The herald., 1893-12-05

tonh Oi heoQe anu grain from Inc hsfi-
cultural department..
The total number OF postoffices in the
United States on the 30th day OF June,
1893, was 68, 403, an increase OF 1854 over
the preceding year. OF these 1850 were
presidential, an increase in this class OF
204 over the preceding year.
Forty-two free delivery offices were
added during the year to those already
existing, making a total OF 610 cities
and towns provided with free delivery
on June 80, 1893. Ninety-three other
cities and towns are entitled to this
service under the law, but it has not
been accorded them on account OF in
sufficient funds to meet the expense OF
it7 establishment. l am decidedly OF
the opinion that the provisions OF the
present law permit as general an intro
duction Of this feature of the mail SER
vice as is necessary or justifable, and
that 1t ought not to be extended to
smaller communities than are now des-
iRnated. s# fie f7t1
The expense OF the free delivery for
the fiscal year ending June 80. 1898,
will be more than $11,000,000 and
under the legislation now existing
there must be constant increase in
thia item of expenditure. There were
6l0l additions to the domestic money
order Offices during the last fiscal
year, being the largest increase in any
year since the inauguration OF the
system. The total mum sera Of these
Offices at the close of the year was
18,434. There were $780, 736 money
orders issued from these offices, being
an increase over the preceding year
of 1,A0, ,290, and the value of these
I'D ~ m
increase of $7.509, ,632.5S. There were
also issued during the year postal
notes amounting to $12 903, ,078.73.
During the year 1876 international
money order Offices were added to those
already provided, making q total OF 2407
in operation on June 30, 1898. The
number Of international money orders
issued during the year was ], ,055, 800, an
increase over the preceding year OF
72.525, and their value was SIG, ,341,-
837.86, an increase of 81 ,222, ,206 81. The
number of orders paid was 300,9l7, an
increase over the preceding year of
1868. and their value WAS 50, 283. $3.50
: an increase of $94,094.83. From the
=, foregoing statements it appears that the
total issue Of money order and postal
notes for the year amounted to $l56 S21,-
34S "a. Isl
The number OF letters and packages
mailed during the year for special deliv-
cry was 3,375,603 an increase over the
preceding year of nearly 2o per cent,
the special delivery stamps used upon
these letters and packages amounted to
1887 5000, and the messengers fees
paid for their delivery amounted to
$256, ,592.71, leaving a profit to the gov
eminent of $S0,976 SO.
The railway mail service not only adds
to the promptness of mail delivery at
all Offices, but it is the especial instru-
mentality which puts the smaller and
way places in the service on an equality
i. in that regard with the larger and term
inal Offices. This branch OF the postal
service has received more attention from
the postmaster general. and though it is
gratifying to know that 1t is in condi-
tion of high efficiency and great useful
ness, am led to agree with the post
master general that there is room for it's
further improvement.
There are now connected with the
postoffice establishment 28,324 en-
ployes who are in the classified service.
The head Of this great department gives
conclusive evidence of the value OF civil
service reform, when after an experience
that renders his judgment on the sub
ject absolutely reliable, he expresses
the opinion that without the benefit of
this system it would be impossible to
conduct the vast business entrusted to
him.
1 desire to commend as especially
worthy of prompt attention the sug-
geetions of the postmaster-general rela-
tive to a more sensible and business
like organization and better distribu-
tion OF responsibility in his department..
THE NAVY DEPARTMENT.. bo4
The report of the secretary of the
navy contains history Of the operations
of his department during the past year
and exhibits most gratifying condition
of thu personel of our navy. He
points to the satisfactory account of the
progress which has been made in the
construction of vessels, and makes a
number of recommendations, to which
attention is especially invited.
During the past six months the de-
mands for securing vessels have been
many and frequent. There have been
revolutions calling for vessels to protect
American interests in Nicaragua, Guate-
mala, Costa Rica, Honduras, Argentine
and Brazil, while the condition of affairs
in Honolulu has required the constant
presence of one or more ships. With all
these calls upon our navy, it became
necessary in order to make up a suffi.
cient feet to patrol the Bering sea under
the modus vivendi agreed upon with
Great Britain, to detail to that service
one vessel from the fish commission and
three from the revenue marine.
Progress in the construction OF new
vessels has not been as rapid as was an
ticipated. There have been delays in
the completion of unarmed vessels, but
for the most part they have been such
ae are constantly occurring. even in the
countries having the largest experience
in naval ship building. The most seri-
ous delay, however, has been the work
upon armored ships. The trouble has
been the failure of contractors to de-
liver the armor as agreed. The Difficult
ties seem now, however, to have been
ell overcome and armor is being deliv-
cred with satisfactory promptness.
As a result of the experience acquired
by shipbuiders, designers and material
men, it is believed that the dates when
vessels will be completed can now be
estimated with reasonable accuracy.
Great guns, rapid firing guns, torpedoes
and powder are being prompt
ly supplied. The following ves-
sels OF the new navy have been COM
pleted and are now ready for service:
The double turretted coast defense moni-
tor Miantonomah, the double turretted
coast d0f0nna mOnitop Montarev tha