Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1896-12-10

elsewhere, ana mat SUCH notable reduc-
tions have been made in their cost ne to
Justify the statement that quite number
of vessels nrc now being constructed at
rates us low as those that prevail in
European shipyards.
Our manufacturing facilities are at this
time ample for all possible naval contin-
gencies. Three of our government navy
yards, those ut Mare Island. CAL; Nor
folk, Va, and Brooklyn, N. Y, are
| equipped for ship-building. our ordnance
plant in Washington is equal to any In the
| world, and at the torpedo station we are
successfully making the highest grades of
| smokeless powder. Three frst-class pri-
vate shipyards, at Newport News, Phila-
delphia and San Francisco, are building
battleshins: eleven contractors, situated in
the States Of Maine, Rhode Island, Penn
sylynnia, New Jersey. Maryland, Virginia
and the State Of Washington, are con-
structing gun boats or torpedo boats.
Two plants are manufacturing large
quantities OF frst-cnss armor and Ameri-
can factories are producing automotsile
torpedoes, powder, projectiles, rapid-fire
guns and everything else necessary for the
complete outfit of naval vessels. There
has been authorized by Congress since
March, 1893, FIVE battleships. six light
draft gunboats, sixteen torpedo boats and
one submarine torpedo boat Contracts
for the building of all of them have been
let. The Secretary expresses the opinion
that we have for the present n sufficient
supply of cruisers and gunboats and that
hereafter the construction of battieships
and torpedo boats will supply our needs.
Much attention has been given to the
methods of carrying on departmental bust
ness. Important notifications In the regli-
| lation have been made. tending to unity
the control of ship-laiildips. us far as may
be, under the Burelu of Construction and
Repair, and also TO improve the mode
Of purchasing supplies for the navy by the
Bureau Of Supplies and Accounts.
The establishment. under recent acts of
Congress, of supply fund, with which 10
purchase these supplies In large quanti-
ties, and other notifications of methods
have tended materially to their cheapen
ing and better quality.
The war college has developed into an
institution which 1t is believed will be Of
great value to the navy in teaching the
science of war MS well MS in stimulating
professional zeal in the nnry,and il will be
especially useful in the devising of plans
for the utilization in case of necessity of
all the naval resources of the United
, States The Secretary has persistrntly
) for securing labor at navy yards through
boards of labor employment and has done
much to make 1t more complete and cili-
Gent.
The naval officers who are familiar with
this system in operation express the de-
! cided opinion that its results have been to
vastly improve the character of the work
; done at our yards and greatly reduce its
cost. Discipline among the officers and
, men of the navy has been maintained to
q high standard, and the percentage of
/ American citizens enlisted has been very
much increased The Secretary is CON
sidering and will formulate during the
coming winter plan for laying up ships
e in reserve, thereby largely reducing the
s cost of maintaining our vessels afloat
/. This plan contemplates that battleships.
: torpedo boats. and such of the cruisers as
e are not needed for active service Mt sea
shall he kept IN reserve, with skeleton
Q crews on board to keep them in condition
i cruising only enough to insure the eff.
@ cheney of the ships and their crews in time
= of activity.
The economy to result from this system
@ is too obvious to need comment.
d The naval militia, which was authorized
=, rev years ago MS mn experiment has
d now developed into body of entnrprsina
It young men, active and energetic in tho
r discharge of their duties and PROMISING
.. great usefulness. This establishment ha.
d notably the same relation to our navy as
= the national guard in the different State.
It bears to our army, and il constitutes
d source of supply for our naval forces, tn,
70 Importance of which is Immediately an
n parent. The report of the Secretary o
!, me Interior presents comprehensive AM
|. interesting exhibit of the numerous an,
- important affairs committed to his super
~ vision. 1t is impossible In this communi
ID cation to do more than briefly refer to
few of the subjects concerning which tn
20 Secretary gives full and instructive infor
n, nation.
II. The money appropriated on account q
III this department and for its disbursement
n for the fiscal year, ended June 10, 1896
,s amounted to more than S157 100000, q
n, greater sum than was appropriated fo
81 the entire maintenance of the government
n for the two fiscal years. ended June e
n lS6l. Our public land. originally amount
NJ ing to 1,SlO,000oO0 acres hns been $
ar reduced that only about 600. 0o0, 900 acre
il. still remain in government control. rS
n Gliding Alaska. The balance, being b
az far the most valuable portion. has bee
given away to settlers, to new States, an
~, to railroads, or sold at comparativel
i | llOinllul SlllllS.
~ The patenting of land in execution {
o. railroad grants has progressed rapid
y, during the year, and since the fourth dn
e. OF March, 1893, about 25,000,0OO acre
,,o have thus heen conveyed to those corn
Nv rations. | agree with the Secretary III;
~ the remainder Of our public lands shou
.aI be more carefully dealt with and the
,,s alienation guarded by better economy an
'ia greater prudence. The commission a
,n pointed from the membership of the \
nHn tional Academy Of Sciences provided f
by in Act of Congress to formulate ulal
no for n national forestry system will, it
ro hoped, soon be prepared to present Il
nc. result of thorough and intelligent exam
w., nation of this important subject.
rn The total Indian population of ii
10 United States is III 80, according to
=" census made in 1893, exclusive of tho
o0 within the State of New York, and tho
nf comprising the five civilized tribes.
a. this number there are approximate
nm $4,000 children of school age During t
az year 23393 of these were enrolled
Co.. school. The progress which has attend
Van recent efforts to extend Indian scht
n' facilities, and the anticipation of CO
itv tinucd liberal appropriations to that or
~ cannot fail to afford the utmost satisff
ton to those who believe that the educ
-, ton of Indian children is prime fac,
i, in the accomplishments of Indian civili1
ton.
WI 1T may bn eail in unparal +arn,e III