The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1886-12-07

remaining upon the reservation, were
regarded as unsafe and suspected OF
furnishing aid to those on the war
path, had been removed TO Fort
Marion; the women and larger child
rem of the hostiles were also taken
there, and arrangements have been
made for putting the children Of proper
age II Indian schools.
THE NAVY.
The report of the Secretary of the
Navy contains detailed report OF the
condition of his Department, with such
q statement of the action needed TO
improve the same as should challenge
the earnest attention of Congress. The
present navy of the United States aside
from the ships in course of c5nStrnc-
ton, consists of, first, fourteen single
turreted monitors, none OF which arc
in commission nor at the present time
serviceable. The batteries of these
ships are obsolete and they can only be
relied upon as auxiliary ships in bar
Dor defense and then after such
az expenditure upon them as might be
deemed justihable. Second, five
fourth-rate vessels of small tonnage,
only one of which was assigned IS j
war vessel, and all of which are
auxiliary merely. Third, twenty seven
cruising ships, three of which are built
of iron, of small tonnage, and twenty
four of wood. OF these wooden yes
sells it is estimated by the chief con-
structor of the navy, that only three
will be serviceable beyond 4 period of
six years, at which time il may be
said that of the present naval force
nothing worthy the name will remain.
A n tho rrAEgnIE harnsnfnra amFhnwfynH
are under contract or in course OF con-
struction, except the armored ships,
the torpedo and dynamite boats and
one cruiser. As 20 the last of these,
the bids were in excess CT the limit
fixed by Congress. The production in
the United States of armor and gun
steel is a question which IL seems
necessary TO settle at an early day, If
the armOred war vessels are TO be
completed with those materials of
home manufacture. This has been
the subject Of investigation by two
boards and by two special committees
of Congress within the last three
years. The report of the gun foundry
board In 1884, Of the board on fortifica-
tons made in January last, and the
reports of the select committee of the
two houses made Ut the last session OF
Congress have entirely exhausted the
subject so far as preliminary inves-
tigatiOn j. involved, and in their recon-
mendat!onS they are substantially
agreed. In the event that present in
vltation of the department for bids 70
furnish such of this material as is now
authorized shall fail 10 induce domes-
tic manufacturers 10 undertake the
large expenditures required TO pre-
pare for this new manufacture,
| and no other steps are taken by Con-
gress At its coming session, the Secre-
tary cOntemplateS with dissatisfaction
the necessity of obtaining abroad the
armors and the gun steel for the au-
thoriZed ships. Ii would seem desir-
able that the wants of the army and
Eavy in this regard should be reason
ably met, and that oy uniting the con.
] tracts such inducement might De Of
fered as would result in securing II,
domestication OF these important IN.
/ terestS.
THE POSTAL SERVICE.
The affairs of the postal seryic,
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 viii
I - A1A1 0NA&AN -0As ANAANkAOu VI
the rate OF letter postage in 1883, rem.
| dering the postal revenue inadequate
to sustain the expenditures, and bust
ness depression also contributing, re.
! suited in excess of cost for the fisca
year ended June 90, 1885, Of eight anC
one-third millions OF dollars An adj
I ditional check upon receipts by doubl-
/ ing the measure of weight i'm ratius
| sealed SpondeuCe ana diminish
! ing one-haf the charge for newspaper
carriage, was imposed by legislation,
which took effect with the begin
ming OF the past fiscal year, while the
constant demand of our territorial de-
velopment and growing population for
the extension and increase CT mai
facilities and machinery necessitate Z
steady annual advance in OUTLAY: auC
the careful estimate OF q year ago upoT
the rates OF expenditure then existing
contemplated the Unavoidable aug-
incubation Of the deficiency in the l4St
fiscal year by EeaT,' two millions u
dollars. The anticipated revenue for
the iSst year failed Of realization by
about S54 eco, but proper measures OF
economy have so satisfactorily limited
lhe growth Of expenditure