaged under his command IN scien-
tine observations at Lady Franklin Bay. The fleet
consisted OF the steam scatter TnetIS, purchased III
England; the Bear purchased at st. Johns, New
toundand, and the Alert, which was generously
provided by the British Government Prepare
tioas Tor the expedition were promptly made by
the Secreta.y OF the Navy, with the active coop
GRAFTON of the Secretary Of War. Commander
George w. Colin was placed in command OF tue
alert and Lieutenant W. T. Emory in command
OF the Bear. The Thets intrusted to Com
ulailter Winfield s Scnley, to whom also was as
ss,aed the superintendent of the entire expedi-
tion. Immediately upon its arrival at Upemavik
he fleet began the dangerous navigation of
.ieyliie Bay, and in spite of every obstacle,
le.aele1 Littleton island on June q fortnight
e6riier than any vessei had before attained that
posnt On the same day 1t crossed over to Cape
slOle, where Lieutenant Dree4ey and the other
SURVIVORS OF his party were discovered. After tax
ing on board the living and the bodies of the dead,
the relief ships sailed Tor ST. Johns, where they
rived on July II. They were appropriately
cev,sd at Portsmouth, New Hampshire, on August
!, and at New York on August :. One of the
bodies was landed at the former place. the others
were put on shore at Governors Island, and with
ne exception OF one which was inferred in the
National Cemetery, were forwarded thence to the
lie itination Indicated by friends. he organization
and conduct OF this renef expedite REJECTS great
credit upon all VINO con6riputed to its success
THE NAVY.
In this the last of the stated messages that
shall have the honor to transmit to the Congress
Of the United States, cannot too strongly urge
IN its attention the duty of restoring navy as
rapidly possible to the higl state Of efficiency
which formerly characterized il. As tine long
peace that has lule't US a sense of fancied
security may at any time be disturbed it is pain
service i dictated by OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Of economy
and of just regard for future tranquility and
of true appreciation of the dignity and honor OF
line Repuoic.
POSTAL SERVICE.
The report of the Postmaster General acquaints
gou with the present condition and needs OF the
postal service. II dsclose5 the gratifying faet
hat the loss of revenue from the reduction Ia
rate OF letter postage. recommended in my
message of December los2, and effected by the act
If Nor lSsl haa fapr. tata lara fhon
generally Anticipated. My recommendation OF tins
reduction was based upon the belief that the
actual falling off in receipts from letter postage
for the year immediately succeeding the change
Of rate, would be $5,OuO,OOJ 1t has proved TO be
oay $2,2i5,000. This is a trustworthy indication
the revenue viii soon be restored to its former
volume by natural increase of sealed correspond
ance
confidently repeat, therefore, the recommen-
latiea of my last annual message that single rate
postage on drop letters be reduced to cent
wherever payment OF two cents Is now required
is The double rate is only exacted at offices
where the carrier system is in operation, and it
4l9ears That at these offices the increase in tax
d, Jon local letters defrays cost only of its
Jan collection and delivery, but Of the collection
and delivery of all otaer mail matter. This is an
Inequality that ought no longer to exist
approve the accommodation of the Postmas-
General that the unit of weight in the rating
Of first class matter should be one ounce instead
VI one-half ounce, as it now is In view of the
satisfies furnished by the Department it may
Vel DC oouooea whether the change would
rsi IN any ~ -, VI ness'us, o9a. @91ld
3 beyopd dsnt ss'e The free deyer .e p1one
mas oeen ialey appned 10 I'VE cities,
ana tie tottsi NUMBER OF oices IN Wnich II IS now
"a operation y one nuildrei and mty-nlne TX
per1ence SHOWS that IT'S adoption under proper
eonuilions - equstny an accoinihouauob 70 tle
tunilc anu an az aiilage 70 ehe Poslai seNce AZ
: more .nsh sTn-susta.lilhs: anu LOT the reasons
so ~ nc I. &; ne, 1870 t ., sy s pioigIy
nc eNtehueu- 4. y tne opinion oI mat omcer that
4 = lIopeI 70 ptosiue ,'eias Mileisoy e1ceptiohai
's'.'ch IN dealing win letters IN Tree delivery Of
-, nay " SELL III; 81 =, s,le pay ise oi extraorul-
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