The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1884-12-04
THE NATIONAL BANKS.

by the Treasury The bonds OF that issue still
outstanding amount to a little more than $2U0.-
WD.b.0, about onc-fourth OF which will be re-
tired through the operations Of the sinking fund
during the coming year. As the bonds still
continue the chief basis for the circulation Of
the national banks. the question how to avert
the contraction Df tho currency caused by their
retirement Is one OF constantly increasing lIii4
portance.
law governing this matter exacts from the banks
excessive security. and that upon their present
bond deposits larger circulation han i now
| allowed may be granted with safety. ! hois
tina. the bill which pa sed the Senate Mt the last
session permitting the issue OF noes equal to
| the face value Of deposited bonds will commend
WAR DEPARTMENT EXPENSES
In the expenses Of the War Department the
Secretary reports decrease OF mere than -.
UUn. .00 Of which reduction 81, DDo was effected
In the expendii ures for rivers and harbors, and
| s2.ID,.00 in the expenditures for the Qu rter-
| masters Department Outside OF that depart
ment the annual expenses OF all the Army
Bureaus proper except possibly the Ordnance
Bureau are substantially fixed charges which
| can not be materially diminished wit out
change in the numerical strength OF the army.
| The expenditures In the lu rtcrmcstar's de-
part can readily be submitted to admins
tratiye discretion, and 1t reported by the Setres
i tary OF War that as result OF exercising such
discretion In reducing the number OF draught
and pack animals in the army, the annual cost
| OF supplying and caring for such animals is now
| 81, los. .os5. 90 less than 1t was in 1882.
THE INDIANS.
The reports of military commanders show
that the last year has been notable for its
entire freedom from, Indian outbreaks. In
defiance OF the Presidents proclamation ~
/ July |, 1884, certain intruders sought to make
settlement in the Indian Territory. They we're
| promptly removed by detachment OF troops.
| During the past session of Congress, bill to
rroride suitable freproof building for
THE ARMY MEDICAL MUSEUM
and the library of the Surgeon Generals Office
Il ftsgf al fhaS Sppa IA A Et liar
/ bill. reported favora5ly to the House of Repre-
sentatiyes by one OF its committees Is still pend
| ing before that BODY. 1t is hoped that during
the coming session the measure NAV become
| n law. and thereafter immediate steps may be
taken TO SECURE place ot safe deposit :or these
valuable collections new IN state of insecurity.
INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS.
The funds with which the works for the i'm
provement of rivers and harbors Were prosecut-
| ed during the last year were derived from the
ria,ions Of AUGUST 2 s tas ,ner with
vious appropriations. The balance in the Treas
ury subject to requisition July l. 1882. was sia,-
an,,as tho The .ca, amonns a,plopTa %
sl.na,fsis27, and the amount drawn
from the Treasury during the fiscal year was
ssa.s. .o55i. leaving balance Of s3,lla. 5so63
| in the Treasury subject to requisition July /.
| lssi
The Secretary OF War submits the report Of
the CHER of Engineers as 70 the practicahiity
Of protecting our important cities on the sea-
board bv
foRTIFIcATIoNs AND OTHER DEFENsEs
| able to repel modern methods OF attack The
| time has now come when such dcfenses can bc
| prepared with confidence that they will not
prove ahortive. and, when the possible result OF
delay In making such preparation l. seriously
considered. delay seems incxcusable. For the
most important cities, those whose destruction
Or capture would be q national humiliation. ade-
by the gradual expenditure Of c,ouo.sa. a sum sum
much less than a victorious enemy could levy as
contribution. An appropriation OF about one
| tenth OF that amount is asked To begin the work,
and concur with the Secretary of War in urg-
ing that 1t be granted. The War Del aitment is
proceeding with the conversion Of ten-inch
lining the former with tubes Of forged or or
OF coiled wrought iron. Fifty guns will he
thus converted within the year This. however,
means for the construction of guns OF the high
est power, both for the purposes of coast de-
fense and for the armament Of war vessels
MANUFACTURE OF ORDNANCE
The report of the Gun Foundry Board, ap-
pointed April ?. 1885, In pursuance of the act Of
March. 1888, was transmitted to Congress in d
special message OF Feb. I, 1851 In my message
OF March 81, lsai, called attention to the recon-
mendation OF the board that the Government
should encourage the production by private steel
works OF the required material for heavy
~-one tor the army and one for the navy
should be established for the fabricati n Of
guns from such material; No action hay
ing been taken, the b. ard was subsequently,
convened, to determine more fully the
plans aud estimates necessary for car
yns rscssaa Sa Its !.
