The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1894-12-13

Total number OF these Offices at the close OF the
year was 1924 There were II SOB 0il money
orders issued durinI. the year, being an increase
over the preceding year Of 9Ji.3o6- The value
Of these orders amounted to Sl3S. 193, 5.9 -. an
increase of sll 217.i45 81 There were also IS
sued during the year postal notes amounting TO
81 6i9, O9ij5 During the year 213 international
money order offices were added 10 these already
established, making total of 2,6l5 such Offices
in operation June GOTH 1891 The number of in
teruational money orders issued during the
year was 9l7.s23, a decrease in number OF 138,-
116 and their value was Is 79e 435, 81, a decrease
in amount OF - 549 S.. 55. The number Of orders
paid was sGl,ls0, an increase over the preceding
year Of 90 262 and their value s. sos, 1878,
al increase OF 81 .2s5. 11S0S.
From the FOREGOING statement it appears that
the total issue of money orders and postal notes
for the year mounted TO slG5 rs ,22rSo.
The number of letters and packages mailed
during the year for special delivery was 436,-
go The special delivery stamps used upon
these letters and packages amounted to S343.-
7g7. The messengers fees paid for their de-
livery amounted TO S26l .2o3 20. leaving bal
ance in favor of the government of So, 49, 80
The report shows most gratifying results in
the way of economies worked out without af-
fecting the efficiency of the postal service.
These consist in the abrogation of steamship
subsidy cont racts. re-letting of mail contracts
and in the cost and amount OF supplies used in
the service amounting to s!6,619047.42.
This report also contains valuable contri-
button to the history of the Universal Postal
union an arrangement which amounted prac-
tically to the establishment of one postal SyS-
TEN for the entire civilized world. Special at
tention is directed 10 this subject at this time
in view of the fact that the next congress of
the union will meet in Washington in 1897 and
1t is hoped that timely action will be taken in
the direction of perfci ting preparations for
that event.
The postmaster general rcncwS tie Sugges-
ton made in Il previous report that the depart
ment organization be increased to the extent
of creating direct supervision of all postal
affairs. and in this suggestion l fully concur.
There are now connected with the postottice
establishment 2.661 employees who are in the
classified service. This includes many who
have been classified upon the suggestion of the
postmaster general. He states that another
year's experience at the head of the department
serves only to strengthen the conviction as 10
the excellent working of the civil service law
in THE branch of the public service.
Attention is called to the report of the Secre-
tary of the navy which shows very gratifying
progress in the construction of ships for
new navy All the vessels now building in
GLIDING the three torpedo boats authorized at
the last session of congress excepting the first
class battleship Iowa. will probably be COM
pleted during the coming fiscal year.
The estimates for the increase of the navy
for the year ending June 80, 1896. are large, but
they include practically the entire sum neces-
sary to complete and equip all the new ships
not now in commission that unless new
ships are authorized the appropriations for
the naval service for the fiscal year ending
June 80 1887. should fall below the estimates
for the coming year by at least 1000. 900.
The secretary presents with much earnest
ness plea for the authorization of three ad-
ditiOnal battle ships and ten or twelve torpedo
boats. While the unarmOred vessels heretofore
authorized, including those now nearing COM
lieved is sufficient for ordinary cruising pur-
poses in time Of peace, we have now completed
and in process of construction but four first
class battle ships and but four torpedo boats.
If we nre to have navy for warlike operations
offensive and defensive, we certainly ought tc
increase both the number or battle ships and
torpedo boats
recommend that provision be made for the
construction of additional battleship and tor
pedo boats The secretary recommended the
manufacture not only OF o reserve supply OF
ordnance ana ordnance material for SHIPS Of
the navy but also supply for the auxiliary
field Guns and their appurtenances should
be provided and kept on hand for both these
purposes. We have not today single gun
that could be put upon the ships Paris or New
York of the international navigation COM
pany or any other ship of our reserved May
The manufacturer of guns at the Washington
navy yards is proceeding satisfactorily, and
none of our new ships will be required to walt
for their guns ordnance equipments. An
important order has been issued by the secre-
| tary Of the navy. co-Ordinating the duties OF
| the several bureaus concerned in the con-
| structiOn of ships. This order it is believed
| will secure to Il greater extent than has here
| tofore been possible the harmonious action Of
| these several bureaus and make the attain
| ment of the best results more certain During
| the past fiscal year there has been an unusual
and pressing demand in many quarters Of the
| world for vessels to guard American
| interests. In January last during the Brazil
| ian inSurrectOn large feet was concentra-
| ted in the harbOr of the Rio de Janeiro. The
! vigorous action of Rear Admiral Benham in
| protecting the personal and commercial rights
| of our citizens during the disturbed conditions
afforded results which will, it is believed have
| a far reaching and wholesome influence when
| ever in like circumstances it may become nee
eSSary for our naval commanders to interfere
| in behalf of our people in foreign ports
| The war now in progress between China and
Japan has rendered it necessary eXpedient
| to dispatch eight vessels to those waters
| The report Of the secretary of the interior
! exhibits the situation of the numerous and in
teresting branches of the public service con-
| nected with his department. | commend this
report and the valuable recommendations of
the secretary TO the careful attention of the
| congress.
The public land disposed of during the year
| amounted to 1910 COST acres. including 2S,
|
| public domain still remaining amounts to a
| little more than 600.0OO000 acres, including,
| however, about 360,000O00 acres in Alaska
| well as military reservations and railroad and
| other selections of land yet unadjudicated
| The total cash receipts from the sale of lands
| amounted to 81 ga $685.. including S9l 93l 03
| received from Indian lands. Thirty-five thou
| sand patents We're issued for agricultural lands
and th1rty-one hundred patents were issued to
Indians on allotments of their holdings in
severalty. The land not allotted being inalien-
able by the Indians for period of twenty-five
| years after patent.
There were certified and patented on account
| of railroad and wagon grants during the year
ebo oob 40 acres of land, and at the close Of the
| year tWenty-nlne acres are embraced in the
lists of selections made by railroad men and
| wagon road companies and awaited settlement.
| The selections of swamp lands, and that taken
as indemnity therefrom since the passage of
the act providing for the same in 1919, amount
| to or nearly or quite eighty million acres of
which fifty-eight million have been patented
to states. About coo acres were patented
during the last year. Nearly $4,000 acres of
school and education grants approved
| during the year, and at its close go. 1863. 81
acres remained unadjusted.
1t appears that the appropriation for the cur
rent year, on account of special service for the
| protection of the public lands and the timber
thereon is much less than those for previous
| years and inadequate for efficient perform
ance of the work. A larger sum of money than
mas been appropriated during a number OF
years past on this account has been returned to
| the government as result of the laborS of
those employed in the particular service men,
toned, and hope it will not be crippled by an
| insufficient appropriation. fully endorse the
recommendation of the secretary that adequate
protection be provided for our forest reserves
anu that a comprehensive forestry system be
inauguTatcd.
At the close of the last fiscal year on the
50th day Of june 1894 there were 969 544 persons
on our pension rolls being a net increase OF
1882 over the number reported at the end OF
the previous year.
These pensions may be classified as follows:
Soldiers and sailors survivors of all wars
1o3,9's: widows and relatives of deceased sol
ders. 2l5, 1872; army nurses in the war of the
reDeInon HI OF these pensioners 81 O39 are
surviving soldiers of Indian and other wars
prior to the late civil and the widows OF
relative Of such soldiers. The remainder nu,n-
oerlhg "3' 80 are receiving pensions on account
OF the war of the rebellion and of these 400 34C