New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-12-04

ths date of the contract would be required for
their completion. The Secretary states that no.
ships need be included in the appropriations
for the coming year | recommend that pro-
vision be made for the construction OF aooi-
tional battle ships and torpedo BOATS.
The Secretary recommends the manufacture
not only of reserve supply OF ordnance ana an,
ordnance material for ships OF the Navy, pu,
also a supply for the auxiliary fleet. Guns ana
their appurtenances should be proVloeu ana
kent on hand for both these purposes We
put upon the ships Paris or New-fork OF the
international Navigation Company or any
facture of guns at the Washington Navy Yard
is proceeding satisfactorily, and none OF our
new ships will be required to wait Tor their
guns or ordnance equipment
Secretary of the Navy co-ordnsting the dutles
Of the several bureaus concerned IN me con
,ui,i secure To greater extent than has here
tofore been possible the harmonious actlon OF
these several bureaus and MAKE tne n a,S,n,
ment Of the best results more certain During
the last fiscal year there has been an unusual
and pressing demand in many quarters OF the
world for The presence OF Vesseis W e""iu
American interests.
FOREIGN SERVICE.
In January last. during the Brazilian iHsur-
rection. large fleet concentrated in the
harhor of Rio de Janeiro. The vigorous action
of Rear-Admral Benham in protecting the per-
sonal and commercial rights of our citizens dur
ing the disturbed conditions afforded results
which will. it is believed. have far-reaching
and wholesome influence whenever in like cir
cumstances ii may become necessary for our
naval commanders to interfere on behalf or
our people in foreign ports me war now OWL IN
progress between China and japan has rendered
it necessary expedient to dispatch eight yes
sells TO those waters.
Both the Secretary of the Navy and the Sec
retarv of the Treasury recommend the transfer
of the work of the Coast Survey proper TO the
Navy Department l heartily concur in this
recommendation. Excluding Alaska and very
small area besides. all the work Of mapping
and charting our coasts has been completed.
The photographic work. which must be done
over and over again by reason of the shifting
and varying depths of water. consequent upon
the action Of streams and tides, has heretofore
been done under the direction OF naval officers
in subordination to the superintendent OF the
Coast Survey. There seems to be no good rea-
son why the Navy should not have entire
charge hereafter of such work. especially as the
Hydroyraphic Office of the Navy Department Is
now and has been for many years. engaged In
making efficient maps entirely similar to those
prepared by the Coast Survey.
feel II my imperative duty TO call attention
TO the recommended ton Of the Secretary in regard
to the personnel Of the line Of the Navy. The
stagnation OF promotion in this the vital branch
of the service is great as TO seriously impair
its efficiency l consider 1t Of the utmost I'M
portance that the young and middie-aged officers
to reach grade emitting them TO active and I'M
portant duty. .
The system adopted few years ago regua ting
the employment of labor at the navy yards Is
rigidly upheld and has fully demonstrated It's
usefulness and expediency. 1t is within the 90
main Of civil service reform, inasmuch as WORK
men are employed through board Of labor Sc
lected at each navy yard and are given WORK
without reference TO politics and In the order Oh
their application preference. however oeing gwen
10 Army and Navy veterans and those having
former navy yard experience.
Amendments suggested by experience have been
made to the rules regulating the system Inroueh
IFS oneration the work at our navy yards has
been vastly improved in efficiency. and the oI,-
portunity to work has been honestly and lariy
awarded to willing and competent apphcants'
I, is 10 be hoped that If this system con-
tinues to be strictly adhered to there Will
soon be- as a natural consequence sucn an
equalization OF party beneht as Will remove al
temptation 10 relax or abandon II.
INTERIOR DEPARTMENT.
The report of the Secretary Of the Interior ex-
hibits the situation OF the numerous and interest
ing branches Of the public service connected
with his department. l commend this report
and the valuable recommendations OF the sec
retary 10 the careful attention of the Congress.
The public land disposed of during me year
amounted TO 10 400 ~ acres. including 2Ssib0o
OF Indian lands II is estimated that ne upnc
domain still remaining amounts 10 hI.lc i ~ =.
than 600OOoOoO acres eXciudlhs'
$50 900 900 acres in Alaska. as well as n.I'al !
reserya lions and railroad and other seec'loh9 oi
lands yet unadudicated. The total casn re 20
from sale Of lands amounted to s2b.4'Zeo 49, IN
GLIDING s9l,9Sl 90 received for Indlan ia' Snr
Thirty-fve thousand patents were issued lol
agricultural lands. and $loo pa'en os their
issued 10 Indians alotments OF men ,,
holdings, in severalty the LAND so amo!seu
being inalienable by the lndiah a''o 49,
for period Of twenty-five years 49, w
na,ent There were certified and patented Oh
account of railroad and wagon-road grants url
ing the year s65,55645 acres OF anu, anu q. oaS
close Of the year 29OOO,Oeo acres "eIv M nd
In the lists of selections made by rallrotis oiio
wagon-road companies and awaited settlement.
The selections of swamp lands ana that tah NJ.
as indemnity therefor since ihe PasS as,oun, r.
fha
nearly or quite 80 100000 acres, or whlcn 90,
600 900 have been patented 10 STATES, los,
$4,000 acres were patenteG duldns and educa
wear Nearly $4,000 acres OF schooi anu euu 10
zion grants were approved during the year. am !,
ct its close 1,250,363.sl acres remaiheu u'aD
justed u,.,,or for the cur
rent year on account Of special service lot IN,
protection of the public lands ana the .iniov'
thereon is much less thah 'ho ssoia ~ nerform
years and inadequate for an efnclent pei ~ ~
ance of the work larger sum or money thai
has been appropriated during iiu,no o,rro cd
wears past on this account mas peeh rev., ,. Nv
81 tba Covernment as a result Of the lapors
of those employed in the particuiat oci ~
mentioned. and hope it will not be crippieo os
insufficient Appropriation.
FOREST PRESERVATION.
fully indorse the recommendation OF the
Secretary that adequate protection De PROVIDED
for our forest reserves and that coihp'eie'
siye forestry system be inauguraied' SUI
keepers and SupeflntenucHts dS n'N ~
10 protect the forests already reserved snouIc
be provided. l am Of he OPINION Una. Inv
should be an abandonment OF the pohcy SAN
toned by present laws under which the Govern m
ment for very small consideration is rapiu'!
losing title TO immense tracts of land covered
wth timber which should be properly reserved
as permanent sources Of timber supply -,
The suggestion that change be mace IN t ~
manner OF securing surveys or the puDhc lanu'
To- asnecial,v worthy OF consdera ton am sat
isaed that these surveys should be MADE by
corns OF competent surveyors under the I'M
mediate control and direction OF the Sohiii's
sioner of the General Land Office $500
An exceedingly important Recommendation %
the Secretary relates to the manner Ia w WI ~
contests and ltigated cases growing out OF ~
forts to obtain Government lanc are oe,er
Aitr,lAIn