The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-12-11

IrOSSlDlc rts>uII OF Oelay IN tDdAlHS euCu pTc-
parations is considered. delay seems mex
cusable, for the most important cites are
those whose destruction or capture would De
National humiliation Adequate defenses,
inclusive of guns, may be made by the grad
ual expenditure of. S6006.OO, sum much
less than victorious enemy could levy as
contribution. An appropriation OF aDout
one-tentd of that amount is asked to begin
the work. and l concur with the Secretary of
War in urging that it be granted, The War
Department. Is proceeding with the CONVEX
sion of ten-inch smooth bore guns into eight-
I inch rifles, lining the former with tubes OF
forged or coiled urough iron. Fifty guns
will thus be converted within the year.
This, however does not obVlate the
necessity of providing means for the
construction of guns of the highest power,
both for the purpose of coast defense ana
for the armament of war vessels Inc re-
! port of the Gun Foundry Board appointed
April 2, 1883, in pursuance OF the act OF
! March 30, 1883, was transmitted TO Congress
| in a special message of February 5, 1854. m
my message of March p, 1884, called atten-
! ton to the recommendation OF the Board
| that the Government should encourage the
production of private steel works OF the re-
| Quired material for heavy cannon, and that
| il has received information which indicates
| that there are responsible steel manufactur-
erS in this country who, although not pro-
| vided at present with the necessary plant,
| are willing to construct the same ana 10
make bids for contracts with the Govern
ment for the supply of the requisite material
! for the heaviest guns adapted to modern
| warfare. II guarantee order OF sufhclent
| magnitude, accompanied by positive ap-
preparation extending over series or years
1 shall be made by Congress, all doubts as to
| the feasibility of the plan being thus re-
| moved, l renew my recommendation that
! such action be taken by Congress Will enable
| the Government TO construct Its own ord
| nance upon its own territory, and so TO pro-
vide the armament demanded by considera-
| tons of National safety and honor.
THE NAVY.
| The report of the Secretary of the Navy
exhibits the progress which has been MADE
| on the new steel cruisers authorized by the
acts of August 5, 1852, and March 3, 1883, of
| the four vessels under contract: The Chi
cago," of 4,5O0 tons, more than half finished;
| the Atlanta" 5000 tons, has been success
| fully launched and her machinery is now
| filling; the Boston, also of 1900 tons, is now
ready for launching, and the Dolphin, dis
| patch steamer of LOO tons, is ready for sail
| ing. Certain adverse criticisms upon the
| designs of these cruisers are discussed by
| the Secretary, who insists that the correct
ness of the conclusions reached by the ad-
! visory board and by the Department has
! been demonstrated by recent developments
| in ship building abroad The machinery o q.
| the double turreted monitors, Puritan, Ter
| ror and Amphitrite, contracted for under
! the act of March 3, 1SSS, is in process of con-
| struction:, No work has been done
NOR for lack of the necessary apprO-
| priationS. A fourth monitor. the Monodo-
mock, still remains unfinished at the navy
yard in California. 1t is recommended that
| sells, and to provide also an armament for
the monitor MiantomOmOh. The recommen-
dations of the Naval advisory Board, APP
proved by the Department, comprise the
| construction of one steel cruiser of $50 tons
one cruiser of 5000 tons, two heavily armed
gunboats, one long cruising gunboat, one
despatch vessel armed with HotchkiSS can
non, one GrInored ram, and three torpedo
boats. The general designs, all of which are
calculated to meet the existing wants of the
service, are now well advanced, and the con-
StructiOn Of the vessels can be undertaken as
soon as you shall grant the necessary au-
thority. The act of Congress approved Au-
gust Z, 1882, authorized the removal to the
United States of the bodies of Lieutenant
Commander George W. DeLong and his com
panionS of the Jeanette expedition. This
removal has been successfully accomplished
by LieutenantS Harder and Schuetz. The re-
mains were taken from their graves in the
Lena delta in March, 1883. and were detained
at Yakutsk until the following winter. the
season being too far advanced TO admit or
their immediate transportation. They ar
rived at New York February ~ 1884. They
were received with suitable honorS.
