Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1896-12-10

sion G,t two armored vessels. the double
-arreted monitors Miantouomah and Mon.
lerey. Since that date, of vessels thereto
FORE authorized. there have been placed in
their first commission three firSt-elaSS and
Two second-class battle ships, two aTmored
cruisers, one haroor defense ram and flve
double-tnrreted monitors, including the
Maine and the Puritan, just completed.
Eight new armOred cruisers and two new
gunboats have also been commissioned
The Iowa, another battle ship, will be COM
Dieted about March l, and at least four
more gunboats viii be ready for sea in the
early spring.
Equal TO the Best.
II is gratifying to state that our ships
and their outfits are believed to be equal
"a the best thai can be manufactured else
where, and that such notable reductions
have been made in their cost q TO Justify
Che statement that quite a number OF YES
Seas are ROW being constructed at rates as
low Is those that prevail I'D European ship
Our manufacturing facilities are at this
time ample for ali possible naval contin-
EencseS. Three Of our government navy
yards, those AT Mare Island, Cal, Norfolk,
sa., and Brooklyn, y. Y, are equipped for
ship building, our ordnance plant IN W ash
jngton is equal TO any in the world, and at
The torpedo station we are successfully
making the highest grades OF SmokeIeSs
sards at Newport News, Philadelphia and
san Francisco, are building battle shipS,
II contractors, situated in the states OF
Maine, Rhode Island, EennsylVanla, NeN
Jersey. Maryland Virginia and the state
OF Washington, are constructing gun
boats or torpedo beats, Two plants are
manufacturing large quantities OF nrst-
class armor, and American factories are
producing automobile torpeuoes, poMqef,
projecties, rapld-tire guns ana every tllnS
else necessary for the complete outnt 81
naval vessels
There have been authorized by congress
since March, 1888, i've batlle Shlpsi SLY
fght-draft gunbOats, Is torpedo pea = ans
one submarine torpedo boat contracts
for the building OF all Of them nave been
mat ve have for the present q Su1nclent
supply OF cruisers and gunboats, ana that
hereafter the construction OF battle snIps
and torpedo boats viii supply our needs.
Business Methods Improved.
Much attention has been given to the
methods of carrying on departmental Dusl-
ness. Important modiilcatlons IN inc reg
ulations have been MADE, tendlng 10 uhlLy
the control OF shipbdldlng, as lar as may
be under the bureau OF construction anu
repair, and also to improve the mode or
t3tIrchasing supplies for the navy by the
ureau Of supplies and accounts. The
esta biishment, under recent aclS OF con-
gress OF a supply fund, with which 10 pur-
erase these supplies IN large quantities,
and other notifications OF Incth9ds, nave
tended materially to their cheapenlng and
better quality.
The War College.
The war college has developed into an in
stitution which it is believed viii be of
great value 10 the navy in teaching the
science of war as well as IN stimulating
professional zeal in the navy and 1t Will
BE especially useful in the devising of
plans for the utilization, in case Of neceS-
slty, OF all the naval resources OF the CnlJed
states.
Inc secretary has persistently adhered to
tho plan ne found in operation for secur-
ing labor al navy yards. Though boards
OF labor employment, and has done much 70
make il more complete and ctnclent. Ihe
naval officers who are familiar with thlS
system anG of its operation, express the
decided opinion that its results have been
70 vastly improve TIL eAaracter of the
work done It our yards, a1d greatly reduce
Discipline among the officers and men Of
the navy has been maintained 10 nigh
standard, and the percentage Of An eriean
ciLzens enlisted has been very much in
creased.
Reserve ships.
The secretary is considering and will
formulate during the coming winter plan
for laying up ships in reserve, thereby
largely reducing the cost of maintain
ing our vessels afloat. This plan contem-
plates that battle ships and torpedo beats
and such of the cruisers as not needed
for active service at sea shall be kept in
reserve, with skeleton crews to keep them
in condition, cruising only enough to in
sure the efficiency of the ships and their
crews in time of activity. The economy to
result from this system is too obvious to
need comment.
The Naval Militia.
The naval militia, which was authorized
a few years ago as an experiment, has now
developed into a body of enterprising young
Of their duties and promising great useful
ness. This establishment has nearly the
same relation to our navy as the national
guard in the different states bears to our
army, and it constitutes a source of sup
ply for our naval forces, the Importance of
which is Immediately apparent
Department OF the Interior.
The report of the secretary of the interior
presents a comprehensive and interesting
exhibit of the numerous and important af-
fairs committed to his supervision. 1t is
more than briefly refer to few of the sub
jects concerning which the secretary gives
full and instructive Information.
The money rOpriated on account of
this department and for its disbursement
for the fiscal year ended June 90 1895
amounted to more than S157 0,000 or a
greater sum than was appropriated for the
entire maintenance of the government for
the two fiscal years ended June 80. 1861
The Public Domain.
Our public lands, originally amounting
to 1870, 000A0 acres have been so reduced
that only about 600 100000 acres still remain
in government control, excluding Alaska.
The balance, being by far the most valuable
portion, has been given away to settlers,
TO new states, and to railroads, or sold at
q comparatively nominal sum. The patent
ing of lands in execution of railroad grants
has progressed rapidly during the year,
and since the 4th day of March, 1893, about
IS, 100000 acres have thus been conveyed to
these corporations.
l agree with the secretary that the re-
mainder of our public lands should be
more carefully dealt with and their allena-
ton guarded by better economy and greater
prudence.
The commission appointed from the
membership Of the national academy OF
sciences provided for by an act of congress
to formulate plans for a national forestry
system, viii. it is hoped, soon be prepared
to present the result of thorough and in
teligent examination of this important
subject.
The Indians.
The total Indian population Of the United
States is III ,235 according to a census
made In 1855, exclusive of those within the
state of New York and those comprising
the five civilized tribes. OF this number
there are Approximately 5000 children Of
school age. During the year 1883 of these
were enrolled in schools The progress
which has attended recent efforts to ex-
tend Indian school facilities and the an
ticipation of continued liberal appropria-
tions to that end. cannot fail TO afford the
utmost satisfaction to those who believe
that the education of Indian children is d
prime factor in the accomplishment of
Indian civilization.
Conditions Improved.