The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1886-12-14
congress. The present navy of the United
States aside from the

consists OF first, fourteen single turretted
monitors, none at the present time suitable.
The batteries OF these ships are absolute
and they can only be relied
upon Us auxiliary ships in
harbor defence, and then after such
OF an expenditure upon them as might best
be deemed justiiable. Second, five fourth
rate vessels OF small tonnage, only one of
which was designed as war vessel, and
all of which are auxiliary merely. Third,
twenty-seyen cruising ships, three OF
which are built of iron of small tonnage,
and twenty-four of wood. OF these wooden
vessels, ii Is estimated by the chief con
structor of the navy, that only three will
be serviceable beyond Il period of six
years, at which time, il NAV ne said,
that of the present naval force, nothing
worthy the name will remain
all the vessels heretofore authorized are
under contract or in course of construction
except the armored ships and torpedo aud
dynamite boats and one cruise,. As To the
last OF these, the bids were in excess of the
amount fixed by congress. The production
Ia the United States Of armor and gun
steel is question which it seems necessary
to
SETTLE AT AN EARLY DAY.
III the armOred war vessels are to be COM
plet.d with these materials Of home manu-
facture. This has been the subject of in
vestigation by the two boards and by the
two special committees of con-
gress within the last lhree
years. The report of the guu foundry
board tn leS4 of the board on forti6cation
made January last, and the reports of the
select committees of the two houses m ade
at the last session of congress have entirely
exhausted the subject, so far as preliminary
investigation is involved, and in their rec
Ommendatsons they are substantially
agreed. In the event that the present in-
vitation OF the department for bids To fur
nish such OF this material as is now auth
Orized, shall fail to induce domestic manuf-
acturers to moderate the large expenditures
required to prepare for this new manufacture
Ne other steps are taken by congress at its
coming session The secretary contem-
plates with dissatisfaction the necessity of
obtaining abroad the armour and gun
steel for the authorized ships, it would
seen desirable that tn. wants of the army
and the navy in this respect, should be
reasonably met and that by uniting their
contracts such inducement might be offer
ed as would result In securing the domesti-
cation Of these important interests.
THE AFFAIRS OF THE POSTAL SERVICE
show marked and gratifying improve
ment during the past year. A particular
account OF Its transaction and
condition is given in the report
OF the postmaster general which will be
laid before you. The reduction of the ra;e
n -
postal revenues inadequate to maintain
the expenditures, and business depression
also contributing, resulted in an excess Of
costs Tor the fiscal year ending June 80,
1855, OF eight and One-third millions of
dollars; an additional check upon receipts
by doubling the measure II weights in
rating sealed correspondence, and dimin-
ishing One-hslf the charge for newspaper
carriage was imposed by legislation
which took effect with the beginning
OF the past fiscal year, while the
constant demand OF our territorial devel-
Opments and growing population for the
extentIon and increase OF mail facilities
and machinery necessitates steady annual
advance in outlay and the careful estimate
of year ago upon the rate of expenditures
been existing contemplates the unayoida-
bic augmentation of the deficiency in the |
last fiscal year by nearly two millions of
dollars, the anticipated revenue Tor this
year failed of realizing BY about S64, 900, !
but proper measures OF economy have so |
limited the growth OF expend- |
lture that the total deficiency |
in fact fell below that of 1885 |
AMI at this time the increase OF revenue is !
in gaining ratio over the increase of cost, |
the suficiency of the pres |
ent rates of postage, ultimately to sustain |
the service. This is the more pleasing be- !
cause our people enjoy now both
CHEAPER POSTAGE PROPoRTIONATELY
10 distances and a vaster and more costly |
service than any other on the globe. Re- |
trenchment has been effected in the cost ri /
some expenditures unwarranted |.
BY law have ceased and the OUTLAWS for !
mail carriage have been subjected to ben
.6cial scrutiny. At the close of the
asst fiscal year the expense
Of transportation on state routes stood at an
annual rate OF cost less by over $500. 900
han a, the close of the previous year, and
teambOat and mail messenger service at
nearly 800, 900 less. The service has been in
he meantime enlarged and extended by
he establishment of new offices, increase
Il routes, of carriage expansion, of carrier
delivery, convenience and additions to the
ailway mail facilities in accordance with
he growing exigencies OF the country and
he long established policy OF the govern
nent. The postmaster general calls attention
o existing laws for compromising railroads
md expresses the opinion that
method may be devised which will prove
more Just TO the carriers, and beneficial to
he government, and the subject appears
TOrthy Of your consideration. The differ
noes which arose during the year with
ertain OF the ocean steamship compan les,
ave terminated by the acquiesence of all
n the policy of the government, approved
y congress in the postal appropriation
{ Its last session, and the department now
njoys the utmost service afforded by all
essels which sail from our ports
pom either ocean, service gem