The Hot Springs star. (Hot Spings [Hot Springs], Dakota [Dakota Territory, i.e. S.D.]) 1886-189?, 1888-12-14

euartsss Aays besn puhaishsd. n detailed
diswises sSd spseaScsdoes Soe Is sua fae.
tory b1ildins ere well Il hand and viii BE- A
tsAed within th1ee o. fouf moAths, whsn bids
WIN be invited for tAe erection Of The build.
ing. Tho list Of machines, ETC., 10 made out
and Il is expected that the plans ics The large
isshes. etc, win BE- completed within about
Of ordnance and fortidcaiionr, BIDS for iniah.
ing same will b invited. The machines and
other fixtures will be completed % soon %
the shop 10 IN readiness to receive them, prob
ably about 1890. Under the provlsions OF the
army bin for the pFocursment OF
sary speciacatlons are now being
prepared and advertieemente for proposals
will be Issued early In December. The guns
will probably be Of fifteen inches calibre and
hre Q projecttle that will carry . charge each
Of about 800 pounds Of explosive gelatine
probably be delivered 10 from six to ten
months from the date OF the contract, 30 that
all the guns Of this class that can be procured
under the provtsions Of this law will be pur-
chased during the year. I earnestly. request
that the Recommendations contained In the
eecretary's report, all Of which are, In my
opinion, calculated to increase the usefulness
and discipline OF the army, may receive the
consideration OF the congress-. Among thete
the proposal that there should be provided .
plan for the examination Of officers I test
their dtne1s for promotion 10 OF the utmost
importance. This reform has been before
recommended, and its expediency is 60 fully
demonstrated BY the argument presented IN
lite favor that its adoption should no longer
b. neglected.
The death OF Gen. Sheridan in August last
was Q national af1tction. The army then lost
the grandest Of its chlefs; the country Lost .
brave and experienced soldier, . wise and
AenanAaA noNNHaAN1Ne anil n vnNAn.k and aonaf
BILE man. Those who in any manner came
within the range Of his p~ersonal association
will never failtO pay deserved and willing
homage to his greatness and the glory Of hts
career, but they will cherish with more ten
der sensibiltty the loving memory Of his SLIM
pie, generous and considerate nature.
THE NAVY.
The report Of the secretary Of the navy
demonstrates very Intelligent management IN
that important department and dtscloses the
most sattsfactory progress 10 the work of re-
constructing the navy during the past year.
OF the ship. in course Of construction, five,
viz: the Charleston, Baltimore, Yorktown,
vesuvlus aud the Petrol have In that time
been launched and are rapidly approaching
completion; and in addition to the above the
Philadelphia, the San Francieco, the Newark,
the Remington, the Concord and the HERES
shot torpedo boat, are al under contract for
delivery to the department during the next
ySS 8sAOo0y SAk4 = v
good grounds for the expectation that these
eleven vessels will be incorporated as a part
Of the American navy within the next twelve
months. The report shows that notwith-
standing the large expenditures for new con-
etruction and additional labor they involve,
the total ordinary or current expenditure Of
the department for the three years ending
June 50, 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 improve the
business. methods of the department are re
supplies has been consolidated and placed
under Q responsible bureau head. This has
resulted In the curtsilment Of open purchases,
which In the years 1884 and 1855 amounted to
over 50 per cent. OF all purchases of the de-
psrtment, to the loss DILL per cent, go that
at the present time about 40 per cent. Of the
total departmental purchases are made by
contract, and after competition, as the expend-
itures on that account saved on an average
$2,0O0,O0O annually aud 1t is evident that an
important improvement In the system has
been inaugurated and substantantial econ
omies introduced.
The report of the postmaster general shows
. marked increase Of business in every
branch Of b postal service. The number
ofpostcflccs on July I, 1855, was 81, 376. an
increase OF 6,124 in three years and of 1919
for the last fiscal year. The latter men
toned increase is classified as follows: New
southern states and Indian Territory, 1,4O8;
the states and territories Of the Pacific coast,
100; the ten states and territories of the west
and northwest, Abs; District of Columbia, 9;
total 2,2l9. The free delivery offices have
Increased 1889 in the fiscal year ended June
80, 1887; to 1858 In the year ended June 30,
1888. In the railway mall service there has
been An average increase in one year Of 6S
routes and In the number of miles Travelled
per annum, u Increase Of l50, sa5, l17.4 8.
The estimated increase of the railroad SER
vice for the year ia 600 miles, but the amount
1870, $50 miles.
The volume OF business In the money order
division inclu ling q transaction In postal
notes, reached the sum Of upwards OF 3d.
100000 for the year. During the past year
parcel post conventions have been concluded
with the Barbados, the Bahama, British
Honduras and Mexico, ard are now under
negotiations with all the Central and South
American states. The increase of cores
pondence with foreign countries during the
past three years is gratifying and is especially
notable and ex%ceptionable with the Central
and South American states and with Mexico.
As the greater part Of mail matter exchanged
with these countries is commercial in
character, this increase is evidence Of the
improved business relations with them. The
practical operation Of the parcel post CON
vention, 30 far as negotiated, has served to
fuldll the most favorable predictions as to
their benefits. In January last q general
po~stoonvention was negotiated with the domin
ION Of Canada, which went into operation on
March !, and which practically mikes one
postal territory Of the United States and
Canada. Under 1t merchandise ~ltrcels may
now be transmitted through the msi' at fourth
class rates of postage. II fs not pos sible here
to touch even the leading heads Of the gov
eminent postal establishment to illustrate the
enormous and rapid growth OF it: business
and the needs for Legislative r adjustment Of
much Of its machinery that 1t has outerown.
For these and valuable recommendations Of
invited to his report. The revenues In THU
department have increased from t19, 1172,OOl
in 1870 to e52, 10000 in 1883, despite the re.
duction Of postage which has enormously re.
duced the receipts Of revenue, while greatly
increasing Its business demands. The care.
full confederation Of the congress rs to al
matters suggested by those familiar With iii
operation and which are calculated to increase
its efficiency and usefulness is suggested.
was introduced ct the last session of congress:
by which Q uniform standard 10 the amount
OF gross receipts would fix the right OF q com
munity to Q public building I, BE- erected by
the government for postoflce purposes. II
was demonstrated that aside from the public
convenience and the promotion OF harmony
among citizens, invariably disturbed by thu
change and leasing Of . site, 1t was q measure
Of highest economy and Of sound business
ment was paying In rents at the rate Of from
2 TO 10 per cent. per annum on what the cos
Of such public buildings would be. A very
| great advantage resulting from such Law