Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1884-12-04

60 and from the United States. As it Is nee
/ essary to make provision to compensate the
owners of such vessels for performing thai
whole subject viii receive early considera.
! ton that will lead to the enactment of such
marine as the wisdom of Congress may de.
| wise.
| CIRCULATION OF NATIONAL BANKS.
The three per cent. bonds of the Govern
ment to the amount of more than Sl00, 900 ,o0e
deemed by the Treasury. The bonds OF that
/ issue still outstanding amount to little over
500, 0o0, 900. about one fourth OF which will be
| retired through the operations of the sinking
fund during the coming year. As these
bonds still continue the chief basis for the
circulation OF the National Banks, the aues-
| rency caused by their retirement is one OF
constantly increasing Importance.
1t seems to be generally conceded that the
i law governing this matter exacts from the
banks excessive security and that upon their
| present bond deposits a larger circulation
than is now allowed may be granted with
safety. hope that the bill which passed the
| Senate at the last session, permitting the
posfted bonds, will commend itself to the
| approval of the House of Representatives
| THE WAR DEPARTMENT.
| In the expense OF the War Department the
| Secretary reports decrease OF more than
s., 900 900, of which reduction $5,6 900 was ef-
fected IN the expenditure for rivers ana mar,
| Quartermaster's Department. Outside OF
! that department the annual expenses OF all
| the ordnace bureau), are substantially
| charges which can not be materially dimin-
snea I'll 3ps b In tine
| the Quartermaster's Department. can readily
| be subjected to administrative discretion,
| and it is reported by the Secretary OF war
| that as result of exercising such discretion
! in reducing the number of draught animals
in the army the annual cost of supplying and
r1T fnT ln1, 1lt ia
less than it was in 1882.
The reports of the military commanders
show that the last year has been notable for
its entire freedom from Indian outbreaks.
THE INDIAN TERRITORY RAIDERS.
In defiance OF the Presidents proclamation
of July 1, 1884, certain intruders sought to
They were promptly removed by detach.
| ment of troops: During the past session OF
proof building for the Army Medical Museum
and the library of the Surgeon Generais
office received the approval Of the Senate I, !.
OF Representatives by one of its committees
| is still pending before that body, 1t is hoped
that during the coming session the measure
may become a law, and Immediate steps may
be taken to secure place of safe deposit Tor
| these valuable collections now in a state OF
insecurity. "The funds with which the
works for the Improvements of rivers and
harbors were prosecuted during the past year
| act. of August 2, 1882, together with
| such few balances as were on hand
from previous apprOpridtlOnS. Lie Uhi-
ance in the Treasury subject to requisitlon
July i, 1888, was $l0,02l $3.50; the amount
appropriated during the fiscal year 1854 was
SI3I9, 1874 ,627, and the amount drawn from the
Treasury during the fiscal year was $S,22S,
7o3.54, leaving balance of So, l12 5so.63 in the
Treasury subject to requisition July lst, 1854.
sEABOARD CITIES.
The Secretary of War submits the report
of the Chief of Engineers as to the practlca-
bility of protecting our important cities on
the seaboards by fortificatons and other
defenSeS rGDel
attack. The time has now come when such
defenses can be prepared with confidence
that they will not prove abOrtiye, and when
the possible result of delay in making such
preparation is seriously considered, delay
seems inexcuSable. For the most important
cities, those whose destruction or capture
would be a National humiliation, adequate
defenses, inclusive of guns, may be made by
the gradual expenditure of S60,000,0OO, sum
much less than victorious enemy could
levy as a contribution. An appropriation of
about one tenth of that amount is asked to
begin the work, and concur vito the Secre-
tary of War in urging that it be granted.
GUNS.
The War Department is proceeding with
the conversion OF ten inch smooth bore guns
into eight inch rifles by lining the former
with tubes of forged or of coiled wrought
iron: Fifty guns ,, will be thus converted dur
ate the necessity of providing means for the
construction of guns of sthe highest power,
the armament OF warvesseIs The report of
the Gun Foundry Board, appointed April I'd.
1888, in pursuance of the act of March 9Th,
1885, was transmitted to Congress in q special
message of February Sth, 1854. In my message
OF March 26tli, 1884, called attention to the
recommendation of the board that the Gov
eminent should encourage the production of
private steel works of the required material
for heavy cannon, and that two Governments
factories, one for the Army and one for the
Navy, should be established for the fabrica
ton of guns from such material: No action
having been taken, the Board was SubSe
GuentIy reconvened to then determine more
fully the plans and estimates necessary
for carrying out its recommendations.
1t has received information which indicates
that there are responsible steel manufactur-
ers in this country, who, although not pro-
are willing to construct the same and to
make bids for contracts with the Govern
ment for the supply of the requisite material
for the heaviest guns adapted to modern
warfare, if guaranteed order of sufficient
magnitude, accompanied by a positive APP
Shall be made by Congress. All doubts as to
the feasibility of the plan being thus re.
moved, renew my Recommendation, that
such action be taken by Congress as will en-
able the Government to construct its own
ordnance upon its own territory, and so to
provide the ornaments demanded by con-
siderations of national safety and honor.
THE NAVY.
The report of the Secretary of the Navy ex-
hibits the progress which has been made on
the new Steel cruisers authorized by the acts
four vessels under contract one, the Chicago,
of H. 500 TONS is more than half finished; the
launched, and her machinery is now hitting;
the Boston, also of 5000 tons, is ready for
steamer OF I,5CO tons is ready for delivery.
Certain adverse criticisms upon the designs
of these cruisers are discussed by the Sec
rotary, who insists that the correctness
Advisory Board and by the De
deveiopmeess s
abroad The machinery of the double
turreted monitors, Puritan, Terror and
Amphitrite, contracted for under the
act Of March 3d. ls is in hes process ans
during the past year on their armor, for lack
of the necessary appropriations. A fourth
finished at the navy yard in California. 1t is
recommended that early steps be taken to
complete these vessels, and to provide also
an armament for the monitor Miantonomah.
The recommendations OF the Naval Advisory
Board, approved by the department., COM
prise the construction of one steel cruiser OF
1850 tons, one cruiser of 5000 tons, two heav-
lily armed gunboats, one light cruising gun
boat, one dispatch vessel armed with Hotch-
kiss cannon, one armored ram and three tor.
pedo boats. The general designs, all of
which are calculated to meet the existing
wants of the service, are now well advanced
and the construction of the vessels can be
undertaken as soon as you shall grant the
necessary authority.
THE JEANETTE VICTIMS.
The act of Congress approved August Z,
1882, authorized the removal to the United
States of the bodies of Lieutenant Com
mander George w. belong and his com
panions of the Jeanette expedition. This
removal has been successfully accom-
plished by Lieutenants HARDER and Schuetze,
in the Lena Delta in March, 1885, and were re-
tanned at Yakutsk until the following winter,
of their Immediate transportation. They ar
rived at New York February 20, lSS4 where
they were received with situabie honors.
THE GREEDY RELIEF ExrEprrIoN.