Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-12-08
NUMBER 333

|
| ty-elght national banks located in fif-
! teen states, of which twelve were organ
lzed in eastern states with a capital Of
| MlSO000 six in the western states with
capital Of $4,000, and ten in the south
| efn states with capital of 81 100, 900.
| During the year, however thirty-seven
| banks voluntarily abandoned their fran
chlses under the national law, and in the
| case OF twenty-seVen others it was found
| necessary to appoint receivers.
Therefore, as compared with the year
| preceding, there was a decrease of thir-
! ty-six in the number of active banks.
| The number of existing banks organized
under state laws is 5,70S.
IMM -RATIoN.
The number %; Immigrants arriving in
| the United STAG during the fiscal year
was 343, ,267, of - ich 340 46S were permit
ted to land, - 27ss were debarred on
various grouS prescribed by law, and
returned 20 countries whence they
company b5S hich they were brought in.
The increS In immigration over the
precedingS ar amounted to S4,7 731.
1t is 20 rted that with some eXcep-
tions IT, immigrants of the past year
were qfiw hardy laboring class, accus-
tomedf 80 able to earn a support for
themselses and it is estimated that the
| money brought with them amounted to
S5,0OO,0 600, though 1t was probably much
| in excess of that sum, since only those
| having less than $50 are required to dis
| close the exact amount, and 1t is known
| that many brought considerable sums of
| money to buy land and build homes, in
| Guiding all the immigrants arriving who
| were IA years of age; 1858 per cent. were
illiterate, as against 20.37 per cent. Of
| those of that age arriving during the
preceding fiscal year.
The numbsr of immigrants over II
years the countries from which they
came and the percentage of illiterates
3.
515 with 54.59 per cent. Ireland, 37496,
with per cent; Russia, 35188 with ALA
psr cent. Austrla-H Hungary and prov
inces, 57,O53, with 1892 per cent; Ger
| many, 25,33t, with 2.96 per cent; Sweden,
| 1891, with 1.16 per cent, while from Por-
| tugal there came 2067 of whom II. 80 per
cent were illiterate. The arrival from
| japan during the year was only LILO inn
| migrants, and it is the opinion of the inn
migration authorities that apprehension
heretofore existing to some extent of
large immigration from Japan to the
United states Is without any substantial
foundation.
LIFE SAVING SERVICE.
From the life saving service 1t is re-
ported that the number Of disasters to
documented vessels within the limits OF
it's operations during the year was 437.
These vessels had on board 4,60S persons,
of whom 1896 were saved and thirteen
lost. The value of such vessels is esti-
mated at $8,SS0,140 and of their cargoes
SO, 3,S46 $780, making the total value OF prop
erty imperilled $12, 726, $40. or this amount
81. .292,707 was saved and 81 4S2I50 was
lost. Sixty-seven of the vessels were to-
tally wrecked.
There were besides 243 casualties to
small undocumented craft on board of
which there were 594 persons of whom
587 were saved and seven were lost. The
value Of the property involved in these
latter casualties is estimated at $l19,-
265 of which $114, ,915 was saved and A,-
350 was lost.
The life saving crews during the year
also rescued or assisted numerous other
vessels and warned many from danger
by signals, both by day and night. The
number of disasters during the year eX-
ceeded that of any previous year In the
history OF the service, but the saving OF
both life and property was greater than
ever before in proportion to the value of
the property involved and to the number
of persons imperilled.
The operations of the marine hospital
service the revenue cutter service, the
steamboat inspection service, the light
house service, the bureau of navigation
and other branches of public work at
tached to the treasury department, to-
gether with various recommendations
concerning their support and improve
ment are fully stated in the report OF
secretary of the treasury to which the
attention of the congress Is especially In
vited
THE WAR DEPARTMENT.
The report of the secretary of war ex-
hibits satisfactory conditions in the sew
eral branches of the public service in
trusted to his charges.
The limit of our military force, as fixed
by law is constantly and readily main-
tained. The present discipline and NOR
ale of our army are excellent, and marked
progress and efficiency are apparent
throughout its entire organization With
the exception of the delicate duties IN
the suppression of slight Indian disturb
ances along our southwestern boundary,
in which the Mexican troops co-operated,
and the compulsory but peaceful return.
with the consent of Great Britain, or a
band of Creek Indians from Montana to
the British possessions, no active opera
| tions have been required OF the army
| during the year past.
4 REDUCED COST.
Changes In the methods of admins
| tration, the abandonment OF unnecessary
posts and consequent concentration OF
the troops and the exercise OK care and
vigilance by the various officers charged
with the responsibility in the expendi-
ture OF the appropriations, have resulted
In reducing to minimum the cost or the
maintenance of the military establish
ments during the past year The work
of constructing permanent infantry and
cavalry posts has been continued at the
places heretofore designated.
The secretary OF war repeats MS rec
ommendation that appropriations for
barracks and quarters should more
strictly conform to the needs of the SER
vice as judged by the department rather
than to respond to the wishes and inn
portunities of localities. 1t Is imperative
that much of the money provided for
such construction should now be al
lotted to the erection of necessary quar-
ters for the garrisons assigned to the
coast defenses where many men will be
needed to properly care for and operate
modern guns. 1t Is important that early
provisions be made to supply the neces-
sary force of artillery to meet the de-
mands of this service.
The entire army has now been equipped
with the new magazine arms, and wise
policy demands that all available public
and private resources should be so en-
ployed as to provide within a reasonable
time a sufficient number to supply the
state militia with the modern weapons
and provide an ample reserve for any
emergency.
THE MILITIA.
The organized militia numbers 112,S79
men The appropriations for its support