that there are responsible steel manufacturers
IN TINS country VINO. aithcugh not provided al
present With the necessary plant. are willing to
construct the same aud to make bids for con-
tracts with the Government for the supply
of the requisite material for the heayi-
est guns auaptei 10 modern Wariare, Il
guaranteed orders OF sufficient magnitude nc.
companied by positive appropriation extend
ing over series or Years, shall he made b,
1oneress; All doubts as 70 the Feasibility o.
| the plan being thus removed, renew my rec
omendation that such action be taken b,
congress as VIII enable the Government
- construct It's own ordnance upon 1T
| own ter lloTy, anu 70 10 proSiue Inc arhlaments
demanded by Considerations OF national satet,
anu aonnf.
TIE NEW STEEL CRUISERS.
the PROGRESS Nnlch mas been maue on the new
10. aa sIr.n 49, u. - IL, w 49, u aus
aan,ract ana tha ahi.asa ~ IN, ,ans I; 49,.
,han h,, nn,h ha ,na A,ia. ~. N.Y. ~
h.an an..aassn,iv iannchaa ani ~ ma..h;na, na
'.rn ,canosm asu 4 .asnins.
- nn, .,,,n. ~ 1854, ~ i Wy ~ M IN,
aaa sor innc.; I ~ Al nph; !, ~ ,'na, ;oas, I
.a,aa -, :. ~, 80. m, I, aI ~ nni,,a
Cart.in a,lv.-sa - s.ns ,,aa ,ha aas;,,,
os ,hn a-n;sars A. is.r.sa ~ ia a Sa,.a
Who IN ;s, that r. car,., ,ess :. .nl ,ha @
nns rcaehed hv Tho aavisorv Rna,d and by ~,
an,,tnant bss naan aaman, a. ~. -, ra ~ an
aa,a,an,,an, ;n sh;,,' 'nniid,n,, ahrasa 's ieseh
''' sA'p '' iiN n"'ions "''o""
r, IhE ~ MosiioEs.
/
tors Puritan Ierres. anu Ann lhitrite, contracted
Tor anter the act OF March ), 1885, Is IN process
OF construction. NO work has been done dnrln.
the past year ON their armor, Tor lack OF tn
necessary APPROXIMATIONS. fourth monitor
, the Monaahoek; stili remains diminished al tn
navy yard IN California. II Is recommended tha
early steps oe taken TO complete these vessels
anu 20 provice also an armament Tor the moni
Tor Miantonomah
NEN CRUISERS
lhe Recommendations OF the NaTal Advisor,
] board. approved by the department, compris
the construction of one steel cruiser OF ,5oa tons
one cruiser ot 900 tons, two heavily armed gun
! boats. one iight crnising gunhoat. one dispatcl
sessei armed WITH Hotchklss cannon. one Ar
inoied ram anu three torie edo boats The gen
eIai designs, all ol which are calculated TO NEE
the esisfins wants OF the service. are now vel
, advanced. AMI the construction OF the vessel
can DC unitftaken a. soon as YOU shall grant tn
necessary authority.
ARCTIC EXPEDITIONS
The act of Congress approved August
Iss2 authorized the removal h the I mite,
States of the bodies of Lieutenant Com
. manler George W. De Long and his com
panions of the Jeanette expedition. This re
. | moval has been successfully accomplished il,
| Lteuss Harber and Schuetxe The remains wer
u