New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-12-04

! fercnt newspapers designated The BIDS Ior zig n
steel forgngs are to be opened on December s9'
isss. and for the mortars on December IS, 1883:
| A BOARD OF Ordnance Ofhcsrs was conyened =
the Watervliet Arsenal; on October :. ioes %, 70
prepare the necessary plans and SPECIFICATIONS JOE
the establishment OF an army gun factory AZ thas
point. The preliminary report OF this board
with estimates for shop buildings and omcers
quarters, was approved by the Board OF Utdnsnn
and Fortifcations November eDd 8, Inc SPEC
ifcations and form OF advertisement ana Insruc-
tions to bidders have been prepared. ana sayer-
for the shop building and for erecting the TWO
sets OF officers quarters have been pupnsnsu.
The detailed dfawings and sReGGSstons .n ,Sr iii III
be finished within three or four months, when
bids will be invited for the erection OF the build.
ing The list Of machines etc Is maze cI,
etc.. will be completed within about -FOUR montns,
and after appr0yal by the Board OF Ordnance an9 ,
Fertilization, bids for furnishing the same WI,
to receive them, probably about July 1890;
n mt Of pSeamatc dynamite guns the
necessary specifications arc now being prepared.
and advertisements for proposals will issue early
nches sabre enc and fvns . w That vii
carry a charge each OF about 500 pounds OF ex-
plosve gelatine, with full-calbre projectics The
guns will probably be delivered in from siA TO
that all the guns Of this class that can be pro.
cured under the provisions OF the law Will os
earnestly request that the recommendations
contained in the Secretary's report, all Of which
are, in my opinion, calculated to increase the use
funess and discipline OF the army, may receive
The consideration OF the Congress. Among these
the proposal that there shonM be provided q
plan Tor the examination OF oficcrs TO test tnelr
fitness for promotion Is OF the utmost Importance
This reform has been before recommended In the
reports OF .he Secretary, and It's cAIediency Is 20
fully demonstrated by the argument he presents
il. its favor that its adoption should no longer be
neglected.
was q National affection The army then lost
the grandest Of its chiefs. The country lost
brave and experienced soldier. wise and discreet
counsellor. and q modest and sensible man. 1hos.
who, in any manner, came within the range or
his personal association. will never fail 10 pay
deserved and willing homage 20 his greatness ana
the glory Of his career: but they VIII cherish
with more tender scnsiblllty the loving memory
OF his simple. generous ard considerable nature.
THE INDIANS IN ARIZONA.
The Apache Indians, whose removal from their
reservation in Arizona followed the capture Of
those Of their number who engaged in bloody
end murdcrous raid during part OF the years
1885 and Ss6 held as prisoners or
war mt Mount Vernon barracks. in the State of
Alabama They numbered on the 3Ist day OF
October the date of the last report, SO men.
40 women, 40 boys, and 80 girls. IN all $50
persons The commanding officer states that they
are in good hea lth and contented, and that they
are kept employed us fully as possible In the
circumstances The children. as they arrive at
a suitable age sent 10 the Indian schools az
Carlisle and Hampton. Last summer some chart
table and kind people asked permission to send
two teachers TO these Indians for the purpose or
instrnctng the adu It's as we'll as such children AZ
should be found there Such permission was
readily granted accommodations were provided
fer the teachers, and some portions OF the build
ines at the barracks were made available Tor
school purposes. The good work contemplated
has been commenced, and the tet chers are paid
by the ladies with whom the plan originated.
I ,nf al m
lent but iniudicous people who are constantly in
sisting that these Indians should be returned To
their reservation. Their removal was an absolute
necessity, if the lives and property OF citlrns
upon the frontier are TO be at all regarded by the
Government Their continued restraint at dis
tance from the scene Of their repeated and cruel
murders and outrages is still necessary. IL Is u
furious, which prompts the desire TO
see these savages returned to their old haunts.
They arc in their present location as the result
of the best Judgment OF those having official re-
sponsbility in the matter, and who are by no
means lacking in kind consideration for the In
dams. number OF these prisoners have for
feited their lives 10 outraged law and humanity.
Experience has proved that they are dangerous
not only of those who the war
path have heretofore actually been
guilty OF atrocitus murder but a. their kindred
and friends who. while they remained upon their
reservation, furnished and and comfort TO those
absent with bloody intent.
These prisoners should be treated kindly and
former reservation: they should be subjected TO
efforts calculated TO lead to their Improvement
and the softening Of their savage and cruel in
sincts, but their return TO their old home should
be persistently resisted.
The Secretary. in his report, gives q graphic
history OF these Indians and recites with painful
vividness their bloody deeds and the unhappy
failure of the Government TO manage them by
peaceful means. IL will bo amazing II pcrusal
OF this history will allow the survival of desire
for the return OF these prisoners 10 their reserva-
THE NAVY.
The report OF the Secretary Of the Navy demons
strates very intelligent mana cement in that im-
portant department, and discloses the most satis-
factory progress in the work Of reconstructing the
Navy made during the past year. or the ships
in course of construction five. viz, the Charles
ton. Baltimore, Yorktown. Vesu,ius and the
Petrol, have in that tine been launched and are
ia pidly approaching completion and in addition TO
the above, the Philadelphia, the San Francisco,
the Newark, the Bennington. the Concord and
the Ilerrcshoh torpedo boat are all under contract
for delivery TO the department during the next
year The progress already made and being made
gives good ground for the expectation that these
eleven vessels will be Incorporated as part OF
the American Navy within the next twelve months
The report shows that Notwithstanding the
large expenditures for new construction, and the
additional labor they involve. the total ordinary
or current expenditures II the Department for
the three years ending June 80. 1888, are less
by more than 20 per cent than such expenditures
for the three years ending June 80, 1884.
The various steps which have been taken to inns
prove the business methods Jf the Department are
reviewed by the Secretary. The purchasing OF
supplies has been consolidated and placed under
q responsible Bureau head. This has resulted in
the curtailment of open purchases, which IN tho
years 1884 and ss5 amounted to over 80 per
cent of all the purchases OF the Department., 10
less than IL per cent; so that a. the present
time about 90 per cent of the total Departmental
purchases are made by contract and after COM
petition. As the expenditures on this account
exceed an average Of s2,000,000 annually. 10
il evident that an important Improvement In the
system has been inauguratcd and substantial
introduced.
THE POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT.
The report Of the PostmasterIieneral shows q
marked increase OF business in every branch %
the postal service.
The number OF post Offices on July l. 1888. was