The evening times., 1896-12-07

the imnl grants of the past year were of a
hardy labOring class. accustomed and atae
to earn support for themselves, and IL is
estimated thatt the money brought withthem
amounted to at least S5,00O,Ou0, though
II was probably much IN excess Of that sum.
since Oniy those having less than $50 are
required to disclose the exact amount, and
tits known that many brought considerable
sums OF money to buy land and bIiId homes.
Including all the immigrants arriving who
were over fourteen years or age, Is. .63 per
cent were lhteTate, as against 20-3I per
cent or those OF that age arriving during
the preceding fiscal year.
The number of Immigrants over fourteen
years old, the countries from which they
came, and the percentage OF ullterates
among them We're as follows: Italy, 81 ,5I5,
with 459 per cent: ireland, 81 1876 with
! per cent, Russia. 81, IS. with IL II per
cent Austria III Hungary and prvinces, 81
d53, with IS. 90 per cent; Germany, 2o,334,
with 2.96 per cent: Sweden, .S2l, with
l.l6 per cent; while from Portugal there
came 2,O6T, or whom a so per cent were
iliterate. There arrived from Japan dur
ing the year only l ,11O Immigrants, and
thorities that the apprehension heretofore
eNisung to some extent or a large inmi-
grafton from Japan to the United States
Is without any Suhst antial foundation.
From the life-saving service it is re-
ported that tile mum Der of disasters TO docu-
rEented vessels withint helimi- OF It's opera
tions during the year
LIFE-SA'ING. was 43T. These YES
sells had on board
1sr ases ssvpe PeeFsGnd a5d r lost WHOM The 4Sss tsae
OF such vessels is estimated at s. $50, 40
and Of their cargoes So sac $50, making
The the total M value OF property Inperiled S12.-
saved and 81 .432,75O was lost. Sixty
seven OF the vessels were totally wrecked.
There We're besides 243 casualties to small
undocnmented craft. on board OF which
there were 594 persons nf whom bS7
Were saved and Z were lost. The value of
the property involved in these latter csIsu-
llties is estimated at Sl19. .2s5, of which
l4,9l . was saved and S4,350 was lost.
The liie-s;i wing crews during the year
also rescued or assisted numerous other
vessels and warned many from danger by
signals. both by day and night The num-
Der of disasters during the year exceeded
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 in
vOlyed. and to the number of persons i'm
perlled.
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 attached
To the Treasury Department, together with
various recommendations concerning their
support and Improvement are fully stated
i'll the report of the Secretary of the Treas
ury, to which the attention Of the Con-
gress is especially invited.
The report of the Secretary of War ex-
hiblt> satisfactory conditions in the sew
cal branches OF the public service in
trusted to his charge.
III l. ARMY. The limit OF our mill
tary force, as fixed by
law is constantly and readily maintained
The present discipline and morale OF our
army are excellent, and marked progress
and efficiency are api aren't throughout its
entire organization. With the exception of
delicate duties in the suppression oil slight
Indian disturbances along our southwest
ern boundary, in which the Mexican troops
Co-operated, and the compulsory but peace
ful return, with the consent O ( Great Britain,
OF band of Cree Indians from Montana to
the British possessions, no active operations
have been required OF the army during the
year past
Changes in methods ofadministration, Of the
abandonment of unnecessary posts and con-
sequeut concentration Of troops, and the
exercise of care and vigilance by the
various officers charged with the RESPONSE
6iiity, In the expenditure of the approprla-
1onS, have resulted in reducing TO mini
mum the cost Of maintenance of our mill
tary establishment.
During the past year the work Of con-
structing permanent infantry and cavalry
posts has been continued at thepiaces here
tofore designated. The Secretary OF War
repeats his recommendation nthatappropria-
lions for barracks and quarters should more
strictly conform to the needs OF the service
as Judged by the Department. rather than
respond 10 the wisnes and opportunities
of localities. 1t is imperative that much Of
the money provided for such construction
should now be allotted to the erection OF
necessary quarters for the sarrisons as
signed to the coast defenses, where many
men Will be needed TO properly care for
and operate modern guns. 1t is essential,
too, that early provision be made to supply
the necessary force OF artillery TO meet
the demands OF this service.
Tie entlre army has now been equipped
with the new magazine arms, and wise
policy demands that all available public
and private resources should be SO employed
as To provide, within q reasonable time,
a sufficient number to supply the State
militia with these modern weapons, and
provide all ample reserve for anyemergency-
The organized militia numbers liz, ,SI9
men. The appropriations for its support
by the several States approximate So, ,s0O,-
900 annually, and S4UO 900 Is contrib
uted by the general government. Inves-
ugatlou shows these troops to be usually
well drilled and inspired with much mill
tary interest. but III many instances they
are SO deficient in proper arms and equip
nIent that a sudden call to active duty
would fnd them inadequately prepared for
field service. /, therefore, recommend that
prompt measures be taken To remedy this
condition, and that every encouragement
be given To this deserving body or unpaid
aud voluntary citizens soldiers, upon whose
assistance we must largely rely in time Of
trouble.
During the past year rapid progress has
been made toward the completion of the
scheme adopted for the erection and arma-
ment or Qualifications
COAST along our seacOdst,
While equal progress
DEFENSE. has been made In pro-
vICfug the mnteriaifor
submarine defense IN connection with
these works.
IL Is peculiarly gratifying at this time
to not. ne great duVjtuct Cfdt Las been
made In this important undertaking since
the date of my annual message To the Fifty
thIrd Congress at the opening Of its second
session in December, 1898. At chat time
1 Informed the Congress OF Gle app, 'Etching
completion OF nine l2-inch, twenty 10
inch anu tntFty-rour e-inCn nIgh pOwer
steel guns and seventy-rivc l2-inch rifled
mortars This total then seemed insignifi-
can. when compared WITH the great work
remaining to be done. Yet it w;ls none the
less source of satisfaction To every citi-
zen when ne rcficctJi GHa. ~ represented
the inst inStalIment OF The new ordnance
or American design and American n ln Ifac-
ture and demonstrated our ability to sup
ply from our own resources guns LEX
celIed power and accuracy. AT that Cate,
however, there were practic.tliy no c;irriagy
Continued ON Sixth Page.