The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-12-02

has been done during the past year on their |
armor, for lack of the neces airy up |
preparations. A 4, urth monitor, the Mon |
adnock, stu remains uaiini he'd at the Navy
yard in California. 1t is retomm n led that
early steps lie taken to complete these YES
sells, and TO provide also an armament for the
monitor Miantonolnah.
NEW CRUISERS.
The recommendations OF the naval al
visory board, approved by the department,
comprise the construction of one steel
cruiser of 1900 tons, one cruiser of 3 1900
tons, two heavily armed gunboats, one
light cruising gunboat, one dispatch
vessel armed with Hotchkiss cannon, one
armored ram and three torpedo boats. The
general designs, all of which are calculated
TO meet the existing wants of the service,
are now we'll advanced, and the construc
ton of the vessels, can be undertaken ms
soon as you shall grant the necessary au
thority. The act Of congress approved Aug.
Z, 1882, authorized the removal to the
United States of the bodies of Lieut. Com
George W. De Long and his companions
of the Jeannette expedition. This
removal has been succs sfuly accom-
plished by Lieuts. Harder and Schuetze
The remains were taken from their graves in
the Lena Delta in March, 1888, and were
retained at Yakut,h until the following
winter the season beng too FOR advanced to
admit of their immediate transportation
They arrived at New York. Feb. 20,
1884, where they We're received with suita-
BILE honors In pursuance of the joint reso-
LUTON of congress, approved Feb. II, 1854,
a naval expedition was iitted out for the
relief of Lieut. A. " Greely, United
States army, and Of the party who hal
been engaged under his command III
scientific observations Mt Lady Franklin
bay. The feet consisted of the
steam sealer Thetis, purchased in England,
the Bear, purchased at St Johns, N f., and
the Alert, which was generously provided
vided by the British government. Prepare
tiOns for the expedition were promptly made
by the secretary of the navy, with the active
cooperation OF the secretary of war Com
mander George W. Coffin was placed in COM
mand of the Alert, and Lieut. W. II. Emory
in command of thu Bear. The Thetis was
entrusted to Commander Winfield 5. COpley,
to whom was assigned the superintendent
of the entire expedition. Immediately
upon its arrival at UFrnavik, TIE fleet
began tie dangerous Navigation of Melville
| bay, and in spite OF every obstacle,
| reached Lttleton island on June %
| fortnight earlier than any vessel had be
| fore attained that point. On the same day
| it crossed over to Cape Sabine, where Lieut..
| Greedy and the other survivors OF his party
were discovered. After taking on board the
ships sailed for st. Johns, where they arrived
| on July Il They We're app opmately re-
ceived at Portsmouth, n. H. on Aug. l, and
| at New York Oh Aug. s. One OF the bode,
| 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 destination Indicated by
friends. The or anizat,.H and coaluct Of
this relief eSpeijti n n!'rt great credit
| upon all who contributed II it's success.
THE NAVY.
In this the lost oi tae STATE messages that
| I shall have The honor II transmit to the
congress Of tie United $ Is ;, can not too
strongly urge on its attention the duty of re
storing our navy. as rapidly rs possible "a
the high state deficiency which formerly
! characterized it. As the long peace that has
| has mllel US into stHSe OF fancied security
may at any time b. disturbed, it is plain
that the policy of strengthening this arm OF
the service, is dictated by considerations OF
Use and economy; of Just regard for our flu
ture tranquility, and of true appreciation of
the dignity and honor 81 the republic
THE POSTAL SERVICE.
The report of the postmaster general ac-
quaintS you with the present condition and
needs of the postal service. 1t disc.oseS the
gratifying fact thai The loss Of revenue from
the reduction of the rate in letter postage, as
recommended in my message of December,
u.s., and etfeeted lB taa act al March .
1882 has been much less than was generally
anticipated MY Recommendation OF TINS
reduction was based upon the belief that the
actual falling of in receipts for letter
postage for the year Immediately sue
ceeding the change Of the rate would be s.,
00O,O00. 1t has proved 10 he only S2,2t5, 600
This is a trustworthy Indication that the
revenue VIII soon be restored to ITS former
volume py 'he natural increase Oh sealed
correspondence. c9hidehtll repeat thore
lore, the recommendation OF my last an
nual message, that Nhgie ratc postage upon
drop letters he reduced to ] cent Wherever
payment OF cents Is now required by law
The double rate Is ROW only eNacted nj
/ Offices where the carrier system Is IN opera
ton, and it appears that at these offices the
IN 'rease IN the tax upon loca! letters defray:
the cost not only Of their own collection IN,
delivery, but OF the collection and delivery
f OF all other mail matter. This Is an IN
. equality that aught no longer to exist
I approve tie recommendations Of TIA,
n postmaster general That hle unit oi WeiTHl
IN the rating OF nloi 'e'A,N matter should ht
# one ounce instead ii ona half ounce, as il
. now Is In view OF tha statistics furnished
by the department, II may well he doubted
whether Tie change would result III any los
ui revenue; IlaI II W'hiI greatly promote
.,lt IN ~ 'ii' iH'ii' Is ~ U'" I
- nc itgG io'iN q 9S .s, Ia
;, t zen ihI,hy altnIe" !" I'VE oi;leH' d ;i,
! SIo "e'l hH!l'"'i VI "i'I'e' ~, ~ VIZ.
-, ii'" III ~. '','oN 10 -
I%i ,e.Ieo sno"s t.I''' Us a"ol'''on' ui""
, IloPel .oIl,'l'Ioh' 10 tqH"lIy an accoilt'lo
; u n''lio' 10 V'e l'!pi''' aiii az uuNdhIa2e
Il tile i'sI'tl SSIflce, 1t - more tilIl
t 'ainhlS' anu LOT li,7 reasons urged ny IN
tendnJ II e tia ,,;',', Of FttdF d.. thH
:, If Is ,ro,,ar +, nrg,,ij. mons ,rhnrahv Nv
cantinnal disno+cI u, Ioaii"lr u;tI ittto1. =
# fraa-5aliyoyv ntf;,,. NAV l,9 sec,,r.J Inv m
v tevment Of nvtroSriinary nn:tarp
!. This scheme uie,bt h maia dGartiS,
bv tina emn,o,-ncnt nr a snaciai Siam
wbosa cor el.onId ta can,,I,a',s,
rate with the nx1.,sa If tha 1T
le servica In sn,na of tha Iorrn cities nriy,ot
n EXPRESS commands have r15e-taI,en h nnt
II strin tho government mail onrr;ars nv ai
e for4inq, foy tho nro,rrt t,,,e,,i ~
better facilities than have hitherto been a
:. the command OF the post flee. 1t has al
y ways been the policy of the government t
= discourage such enterprises and i'll no bette
Ia way can that policy be maintained than i
~ supplying the public with the most ELI len
hot