The National tribune., 1886-12-02
The young lady be is TO marry is described as
having unusual graces Of person and mind.
HEALTH OF THE ARMY,

The young lady be is 10 marry is described as
having unusual graces Of person and mind.
HEALTH OF THE ARMY.
The annual report Of the Surgeon-General
shows that the average mean strength Of the
army was i,13S and the number Of admis-
sions to sick report during the year, 32,990,
:, 500 less than for the previous year The aver
age days lost by sickness TO each man was 10.
The number OF deaths from all causes was l52.
IL is a matter OF cOngratulation that not only
the admission rate for the troops but also the
death rate has fallen 10 lower point than at
any time within the history Of the Medical
Department During year OF exceptional
health for the army greater proportion OF ln-
yalIds was furnished by troops under 81 years
Of age, while up 10 the age of 25 years the rate
proved so much above the mean for the whole
army that it may be questioned whether the
services rendered by these young men are
equal TO the cost OF their maintenance.
Among native born white troops Sc deaths
took place, or Ca per thousand of strength;
among foreign born, 50, or 70 per thousand;
among colored troops, Ii. or So per thousand.
Men of Irish birth furnished the highest NOR
tality rate, the English stood next and the
Germans third. The greatest number of deaths
in proportion to strength was shown by the
Swiss, but rs there were but 233 in the service
the high mortality is considered accidental.
August proved the most fatal month and De-
cember next,
THE NATIONAL DRILL.
The correspondence for entries for the na-
tional drill, TO be held in Washington in May
next has swelled TO unexpected proportions.
A tabulated statement Just made by the man
aging secretary shows that letters have been
received from I07 separate organizations, rep
resenting p States. These are distributed as
follows: Alabama, 3 Connecticut, 6; District
of Columbia, B; Florida, j; Georgia, 3; llli-
nois, 5; Indiana, 3 Iowa, 3: Kansas, 1; Ken
lucky, 3; Louisiana, 4 Maine, j; Massachu-
sets, ?; Maryland, 3; Michigan, 4; Minnesota,
3 Mississippi 8; Missouri, :; New Jersey, 3;
New York, s; Ohio, A. Pennsylvania, 2;
Rhode Island, 4; South Carolina, 2; Tennessee,
g; Texas, >; Wisconsin, 6. The distribution
of these troops shows three cavalry organi-
zations IL platoOns of light artillery and gatlng
guns, ZOuave corps, z regiments Of infantry,
battaions of infantry, 4 bands, drum corps
and the rest separate infantry companies The
subscription 10 the guarantee fund for prizes,
etc, amounting 10 $4,000, was raised within
three weeks time and was closed before any
decisive steps were taken. 1t shows 81 names
Of men in varied business and professions,
making the average subscription about S5l5.45
each.
TIE NEW NAVY.
Admiral ID. ID. Porter has submitted 10 the
Secretary Of the Navy paper embodying his
views for promoting the efficiency Of the Navy.
He considers home defense more worthy OF
consideration at present than the construction
of cruisers. and that the ironclads now laid up
at City Point are so well adapted TO the pro-
lection Of the coast that it seems a pity they
should be left in the condition they are to-day.
Regarding the new cruisers, Chicago, Atlanta,
and Boston, and dispatch boat Dolphin he says
$50 far the new vessels have given no evidence
of great speed and it is feared by those most
interested in the matter that they never will,
which deficiency will render them useless as
commerce destroyers, although they may serve
the purpose Of guarding our interests among the
smaller powers which have no naval force"
The Admiral then gives his idea Of the style Of
vessel needed. He favors frSt-class war ships,
Of rot less than 6000 or more than 1000 tons,
with a speed Of 19l knots; secOnd-class ships
Of not less than 4,500 or more than 5000 tons,
with a speed Of 10 knots aud third-class ships
OF 5000 tons, with speed of is knots.
STEEL ORDNANCE.
Commodore Montgomery Sicard, Chief Of the
Bureau of Ordnance, in his annual report 10
the Secretary Of the Navy, says that during the
year a number Of siX-inch, high-pOwer steel
guns have been finished and fred at the Naval
Ordnance Proving Grounds. and they all en-
dured proof ia a very satisfactory manner. No
practical difficulty is encountered in the manu-
iaciure and fitting OF the different parts Of the
guns. There is little doubt he says, that
the art of making solid steel castings will soon
advance sufficiently TO enable us TO overcome
the difficulties that have thus far presented
themselves in this matter" Under the head
Of machine guns and cannon, the report notes
the tendency abroad 10 increase the caliber oi
such cannon, aud the opinion is expressed that
pieces throwing proiectiles Of 90 aud 30 pounds
will sooa be perfected. Cartridges for Hotch.
kiss guns have been produced in this country
which perform better than those made abroad
THE POSTAL REVENUES.
Third Assistant Postmaster-General A. ID
Hazen, in his report TO the Postmaster General
says that the revenue for the year came ou
81, ,3S7 579.l2 ahead Of that Of the previous year
and this in spite Of the loss ON second-clas
matter and Of the change Of the unit Of weight
| of hrst-class matter. The six months ended
March 81 showed an increase in ordinary posta
revenues lexcluding revenue from second-clas
matter and money-order busness) of 81 SOB,
/ 355, or 40 per cent, making no allowance fo
the loss through the change in the unit o
weight. The report says that additional reye
nues may be expected from the extension o
the special delivery system, the admission 0
liquids as mail matter and the important re
duction in the price Of stamped envelopes un
der recent contracts.