Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-12-12
THE DEPARTMENTS.
Operations in the Postal Branch of the
Government During the Year.

The report of the acknowledgement not only
exhibits the operations of the department for the
fiscal year, but contains many valuable SuggeS-
lions for the improvement and extension of the
service, which are commended to your attention.
No other branch of the government has so closely
a contact with the daily life of the people. Almost
every one uses the service it Offers and every
hour gained in the transmission of the great COM
mercial mails. has an actual and possible value
that only those engaged in trade can understand.
The saving of one day in the transmission of
the mails between New York and San Francisco,
which has recently been accomplished, is an incl
dent worthy of mention. The plan suggested of
a supervision of the postoffice on separate dis
tricts that shall involve instruction and suggestion
and a rating of efficiency OF the pootmaSters,
would, L have no doubt, greatly improve the
service.
A pressing necessity exists for the erection of
building for the Joint use of the department and
of the city postoffice The department par
TALLY relieved by renting outside quarters for a
part of its force but it is again over-crowded
The building used by the city office never was fit
for the purpose and is now inadequate and I'M
wholesome. The unsatisfactory condition OF law
relating to the transmission through the mails OF
lottery advertisements and remttanceS is clearly
stated by the postmaster general and his sugges-
ton as to amendments should have your favor
able consideration.
Condition of Our Navy.
The report of the secretary of the navy shows
reorganization of the bureaus of the depart
ment that will, do not doubt, promote the eff
iciency of each. In general satisfactory progress
has been made in the construction of the new
ships of war authorized by congress. The first
vessel of the new navy, the Dolphin, was subjected
to a very severe trial test and to very much adj
criticism. But it is gratifying to be able to
state that cruise around the world from which she
has recently returned, has demonstrated chat she
is f1rst-cass vessel of her rate. The report of
the secretary shows that while the effective force
OF the navy is rapidly increasing by reason OF the
improved build and armament of the new ships,
the number of ships fit for duty grows very
slowly We had on the 4th of March last thirty
seven Serviceable ships and though four have since
been added to the list the total has not been in
creased, because in the mean time four have been
lost or condemned. Twenty additional vessels
have been authorized and appropriated for, but
it is probable that when they are completed, our
list will only be increased to fortytWo, gain OF
five. The old wooden ships are disappearing al
most as fast as the new vessels are added. These
facts carry their own argument. One of the new
ships may, in fighting strength, equal two OF the
old, but it cannot do the cruising duties OF two.
1t is important therefore, that we should have
more rapid increase in the number of servicea-
bic ships. l concur in the recommendation or
the secretary, that the construction of eight ar
mored ships, three gunboats and five torpedo
An appalling calamity befell three of our naval
vessels on duty at the Samoan Isles In the harbor
of Apia in March last, involving the loss OF four
officers and forty-Seven seamen, of two vessels,
the Trenton and Vandalia, and the disabling of
third, the Nipsic. The vessels Of the German
navy also in the harbor shared with our ships
the force of the hurricane and suffered even
more heavily. While mourning the brave officers
aud men. who died facing with high resolve,
pers greater than those of battle it is most graf
flying to state the credit of the American navy
for seamanship, courage and generosity was mag.
niicently sustained in the storm-beaten harbor OF
Apia.
The Interior Department.
The report of the secretary of the interior
hlbltS the transactions of the government with
the Indian tribes Substantial progress has been
made in the education of the children of school
age and the allotment Of lands to adult Indians.
1t is to be regretted that the policy of breaking up
the tribal regulation and of dealing with the In
dian as an individual, did not appear earlier in
our legislation. Large reservations held in COM
mon and the maintenance of the authority of the
chiefs and head men, have deprived the individual
OF every incentive to the exercise of theft, and
the annuity has contributed affirmative i'm
pulse toward state of confirmed pauperisn.
Our treaty stipulations should be observed with
fidelity, and our legislation should be highly con-
Slderate OF the best interests of ignorant and
helpless people. The reservations are now gen.
orally surrounded by white settlements We can
no longer push the Indian back into the wilder
ness, and it remains only, by every suitable
agency. to push him upward into the state of
sef-supporting and responsible citizen. For the
adult. the first step is to locate him upon farm,
and for the child. TO place him in school, And
school attendance should be promoted
by every moral agency, and those fail