The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1892-12-07

most gratifying increase ana most efTic;ent
progressive management of the great business
of that department. The remarkable increase
in revenues, in the number of postoflices, and
in the miles of mail carriage furnishes further
evidence of the high state of prosperity which
our people are enjoying.
The postal revenues have increased during
the last year nearly S50C0,0OO The deficit for
the year ending June 80, 1892, is SSis3il less
than the deficiency for the preceding year.
The deficiency of the present fiscal year, it is
estimated, will be reduced to $l552,493 which
will not only be extinguished during the next
fiscal year, but a surplus of nearly Sl,OOOOOO
should then be shown.
Secretary of the Navy.
The report of the secretary of the navy ex-
hibts great progress in the construction of
our new navy. When the present secretary
entered upon his duties only three modern
steel vessels were in commission. The vessels
since put in commission and to be put in COM
mission during the winter will make n total
of 10 during his administration of the depart
ment.
During the current year ten war vessels and
three navy tugs have been launched and dur
the four years twenty-five vessels will have
been launched Two other large ships and a
torpedo boat are under contract, and the work
upon them well advanced, and the four mon
itors are awaiting only the arrival of their
armor, which has been unexpectedly delayed.
Interior Department.
The work of the interior department, always
very burdensome, has been larger than ever
before during the administration of Secretary
Noble. The disability pension law, the taking
of the eleventh census the opening of vast
areas of Indian lands to settlement, the organ
ization of Oklahoma, and the negotiations for
the cession of Indian lands furnish some of
the particulars of the increased work and the
results &C hieved testify to the ability, fidelity
and industry of the head of the department
and his efficient assistants
The Cherokee strip has been the source of
great vexation to the executive department
and of great friction and unrest between the
settlers who desire to occupy it and the In
lians who assert title.
The increase of population and the develop
ment of some important mining and COM
mercial interests make it imperative that the
law should be revised and better provision
made for the arrest and punishment of Grim
inals.
The report of the secretary shows very
gratifying state of affairs as to the condition
of the general land Office
Allotments have been made and patents is
sued to $500 Indians under the present secre-
tary and commissioner, and 1909 additional
allotments have been made, for which patents
are now are now in process of preparation.
Agricultural Department.
The report Of the secretary of agriculture
contains many suggestions for the enlarged
usefulness of this important department. In
the successful effort to break down the re-
strictions to the free introduction of our meat
products in the countries of Europe, the sec
rotary has been untring from the first, stimu-
lating and aiding all other government OFF,
GERS, at home and abroad whose official duties
enabled them to participate in the work
Over 400O0,WO pounds of inspected pork
have been exported since the law was put into
| operation, and a comparison of the four
months of May, June, July and August, 1892
with the same months Of 1891 shows an in
| crease in the number of pounds of our export
of pork products of 62 per cent and an in
crease in value of 6616 per cent.
| The export of dressed beef increased from
1877 100000 pounds in 1889 to 22O 900 pounds in
ls92 or about 80 per cent. During the past year
! there have been exported S9i,607 head of live
cattle, against 2o5.7sG exported in 1889.
The requirement of the English regulations
that live cattle arriving from the United
| States must be slaughtered at the docks had
its origin in the claim that pleuro pneumonia
existed among American cattle and that the
existence of the disease could only certainly
be determined by post mortem examination
| The department of agriculture has labored
with great energy and faithfulnesss to ex-
| tirpate this disease, and on the Goth day of
September last a public announcement was
| made by the secretary that the disease nc
longer existed anywhere within the United
| States.
The total trade in hog products with Eu-
ropeans May, 1892. amounted to S2000,WC
| pounds, against 469,0O0000 in the same month
of 1891; in June, 1872, the exports aggregated
S5,5O0OOO pounds, against 40 10000 pounds in
the same month of the previous year; in July
| there was an increase of Al per cent, and
August of IS per cent. over the corresponding
months of 1891.
Pension Department..
The passage of what is kno-yn the disa-
bility bill has, as was foresee N, very largely
| increased the annual disbursements to the dis
abled veterans of the civil wHr. The estimate
for this fiscalyear was l44956,0OJ and that
amount was appropriated.
| A deficiency amounting to Sl0,50s.621 must
be provided for at this session. The estimate
for pensions for the fiscal year ending June 30
1891, is $l6j,0O0000. The Commissioner of PEN
sions believes that, if the present legislation
and methods are maintained and further adj
| ditions to the pension laws are not made, the