Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1884-12-04
TIE noNns

! The three per cent. bc nds Of the government
| 10 the amount of more than 500 900 have.
/ since my last annual message, beeu redeemed
| by ;he treasury The bonds of that issue still
outstanding amount TO little over 500 900, coo,
| about one fourth Of which will be retired through
the operations of the sinking fund during the COM
/ ing year. AS these bonds still continue the chief
! basis for the circulation of the national banks,
/ the question how TO avert the contraction of the
| currency causes by their returnment, is one Of
| constantly increasing importance.
Il seems TO be generally conceded that the law
/ governing this matter exacts from banks Excess
sive security and that in their present bond de-
! posts a larger circulation than is now allowed
may be granted with safety. l hope that bill
which sassed the senate at last session permitting
the issue Of notes equal to face value of deposit
ed bonds. viii commend itself TO the approval Of
the house of representatives.
IN THE EXPENSES OF THE WAR DEPARTMENT
the secretary reports decrease Of more than
$4,000 coo OF which reduction Of s5600000 was
eff cited in expenditures for rivers and Rarbors
aud S2,501OOO in expenditures for the quarter
master department Outside of that department
the annual expenses of all the army bureaus
are substantially fixed charges, which cannot be
materially diminished without change in the
nuneric zeal strength Of the army.
The expenditures in the quartermaster's de
partment can readily be subjected to admins
trative discretion, and it is reported by the sec
ietary OF war that as q result Of exercising suca
discretion IN reducing the number of draught
and PACK animals In the army, the annual cost of
supplying and caring Tor such animals Is now
S110S 0S590 less than il was in 1882
The reports Of military commanders show that
the last year has been notable for It's freedom
from lndar outbreaks. In defiance of the presi-
dents proclamation OF Jnly ist, 1884 certain in
truders sought 10 make settlements in the Indian
territory. They were promptly removed by a
detachment of troops
During the past session OF congress bill to
provide suitable fire proof building for the
army medical museum, and the library of the
surgeon generals office received the approval of
the senate similar bill reported favoraby
70 the house Of representatives by one
or IT'S committees, is still pending before
that body 1t is hoped that
during The coming session the measure may be-
come a law, and thereafter immediate steps may
be taken to secure a place OF safe deposit for
these valuable collections, now in a state of inse-
curity.
The funds with which the works for the
IMPROVEMENT OF RIVERS AND HARBoRs
were prosecuted during the past year were de-
rived from the appropriations of the act Of Au-
gust 2, 1882, together wilh such few balances as
were on hand from previous appropriations.
The balance in the treasury subject to requisi-
ton July lst, 1883 was Sl0,g21 6i9 50.
The amount appropriated during the fiscal year
1894 was Si3,f963l6 "a
The amount drawn from the treasury during
the fiscal year was SIS, 22S 70354.
Leaving balance of s., 5000 in the treas
ury subject to requsitlon July l. 1884.
COAST DEFENsEs
The secretary of war submits the report OF
chief OF engineers to the practicablity of pro-
lecllhE our important cities on the SeabOard by
civilizations aud other defences able TO repel
modern methods of attack. The time has now
come when such defences can be prepared with
TIE confidence that they will not prove abortive,
und when the possible results Of delay in making
such preparations is seriously considered, delay
seems in Xcusahle. For the most important cit
ie those whose destruction or capture would be
II national humiliation adequate defences, in
elusive of guns may be made by the gradual eX
penditure of SGO,000000, sum much less than a
victorious enemy could levy as q contribution
A
anount is asked 10 begin the work, and / concur
With the secretary of war in urging that il be
granted.
The war department is proceeding with the
conversion Of 10inch smooth-bor guns into
inch rifles by lining the former with tubes OF
forged or of cold wrought iron Fifty guns viii
be- hus converted within the year. THIS, how
ever, does not obviate the necessity of providing
means for the construction of guns of the highest
power, but for the purposes Of coast defense and
Tor the armament of vessels.
The report of the gun fouHdry board appointed
April ?, 1883 In pursuance of the act OF March 3
1888. was transmitted to congress in a special
message Of February s, 1894 in my message of
March 26 1884, | called attention to the recon-
mendatiDn Of the board that the government
should encourage the production of
PRIVATE STEEL WORKS
of the required material for heavy cannon, and
That Two government factories, one for the army
asu one for the navy, should be established for
the fabrication of guns OF such material. No ac-
ton having been taken, the board was subse
pans and estimates for carrying cut It's recon.
mendaiion. IL has received information which
indicates that there are responsible steel manu-
lecturers IN Is country who, although not pro
vided at present with the necessary plant are
willing 10 construct the same and 20 make bids
for contracts with the government for
the supply of the requisite material for the
heaviest guns adapted 10 modern warfare, il a
guaranteed order of sufficient magnitude, accom-.
pauied by positive appropriation extending
a serirs years. shall be made by congress
All doubts as to the feasibility of the plan being
thus removed, ! renew my recommendation
that such action be taken by con
construct its own ordinance upon its
own te rtory and so to provide the ornaments
demanded by considerations of naval safety and
hongr The report of the secretary of the navy
tKulbits the progress which has been made on
THE NEW STEEL CRUISERS
authorized by the acts of August 9th, 1882, and
March 81. 1883 or the four vessels under contract
one the Chicago, of 400 tons, is more than half
finished The Atlanta of 5000 tons, has been
succ ssfully launched, and her machinery is now
hting. The Boston, also of 5000 tons is ready
for launching aud The Dolphin, dispatch steam
az, Of 1900 tons, is ready Tor delivery. Certain
adverse criticisms upon the assigns OF these
cruisers are discusseu by the secretary, who ia
si,ts that the correctness OF the conclusions reach
e by the advisory board and by the department,
has been demonstrated by recent development N
sh'p-hIilding abroad
The machinery of the double turretted mont
tors. Puritan Terror and Amphitritr. contracted
for under the act of March 1881 is in process Of
construction. No work has baen done during the
past year on their armor for lack Of tie neces-
sary appropriation. fourth monitor. the
"M0nadnock,n still remains unfinished at the
navy yard IN California. IL is recommended that
early stps be taken TO complete these vessels
and 10 provide also an armament for the monitor
MiautUnnmAh. The recommendation of the
naval advisory board, approved hv the depart
ment. comprise the construction of one steel
cruiser OF 1850 tons, one cruiser T 5000 tons, two
heavy armured gun boats. one light c using gun
boat, one dispatch vessel armed With HotchkiSS
cannon one armored ram und three torpedo
boats. Tho general designs, all Of which are cal
culated TO meet thu existing wants OF the service,
are now ell advanced and The construction of
the vessels can be undertaken soon as you Shall
grant the necessary authority.
THE JEANETTE CREW.
The act of congress. approved August nth 1882,
authorized the removal to The United States Of
the bodies OF Lieut. Commander G.. w. belong,
and has mpauious Of the Jeanette expedition.
The remains were taken f ON their grave in the
Lena Delta n March, 1883, and were retained at
Yakuesk until the following winter, the season
be ny too tar ad, aDctd to ADMIT Of their imme
date transportation. They arrived at New York
February 90 1884, where they were received
with suitable honOrs.
In pursuance Of the joint resolution OF congress,
ION