The Delta independent., 1888-12-11
will be completed within about four monrns

und after approval by the Board of Ordinance
and Notifications, bids for furnishing the same
will be invited. The machines and other fixtures
Will be completed as soon as the shop is in
1880.
DYNAMITE GUNS.
Under tho provisions of the Army bill for tho
procurement OF pnuematic dynamite guns the
and advertisement for proposals viii Issue sue early
in December. The guns will probably be of Il
gelatine with full calibre projectiles The guns
will probably be delivered in from TX to ten
the guns of this class that can be procured under
the provisions of this law will be purchase ed dur
ing the year.
RECOMMENDATION
earnestly request that the recommendations
contained IN the. Secretary report, all Of whicn
usefulness and discipline of the Army, may re-
coive the consideration of Congress. Among
these the proposal that there should be provided
plan for the examinat on of officers, to test
their fitness for promotion, is of the utmost i'm
portance. This reform has been before recon-
expediency is so fully demonstrated by the argu-
ment he presents in its favor h 1t it's adoption
should no longer be neglected.
GENERAL. SaERIDAN'S DEATH.
The death of General Sheridan in August last
was National atiiiction. 1h,, Army Il 81 lost
tho grundest of it's chiefs: the country lost
brave and experienced soldier, n wise and dis
Greet counsellor, and modest and sensible man.
Tho who, in any manner, came within tho range
Of his personal IS ociati on will never fal to pay
deserved and willing homage to his greatness and
the glory of his career, but thcy will cherish with
more tender sensi bility tho loving memory of his
simple, generous and considerate NATURE
THE APACHE oAPTIyEs.
The Apache Indians. whose removal from their
reservation in Aris followed the capture of
those of Il cir number who engaged in a bloody
and murderous raid dur n; a part of the years
1855 and 1885. are now he'd prisoners OF war at
Mount Vernon barracks in the State of Alabama.
They numbered on the sist day of 0etober (the
date OF the last rep, rt: ss men and 10 women, 70
boys and SO girls, in all 3sa persons. The COM
manding officer stqtes that they are in good
nc he ana dnd h mat they are 6a
children, they arr We at suitable age. sent
to the Indians schools at Carlisle and Hampton.
asked permission to send two teachers to those
Indians for the purpose of ofinstrpGting the adults
Such permission was readily granted. accomno-
dations provided for the teachers and some
portions Of the buildings at the barracks were
made available for this purpose. The good work
contemplated has been commenced, and the
teachers engaged. are paid by the ladies with
whom the plan originated.
HE OPPOSES THEIR RETURN.
am not at all in sympathy with those bcnevo-
lent. but injudicious people, who are constantly
i9ts necessity, and il the lives and properly Of
enrded by tho Government their continued re-
straint at distance from the scene of their
repeated and cruel murders ani outrages is still
these savages returned to their old haunts.
the d'' result sui OF the lest Judgment ~ Of these Sc
having official responsibility in the matter and
Who ara by no means lacking in their s
have forfeited their lives to outrage law and
humanity. Experience has proved that they are
dangerous and cannot be trusted. This is true
not only of those who, on the warpath. have hare
tofore been actually guilty of atrocities and mur-
they remained upon tho reservation, furnished
aid and comfort to those absent with bloody
intent.
KIND TREATMENT FOR THEM.
These prisoners should be II .ated kindly and
kept in restraint far from m tho locality qf their
jected to efforts calculated to lead to their i'm
provement and to the softening of their savage
and cruel instincts. but their return to their
homes should be persiseltly tssted.
tory Of tfe,e .Ia;.nns and recites with painful
of tho Government manage them by peaceful
means. II will be amazing If u perusal OF this
to their
upon sentimental or any other grounds.
Tho report of the Secretary of the Navy demon
portant department and discloses the most satis-
81 sSs sps &
Baltimore, Yorktown and vcsuvius and the Petrol
approaching completion, and in addition to the
above the Philadelphis, the San Francisco, tho
reschof torpsdo boat, are all un Ter contract for
delivery to the department during tho next year.
The progress already and being made gives good
ground for tho expectation that these eleven ves-
sells will be incorporated as part Of the American
navy within the next twelve months.
ECONOMY CLAIMED.
The report shows that notwithstanding tho
large expenditures for now construction and the
labor they involve the total ordn9
the thre. years ending June 30, 1888, are less by
more than 20 per cent than 8 Ich expenditures for
steps which have been taken to improve the
business methods of the department are reviewed
igp. has been snd paeea
under responsible bureau head, and this hns
resulted in the curtailment Ct open purchases,
which in the years 1884 and 1883 amounted to over
30 per cent of all the purchases of the depart
ment. to less than II per cent. SO that ut tho
partmcntal purchases are made by contract and
after competition. As the expenditures on these
accounts exceed an average OF 81 .0G 0OO annually
the system has been inargurnted and substantial
economy introduced.
THE rosToEy1oE DEPARTMENT:
The report of the Postmaster-General shows
marked increase of business in every branch of
ON eae ny Wa anu d s n
three years, and of 22lg for tho Last fiscal year
The latter mentioned increase is classified as fol
Southern States and Indian Territory ! 400, the
States and Territories of the Pacific Coast 19o;
the ten States and Territories of the West and
Northwest 435, District of Columbia 2, total 2,2l9
FREE DELIVERY AND RAILWAYS.
The free delivery Offices have incrclsed from
ls9 in the fiscal year which ended June 30, 1881 to
1858 in tho year which ended June ~, 1888
In the railway mail service there has been an
increase in one year of 1853 routes and in ths mum.
Ser of miles travelled per I'm an incI ease Of
15o,795,9 ,917.411. The estimatol increase of the
railrond service for tho is 60o miles, but the
amount Of new railroad service actually put on
was 1,270 $50 miles.
MONEY ORDER BUSINESS.
The volume of business in the money order
division, including tho Transaction in postal
notes, reached the sum of upwards of $143, ,OOo,-
600 for the year.
Dnring The past year post conventions have
been concluded with Barbadoes, the Bahamas,
British Honduras and Mexico and arc now un-
der negotiations with all of the Central and
South American States.
The increase of the correspondence with for
eign countries during the It three years is grnt
flying, and is especially not BILE and exceptional
with the Central and South American States, and
with Mexico. As the greater part of the mail
matter exchanged with ths,e countries is COM
mercial in its character this increase is evidence
Of the improved business relations with them.
Tho practical operations of the parcel post con-
ventions far as negotiated hns served to fulfil
the most favorable ns to their benofits