The Portland daily press., 1884-12-02

1857, together with such few balances as we're
on hand from previous appropriations. Tue
balance In the Treasury subject to requisitioD,
july l, 1888, was S10921, ,649 80. The amount
| appropriated during the fiscal year 1884, was
| Sl,5l9 634,62, and the amount drawn from the
/ Treasury during the fiscal year was SIS, ,22S :
103 53, leaving balance of So 112 58e63 in tue
| Treasury subject to requistion July 1, 1884.
! HARBoR DEFRNcEs.
The Secretary OF War Submits the report of
| tne chief engineers as TO the practicability of
| protecting our important cities on the seaboard
| oy fortlhcatloDs and other 6efences able to re-
| pei modern methods of attack. the time has
now come when such defences can be pre-
| pared with confidence that they will not prove
aDornVe, aud when the possb bic result of delay
| IN making such preparation is seriously cOnsid-
ered delay seems iuexcusable. For the most
| important cities, thos9 whose destruction
| or capture would be national humilistion,
| adequate defences, inclusive Of guns, may be
| made by the gradual expenditure of 500 00O0,-
| oUO, SUM much less than victorious enemy
| Could levy as contribution. An appropria-
| ton of about one-tenth of that amount is asked
to begin the work. and 1 concur with the Sec
Tstsry of War in urging that it be granted.
The War Department is proceeding with the
conversion of 10-iueh smooth-bore guns ioto
o-inch rifles by laying the former with tubes of
forged ore OF coiled wrought iron. Fifty guns
VIII Dc thus converted within the year. This,
however, does not obviate the necessity Of
proviciug means for the construction of guns
OF the highest power, both for the purposes of
coast defence and for the armament OF war
vessels.
THE PRODUCTION OF ARTILLERY.
The report of the Gun Foundry Board sr-
pointed April Q, 1888, in pursuance of the act
OF March 3, 1888, was transmitted to Congress
In special message of Feb, g. 1884. la nay
message of March 26. 1884, called attention
to the recommendation OF the board that the
government should encourage the production
OF private Ht.sAl WOrxH q ma
for heavy cannon, and that two government
factories. one for the army and one for the
navy, should bs established for the fabrication
OF guns from such material. No action having
been taken the board was subsequently, recon-
vened 10 deter nine more fully the plans and
estimates necessary for carrying out its recon-
mepdation. 1t has received information which
indicates that there are responsible steel man
ufscturers in this country who, although not
PROVIDED at present with the necessary plaDt,
are willing to construct the same and to make
bids for contracts with the government for the
supply of the requisite mSterial for the heav-
lest guns adapted to modern waIfsre-if
guaranteed order of sufficient magnitude, ac-
companed by positive appropriation extend
Ing over series of years, shall be made BY
Congress. All doubts as to the feasibil.
lty OF the plan being thus removed,
renew rsy recommendation that such action
De taken by Congress as will enable the gov
ernment to construct its own ordnance upon
Its own territory, and so to provide the aFma.
ments demanded by the considerations OF ma
tional safety aud 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 s. 1882, and
March "a, 1883. OF the four vessels under
contract, one (rhe Chicago) of 45OO:tons is more
than halt fihished. The Atlanta of 5000 tons
has been launched, and her machinery is now
lifting; the Boston, also of 5000 tons, is ready
for launchin.; and the Dolphin, dispatch
steamer OF 1900 tons, is ready for delivery
CertsIn adverse criticisms upon the designs OF
these cruisers are discussed by the Secretary
who insists that the correctness of the concln-
slons reached hy the advisory board and the
department has been demonstrated by recent
Developments in shipbnildipg abroad. The
machinery OF the doabls-tarreted monitors
Puritan, Terror and Amphitrite, contracted
for under the act of March 5, 1888,
Is In process OF construction. No work
has been done during the past year
on their armor for lack OF the neces-
sary appropriations. A fourth monitor, the
Monadnock still remains unfinished st the
navy ysrd in California. It is recommended
Loaf early STEPS be taken to complete thsse yes
sells, and to provide also an armament for the
moAitor Miantonomab. The recommends
tons OF the naval advisory board, approved by
the department comnriss the construction OF
one steel cruiser of 1900 tons one cruiser of
ooNO tOPej tWU u5hViiy ark06u EunDOats; one
llgnt cruising guuboat; 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 nov
we'll advanced, and the construction of the
vessels can be undertaken as soon as you shall
grant the necessary authority.
