Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-12-07

I least, the same line.
NAVAL AFFAIRS.
The report Of the Secretary Of the
Navy exhibits great progress ia the
/ construction of our new navy, When
the present Secretary entered upon his
] duties only three modern steel vessels
| we're Ia commissions. The vessels since
/ put ia commission and TO be put In COM
mission during the winter will make
total Of seventeen during his admins
] tratiOn OF the department. During the
! current year two war vessels and three
navy tugs have been launched, and dur
| ing the four years $50 vessels have been
launched. Two other large ships and
I a torpedo boat are under contract and
/ the work upon them we'll advanced and
/ the four monitors are awaiting only the
arrival of their armOr which has been
unexpectedly delayed or they would
/ have been before this In commission.
I Contracts have been lot during this ad
ministration, under the appropriations
I for the increase OF the navy, including
new vessels, and their appearances,
! 70 the amount Of $50, 900, 600, and there
/ has been expended during the same pc
riod for labor at the navy yards upon
| similar work SS,000,000 without the
/ smallest scandal or charge OF fraud or
Partially. The enthusiasm and inter-
/ est OF our naval officers, both OF the
staH and line, have been greatly kindied.
/ They have responded magnlicently to
the confidence OF Congress and
have demonstrated to the world an
unexcelled capacity in the construction
OF ordnance, aud in everything involved
In the building, eQuipping and sailing
of great war ships.
AT the beginning Of Secretary Ira
| cy's administration several difficult
/ problems remained TO be grappled with
and solved before the efficiency in &C
ton OF our ships could be secured. 1t
is believed that as the result Of new
| processes 10 the construction Of armOr
plate our latest ships will be clothed
with defensive plates of higher resist
ing power than are found on any war
vessels ahoat. We were without tOrpe-
does. Tests have been made to ascer-
tain the relative efficiency Of different
constructions, a torpedo has been adopt
ed and the work Of construction is now
being carried on successfully.
Without amor piercing shells and with
out a shop instructed and equipped for
the construction OF them, we are now
making what is believed TO be projec-
tile superior to any before In use. A
smokeless powder has been developed
and a slow-burning powder for guns OF
large calibre. A high explosive capa-
BILE O; use in shells fred from service
guns has been found, aud the manufac-
ture OF gun cotton has been developed,
SO that the question Of supply is no
longer in doubt.
The development Of a naval militia
which has been organized in eight
States and brought into cordial
and cooperative relations with the
navy is another important achievement.
There are now enlisted In these or
CARNATIONS ], 500 men, and they are
likely TO be greatly extended. Irecom-
! mend such legislation and appropria-
5 tions as will encourage and develop
, / this movement. The recommendation
of the Secretary will, I do not doubt
b receive the friendly consideration o.
3 Congress, for he has enjoyed, and ht
, has deserved the confidence OF all those
, | Interested in the development OF our
b. navy. without any diversion upon par
8 tisan lines. I earnestly express the
! hone that a work which has made suct
81 | noble progress may not now b'
STAYED. The wholesome influence FOL
r sooao---o.a5, thta.ua. &" en- 80 CltlZenl
dOmiciled in other lands feel
when these magnificent ships under the
American dag appear is already mos
: gratefully apparent. The ships from
our navy which will appear Ia the great
. naval parade next April In the harboi
{ OF New York will be a convincing dem.
onstratiOn TO the world that the United
States is again a naval power.
THE INTERIOR DEPARTMENT.
The work OF the Interior Department
b always very burdensome, has been larg
er than ever before during the admins
tration Of Secretary Noble. The disa
bility pension law, the taking Of the
, eleventh census, the opening of vast
areas OF Indian lands to the
public, the organization Of Oklahoma
and the negotistions for the ceSSion oil
Indian lands furnish some Of the par,
ticulars OF the increased works, and the
results achieved testify to the ability,
fidelity and industry of the head Of the
department aud his efficient assistants.
Several important agreements for the
cession of Indian lands negotiated by
the commission appointed under the
act OF March ., 1850, are awaiting the
action Of Congress. Perhaps the most
IMPORTANT of these is that for the CeS-
sion OF the Cherokee strip. This re-
Qion has been the source OF great viva
zion TO the executive department and OF
great friction and unrest between
the settlers who desire TO occupy it
and the Indians who assert title.
The agreement which has been made by
the commission Is perhaps the most sat
isfactory that could have been reached.
It will Be noticed that IL is conditioned
upon its ratification by Congress before
March 4, 1898.
The Secretary Of the Interior, who
has given the subject very careful
thought, recommending the ratification
Of the agreement, and l am inclined 70
follow his recommendation. Certain II
is that some action by which this con-
troversy shall be brought to an end a1d
| these lands opened to settlement Is
I urgeu. ne frame u PV'~A ONN - y
vIded by Congress on Nay i,
1854, for Alaska was, In It's
frame aud purpose, temporary.
The increase Of population and the de-
velopment OF some impartial mining
and commercial interests make 1t I'M
Derative that the law should be revised
and better provision made for the arrest
and punishment Of criminals. The re-
port OF the Secretary shows very graf
90 .tnta OF facts as 10 the condition