St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-12-02

IL seems 70 be generally conceded that this law
governing this matter exacts from the banks ex-
cessive security, and that on their present bond
deposits larger circulation n an Is now allowed
may be granted with safety hope that the bin
which passed the senate az the last session, per-
hitting the issue Of notes equal 70 the face Tane
OF deposited bonds, viii commend Itself TO the
approval OF the house OF representatives
VAR DEPARTMENT. KxPEsDITCREs
IN the expenses OF the war department. the
secretary reports adeerease OF more than s.OOO.-
coo, OF which reduction $500 900
was effected in the expenditures
for rivers and harbofs and s2.70O, 600 IN
the expenditures for the quRrtermaster's depart
ment Outside OF that department the annual
expenses Of all the army bureaus proper lexcept
possibly the ordnance bureausl are substantially
axed charges, which cannot be materially dimin.
ished without change In the numerical strength
+. % the army The expenditures In the quarter
masters department can readily De subjected TO I
administrative discretion and IL is reported hy
the secretary ot war that g result Of exercis-
Ing such discretion in reducing the number Of
drsnRht and pack animals IN the army, tie annual
cost OF supplyiI snd caring for such animals is
Dow 81, los, Os5. " less than IL was in 1852.
rSDIAS OUTBREAKS
The reports Of military commanders show that
] the Iast year has been notable for IT. freedom
from Indian outbreaks. n defsnce Of the pres
identE proclamation OF July /. 1854. certain In
truders sought 10 make settlements in the In
dian territory They were promptly removed
! by detachment Of troops.
ARMY NEDICAL MUSEUM
During the past session OF congress q bill TO
provide suitable fire proof building for the army
medical museum and the lb sry OF the surgeon
generals Office. received the approval Of the sen
ate. A similar bill. reported favora5iy 10 the
houee Of representatives By one
OF its committees. is sin pending
before that body IL is hoped that
during the coming session the measure nav be-
come a law, and thereafter immediate steps may
be taken TO secure place Of safe deposit for The
valuable collections now in a state OF insecurity
EUERs AND HAHBORs.
The funds with which the works for the i'm
provements Of rivers and hArborsl were prose
cuted during the past year were derived from
| the appropriations q the act OF August 2. ISse.
rogetber.with such few i.qan,es a. were on hand
from previous appropriations. the balance in
the treasury subject % requisiiion July I, 1855
was $40 u2l. 6sg.55. The amount appropriated
during the fiscal year 1884 was Sl,3is. o34, 6sT
treasury during the fiscal year was
= 2SS. 7O3. 81 leaving balance Of Sc Ii2 $50 s3
Ia The treasury subject 10 reouisition July I,
1854.
OFFENCE OF CITIES.
The secretary Of ar submits the report OF the
chief OF engineers 10 the praeiicabiity Of pro-
teeting our important cities ON the seaboord by
NOTIFICATIONS ana Otncr cetcuCes ALE 70 rebel
modern methods OF attack The time has now
come when such defeuees can be prepares with
The confidence that they will not prove a5ortlve,
and when the possible results Il delay in making
surh preparations are seriously considered de-
lay SCENE inexcusabls. For the most impor att
cities those u hose Destruction or capture would
be national humiliation adequate
defence, inclusive OF guns. may be made by the
gradual expenditure OF SoJ,CO0, 900. q sum much
lees than victorious enemy could levy = con
tribution. An appropriation OF about One-tenth
OF that amount is asked 10 begin the work and
concur with the secretary Of war In urging that
II be granted.
ORDNANCE.
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 OF OF cold wrought iron. Fifty guns
will be thus converted within the year This,
however, does not Obviate the necessity Of pro-
viding means for the construction Of guns Of the
highest power for the purposes OF coast defeuce
and for the armament Of war vessels
The report Of the gun foundry board. appointed
April >, 1883. in pursuance Of the act OF March g.
1888. WIS transmitted TO congress in a special
message OF February s, 1854 In my mes.ase of
March 20. 1884. ! called attention to the recam-
incubation Of the board that the government
should encourage the production OF a private
steel works Of the requir q material for heavy
cannon and that two government factories one
|
lshed for the fabrication or guns OF such mater
ial. No action having Oeen taken, the board was
subsequently, reconyened 10 determine
more fully the plans and esti-
mate for carrying out its recommendation.
IL has received Information which indicates that
there are responsible steel manufactures in this
country, who, although not provided at present
with the necessary plant, are willing 70 construct
the same and TO make bids for conirac with the
government for the supply OF the requisite ma
] - 49,
warfare. II guaranteed order OF sufficient mag
ntude. accompanied by positive appropriation
extending over a series Of years. shall be made
by congress Al doubts as 10 the feasibility OF
the plan being thus removed renew my recon-
mencatlon that such action be taken by congress
as viii enable the government
10 construct It's own ordnance upon its
own territory, and 10 provide the armaments
demanded by considerations OF national safety
and honor.
OUR NAVY.
The report of the secretary OF the navy ex-
hibits TIL progress which has been made on the
new sierl cruisers authorized By the acts OF Au-
gust 5. 1882. and March 50. 1888. OF the four
vessels under contract one. the Chicago. Of -
500 tons, Is more than half finished. The At
lspta, 5000 tons has been -cessfuiiy launched
and her machinery is now htting. The Boston,
also of 5000 tons, is ready for launching
and the Dolphin. despatch steamer
OF 1900 tons. is ready for delivery. |
Certain adverse criticisms upon the assigns OF. |
these cruisers are discussed by the secretary, |
who insists that the Correctness OF the conclu- |
sions reached by the advisory board and by the I
department has been demonstrated by recent !
development in ship building abroad. The mr. |
ohinery OF the double tnrreted monitors ssPuri-
tan,' Terror" and "Ampitrite," contracted |
for under the act Of March 3, 1883. Is in process
OF construction No work has been done during |
thu past year their armOr for lack of the nee
essary appropriations. A fourth monitor, the !
"Monadnock. still remains unfinished at the |
navy yard in California II Is recommended that |
early steps be taken 10 complete these vessels. |
and 10 provide, also, an armament for the mont |
itor Miantonomoh. The recommendations OF the !
naval advisory board approved by the depart |
ment, comprise the construction of one steel |
cruiser Of 1, 500 tons, one cruiser Of 1000 tons
two heavy armed gunboats, one light cruising
gunboat, one dispatch vessel armed with Hoteh- |
kiss cannon, one armored ran and three torpe-
do boats. The general designs, all Of which are
calculated 10 meet the existing wants OF the ser
vice, well advanced. aud the eonstruc-
ton Of the vessels can be undertaken soon as
yon shall grant the necessary author
iiY. The act OF congress approved
August 9TH, 1852, authorized the removal
70 tue United States OF the bodies OF Lieut. Com
mander G. W. Delong ana his companions OF the
Jeanette expedition. The removal hss been
successfully accomplished. The remains were
taken from their graves in the Lena Delta IN
March, 1888, and we're retained az Yakulsk until
the following wiuter. the season being too Tar
advanced to admit Of their immediate trsnspor-
talon. They arrived st New York February 20,
1854, where they were received with Suitable
honoTs.
THE RESCUE OF LIEUT.. oREELT.
In pursuance Of the joint resolution Of con-
gress, approved February - 1884, a naval
expedition was lifted out for the
relief Of Lieut. A. W Greedy,
Of the United States army aud of the party who
had been engaged under his command IN scien-
/ ste..