THE ARCTIC RELIEF EXPEDITIONS
The act Of Congress, approved Aug T. 1882,
a0tHOrfZ1d ha TTr,fer C+,saa ~
tho bodies of Lieut. Commander Gsurge W
D5LoDg and bis companions of tha .Teapustte
expedition. This removal has beeu successful
" accomplished By Lieuts, Haroer and
grave in the Lena Delta, in March, 1888, and
were retained at Yakutsk until tho following
winter, the season being too far advanced to
admit OF their immediate transportation, and
they arrived at New York, Feb. 90 1881, where
they we're received with suitable honors
In pursuance of the joint resolution Of Cor
gress, approved Feb. 13, 1884. naval expsdi-
ticn was fitted out for the relief of Lieut. Gree
ly, United States Army, and of the party
who had been engaged under his comm aud in
scientific observations at Lady Franklin Bay.
The fleet consisted of the steam sealer Thetis
purchased in England; the Bear, purchased st
st. Johns, Newfoundland and the Alert,
which was generously provided by the British
Goyernment: Preparations for the expedition
were promptly made by the Secretary of the
Navy, with the active cooperation of the Sec
retaFy of War. Commander George W. Gotta |
was placed in command OF the Alert, end |
Lient. Wln. FL. Emory in command OF she !
Boar. The Thetis was intrueted to Comnander |
Winteld Schley, to whom also was assigned |
the suPerintendenco OF the entire expedition |
lmmediatey upon its arrival at Upernavik |
the fset began the dangerous pavigation of |
Melville Bay, and in spite OF every obstacle, |
reached Lttleton Island on Jaue %, fort |
night earlier than any vessel had before at |
tanned that point. On the same day it crossed |
over to Cape Sabine, where Lisut. Gresly and |
the other survivors of his party were discovered.
After taking on board the living and the |
bodies of the dead, the relief shipa sailed for |
st. Johns where they arrived on July IL. They |
were appropriately received et Portsmouth, n
H., on August /. and New York on August
One OF the bodies was landed at the former |
place. The others were put en- shore at Gov |
ernor's Islaad, and with the exception of one |
which was inferred in the National Cetnetery,
were forwarded thence to the destinations in |
dcated by friends. The osganization and con-
duct of this relief expedition reflects great
REBUILDING THE NAVY
In this, the last Of the stated messages that I |
shall have the hoOor 10 transmit to the Congress
of the United Stat,s,I cannot too strongly urge |
On ts attention the duty of restoring our navy as
rapidly es possbl5 to the high state of efficien-
cy which formerly characterized it. AS the |
long pea .slat has lulled US into sense Of |
IaHGS may al any LlIn6 Dc disturb |
=. ~ si 70 pain that the policy of strengthen
lng .uis arm OF the service is dictated by con. |
s,ueta.loos OF wise economy, of justEregsrd for
our our lu.ufe tranquility, aud of true apprecia- |
tioh o' 'ne Nignity and honor of the republic. |
TtE POSTAL SERVICE
Inc report o.ths Postmaster General ac- |
qaa5ass you wlsnihe 4he present cond ton and |
tS, Ioeas " .na ,s. Tvioe. 1t discloses the
gratliying Isct mat tA loss of revenne from |
the reduction in the rats II rIon, =,
recommended in my message Of December.
1882, aud effected by the sceof March, = 1889
has been much less than vas senerallg anf,ci.
pa ed. My recommendation ef mis- Ts6nct;on |
was based upon the belief hat the sctuai fail |
ing off in receipts from Letter hostages for the
year succeeding the chang of rats gonld he |
So ,000 600. 1t has proved tt be Gully oa OH |
000. This is trustwortay Indication that tes
revenue will soon be r'stored 10 its former vol-
ume by the increase 4 sealed correspondence.
confidently repeat therefore, the recommeu-
dation of my last nessage that the single rate |
Of postage upon dros letters be reduced to Que |
cent wherever thS payment Of two cents ia |
now reouired The double rate is only at |
offices where 7ae carrier system is in opsr- |
| alton, and n appears that at those offices |
where hsiarfier system is in operation the in
crease ONE tax upon local letters defrays the |
| cost no.sniy of its own collection and deliy |
| ery. bf OF the collection and delivery of all |
| other nail matter. This is an inequality