Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1888-12-05


quarters have been published. The detailed
drawings and specifications for the gun fac
tory buiki ing are well ia hand and win be fin
fshcd w&hin three or four months, within bids
viii be invited for the erection Of the hnild-
ing. Ths list of machines, etc, fs made out
and 1t iSaxpested that the plans for the large
lathes, ef, viii be completed within about
four moEshs and after approval by the board
of ordoaice aud Notifications. BIDS for finish
ing sam9Eill be fnvlteJ. The machines aud
other figures will be completed rs soon as
the shopI In readiness to receive them, prob
ably abok 1890 Under The provisions Of the
pnenmatl dynamite guns the neces-
sa,y Specifications arc ncw being
prepared and advertise incnts for proposals
will be i&saed early I'm December. The guns
will prottsoly tie Of fifteen inches calibre and
fire rr4Stcflle thai will carry 4 charge each
CT about co pounds Of explosive gelatine
with failsaiiers proj etlle. Toe guns Will
probably be delivered In from six to ten
months T. ON the date OF the contract, SO that
oil the gfas of this class that can be procured
under thsproviSions OF this law wil be plr-
chased Diving the year. l earnestly request
that thu Recommendations contained in the
secretarys report, all OF which are, in my
opinion, alculaicd to Increase the usefulness
and diteelsne Of the army, may receive the
tho prorsssl that there SHOULD be provided .
sssS *saAkNxarnination Of officers to test
Ssss4is ht s1ss 1T s8USnosfon 81 Gf the ntmsN
importance. This reform has been before
recommended, and It's expediency is so fully
demonstrated by the argument presented in
its favor that lis adoption should no longer
be neglected. \
The death Of Gen, Sheridan In August last
was a national afiiction. The army then lost
the graudest of It's chiefs the country lost a
brave and experienced solcier, o wise and
discreet COUNSELLOR and a modest and seusi-
bic mau Those who In any manner came
witiin the range of his personal association
will never fail 10 pay deserved and willing
homage to hts greatness and the glory OF his
career, hut they will cherish wi h more ten
der sensibilIty the loving memory of his sim
pie, generous and considerable nature.
THE NAVY.
The report OF the secretary Of the navy
demonstrates very intelligent management In
that important department and discloses the
most satisfactory progress In the work OF re-
constructing the navy during the past year.
OF the ships Ia course of construction, five,
viz: the Charleston, Baltimore, yorktown,
Tosuyus aud the Petrel have In that time
been launched and are rapidly Approaching
completion, aud in addition to the above the
Philadelphia, The San Francisco, the Newark,
the Burlington, the Concord and the Heres
shot torpedo boat, are all under contract for
delivery to the department during the rext
year. The progress already being made gives
good grounds for the expo citation that these
eleven vessels will be Incorporated as part
Of the American uavy within the neat twelye
months. The report shows that notwith-
standing the large ea expenditures for new CON
struel ton and additional labor they involve,
the total ordinary or current expenditure Of
the drpsr ment for the three years ending
June 80, 1855 are less by more than 20 per
cent. than such expenditures for the three
years ending June 80, 1854. The various
steps which have been taken TO improve the
business methods of the department are re
viewed by the secretary. The pur, hasing of
supple has been consolidated and placed
under res ponsible bureau head. This has
resulted Ia the curtailrnent ofopen purchases,
which In the years 1854 and 1885 amounted to
over 50 per cent. Of all purchases OF the de-
partnent, to The loss OF II per cent, so that
at the present time about 90 per cent. of the
to raj departmental purchases are made by
contracf, andBfter competition, as tie expend.
lures on that account saved OF an average
$1,000, 900 annually and 1t is evident that an
important i'm. Oyement in the system has
b,ea ipaugurated and substantantial econ
omies introduced
THE PosToFFICEs.
The report of the postmaster general shows
marked increase Of business In every
branch of the postal service. The number
OF postt illecs on July ], 1888, WAS 81 ,3i6. an
Increase OF 6,124 In three years and of 2,219
for the last fiscal year. The latter men
toned increase is classified as follows New
England states. B; middle states, ISL ;
southern states and Indian Territory, /, 4oj !;
the states and territories Of the Pacific coast,
1921 the ten states and territories Of the west
and northwest, 435, District of Col hinbia, Q !,
total 2,2le The free delivery Offices have
increased 1879 In the fiscal year ended June
80, 1851; to 1853 In the year ended June 80
1883 10 the railway natl service there has
been an average increase In one year OF GS
routes and In the number Of miles Travelled
per annum, an increase OF $50, 795, HAS.
The estimated Increase of the railroad SER
vice for the year is 600 miles, but the amount
OF new railroad service actually put on was
1876, $50 miles.
The volume OF business ia the money order
division inclu ling transaction in postal
notes reached the sum OF upwarda VI ga :
O00, 0Co for the year. During the past year
parcel post conventions have been concluded
with the Rarbadeps, the Bahama, British
Honduras and Mexico, ard are nov under
negotiations with all the Central aud South
American states. The increase OF cores
pondence with foreign countries dtring the
past three years is gratifying ard Is especially
notable and e1ceptiopable with the Central
AS the greatr part of mail matter exchanged
with these countries Is commercial In
character, this incresse is evidence OF the
improved b;slness relations with them. The
practical operation of the parcel post con-
veniion, SO far as negotiated, has served to
fulfill the most favorable predictions as to
their benefits. In January last general
post conventfon was negotiated with the dornin
ION Of Canada, which went into operation ON
March |, and which practically makes one
postal territory Of the United States snd
Canada. Under II merchandise rsteeis may
now be transmitted through the mel at fourth
class rat, of postage. II is not pcs sibIe here
to touch even the leading heads OF the gov
eminent postal establishment to illustrate the
enormous and rapid growth OF 1t. business
and the needs for legislative adjustment of
much of it's machinery that II has outgrown.
For these and valuable recommendations Of
our postmaster general attention Is earnestly
invited to his report, The revenues in THE
department have increased from $40, re 900
IN 1870 to So, Too, 900 In 1888, despite ths re-
duct on Of postage Thi,h has enormously re-
dneed the receipts OF revenue, while greatly
increasing its business demands. The care
fui consideration Of the congress as to all
matters suge ested by these familiar with It's
operation and whicb are calculated to increase
Its efficiency end usefulntss is suggested
A bill proposed by the postmaster general
wac introduced at the last session cs cssngress
by which uniform standard in the amount
OF srose retcipts would fix the right OF a COM
muuity to public bu ldng to be erected by
the government for postofiiee purposes. 1t
was demonstrated that aside from the public
convenience and the promotion Of harmony
among citissus, Invariably disturbed BY the
charge and leasing Of site, 1t was 8 measure
OF highest economy and Of sound business
judgment. 1t was fotnd that the goSeth.
ment was paving In fehts ut the rate OF from
to ~ per cent. per annum on what the cost
OF such public bulldogs would be. A very
great advantage resulting from such Law
would be the prevention of large number OF
bills constantly introduced for the erection OF
puolic buildings at places and involving u
penditure not justified by public necessity.
trust that this measure will become law at
the present session OF congress. OF the total
Lumber OF postmasters, 54e74 are Of the
fourth class. These Of course receive no al
lowat,ces whatever for expenses In the service
and their compensation is fixed by percentage
OF receipts OF their fps Give Offices This rstv
CT compensation may have been and prob .bly
was, st some time just, but the staa lard has
remxiued unchanged through the
several reductions in the rates - t,.tage.
Rof3, tes,Vo 81