In pursuance of the joint resolution OF
Congress approved February b. 1854, naval
expedition was fitted out for the relief of
Lieutenant A. w. Greedy, United States
Army and of the party who had been ell
gagged. under his command, in scientific OBJ
servationS ut Lady Frankiyn Bay: The fleet
consisted of the steam Sealer ThetiS, pur-
chased in England; the Bear, purchased at
ST. Johns, Newfoundland; and the Alert
which was generously provided by the Brit
ish Government. Preparations for the OK
petition were promptly made by the Secre-
tary of the Navy with the active co-operar
ton of the Secretary of War. Commander
George W. Coffin was placed in command of
the Alert and Lieutenant w. III. Ewing in
command of the Bear The Thetis was en-
trusted to Commander Winfield 5. COpely, to
whom also was assigned the SUPPLEMENTARY
of the entire expedition. Immediately upon
its arrival at Uppernuvik the fleet
began the dangerous navigation of
Melville Bay, and in spite of every
obstacle reached Little Island on June -,
fortnight earlier than any vessel had before
attained that point. The same day it crossed
over to Cape Sabine, where Lieutenant Gree
ly and the other survivors of his party were
ing and the bodies of the dead the relief
ships sailed for st. John, where they arrived
on July II. They were appropriately re-
ceiyed at Portsmouth; N; H. on IA august gu St. 1
bodies was landed at the former place. Tine
others were put on shore at Governor
Island with the exception OF one, which was
inferred in the National Cemetery, were for
warded thence TO the destination indicated
by friends The organization and conduct of
this relief expedition reflects great credit
upon all who contributed to its success.
HIS LAST MESSAGE.
In this, the last of the stated messages
that l shall have the honor to transmit to
the Congress of the United States, L cannot
too strongly urge on its attention the duty OF
restoring our navy, as rapidly as possible
~ characterized it, as the long peace that has
lulled US into sense of fancied security
may at any time be disturbed. 1t is plain
that the policy of strengthening this arm OF
the service is dictated b., considerations of
use, of economy, of just regard for our
future tranquility, and OF true apprecia-
ton of the dignity and honor or the he
public.
The report of the Postmaster General ac-
quaints you with the present needs of the
postal service. 1t diSclOSeS the gratifying
that the loss of roVaDnQ from the reduce
ton in the rate of letter postage, recon-
mended in my message December, lSS2, and
effected by the act of March Z 1888 has been
much less than was generally anticipated
My recommendation of this reduction was
based upon the belief that the actual falling
of in receipts from letter postage for the
year Immediately succeeding the change OF
rate, could be $3,00,000; it has proved to be
only S2,2I5,00O. This is trustworthy indica-
ton that the revenue will soon be restored
to the former volume by the natural increase
of sealed correspondence. IcoStidently repeat
therefore, the recommendation of my last
annual message that the single rate of post
age upon drop letters be reduced to one
cent wherever the payment of two cents Is
now required by law. The double rate Is
only eXacted at Offices where the carrier sys-
TEN is in operation, and 1t appears at the
Offices where the carrier system is in opera
ton that the increase in tax upon local let
tiers defrays cost, not only OF its own collec-
ton and delivery, but of the collection and
delivery of all other mail matter. This is an
inequality that ought no longer to exist L
approve the recommendation of the Post
master General that the unit of weight in
the rating of first class matter should be one
ounce instead of one-haf ounce as it is now.
In view of 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 con-
venience of the public is beyond dispute.
The free delivery system has been lately APP
piled to five cities, and the total number
of Offices in which il is now in operation is
I59. Experience shows that its OPPOSITION I'M
der proper conditions is equally an accom-
mediation to the public and an advantage
to the postal service. 1t is more than half
seif-sustaining and for the reasons urged by
the Postmaster General may properly be ex-
tended. 1t is the opinion of that officer