The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-12-08

American factories are producing au-
tomobile torpedo and powder prOjec-
tiles, rapidfire guns and. everything
else necessary for the complete outfit
[ of naval vessels. There have been au-
/ thorized by congress since March, 1893,
five battleships, six light draft gun
boats, sixteen torpedo boats and the
submarine torpedo boat. Contracts for
/ the building of all of them have been
/ let. The secretary expresses the opin-
] ion that we have Tor the present suf-
/ ficient supply of cruisers and gunboats.
and that hereafter the construction of
battleshipS and torpedo boats will sup
DIV our needs.
Much attention has been given to the
methods of carrying on departmental
] business. Important notifications in
! the regulations have been made, tend
! ing to unity the control of shipbuilding
as far as may be under the bureau of
construction and repair, and also to
improve the mode Of purchasing sup
plies for the navy by the bureau of
supplies and accounts. The establish
ment under recent acts of congress of a
supply fund, with which to purchase
these supplies in large quantities, and
other modifica lions of methods, have
tended materially to their cheapening
and better quality.
THE WAR COLLEGE.
The war college has developed into
an institution which it is believed will
be of great value to the navy in teach
ing the science of war as we'll as in
stimulating professional zeal in the
navy, and it will be especially useful
in the devising of plans for the utiliza-
ton, in case Of necessity, of all the
naval resources of the United States.
The secretary has persistently ad-
hered to the plan he found in opera
g..
yards, through boards of labor en-
ployment, and has done much to make
it more complete and efficient.
The naval officers who are familiar
with this system and its operation ex-
press the decided opinion that its re-
suits have been to vastly enhance the
character of the work done at our
yards and greatly reduce its cost. Dis
cipline among officers and men of the
navy has been maintained at a high
standard and the percentage of Amer
lean citizens enlisted has been very
much increased. The secretary is con-
sidering and will formulate during the
coming winter plan for laying uD
ships in reserve, thereby largely re-
ducing the cost of maintaining our YES
sells af1oat. This plan contemplates
that battleships, torpedo boats and
such of the cruisers as are not needed
for active service at sea shall be kept
in reserve, with skeleton crews on
board to keep them in condition, cruis
ing only enough to insure the efficiency
of the ships and their crews in time of
activity. The economy to result from
this system is too obvious to need COM
ment. The naval militia which was
authorized few years ago as an eX-
pertinent has now developed into
body of enterprising young men, active
and energetic in the discharge of their
duties and promising great usefulness.
This establishment has nearly the
same relations to our navy as the ma
tional guard in the different states
bears to our army, and it constitutes
source of supply for our naval forces,
the Importance of which is immediate
ly apparent. The report of the Secre-
tary of the interior presents a COM
prehensive and interesting exhibit of
the numerous and important affairs
committed to his supervision. 1t is
impossible in this communica ton to do
more than briefly refer to a few of the
subjects concerning which the secre-
tary gives full and instructive in
formation.
The money appropriated on account
of this department for its disburSe-
ment for the fiscal year ending June
80. 1896, amounted to more than $751;
600 600. or a greater sum than was ap-
y
ended June 80. 1861.
PUBLIC LANDS.
Our public lands originally amount
ing to 1-840, 600, eco acres, have been so
reduced that only about coo, 600 900
acres still remain in government con-
troll, excluding Alaska. The balance,
being by far the most valuable oor-
ton, has been given away to settlers
to new states and to railroads or sold
at a comparatively nominal sum.
The patenting OF land in execution
Of railroad grants has progressed rap
idly during the year, and since the
4th day of March, 1898, about $4,000, 900
acres have thus been conveyed to these
corporations. l agree with the secretary
that the remainder of our public lands
should be more carefully dealt with
and their alienation guarded by better
economy and greater prudence.
The conClission appointed from the
membership of the National Academy
of Sciences, provided for by an act of
congress to formulate plans fo- ma
tional forestry system Will. it is hoped,
soon be prepared to present the result
of thorough and intelli-ent examina-
ton OF this important subject.
THE INDIANS
The total Indian population of the
United States is III, 235, according to
a census made in 1895, exclusive of
those within the state of New York
and those comprising the five civilized
tribes. OF this number there are ap-
proximately $4,000 children of school
age. During the year 1888 of these
We're enrolled in schools The progress
which has attended recent efforts to
extend Indian school facilities and the
anticipation OF continued liberal ap-
preparations TO that end, cannot fail
to afford the utmost satisfaction 70
those who believe that the education
of Indian children is prime factor in
the accomplishment of Indian civiliza-
zion
1t may be said in general terms that
IN every particular the improvement
of the Indians under government has
been most marked and encouraging.
The secretar7-. the commissioner of
Indian affairs and the agents having
charge of Indians to whom allotments
have been made strongly urge the pas
sage OF a law prohibiting the sale of
liquor TO allottees who nave taken
their lands in severalty. 1 earnestly
Join in this recommendation and ven
ture to express the hope that the In
dian may be speedily protected against
this greatest of all evils to his well
being and advancement
The condition of affairs among the
five civilized tribes. who occupy large
tracts OF land in the Indian Territory.
and who have governments of their
own, has assumed such as as0ect as
to render it almost Indispensable that
there should be an entire change in the
relations of these Indians to the gen
eral government. This seems To he