The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1896-12-12

erins the above mail matter. II. thus ap-
ter constituted more than two-fhirds OF
the total that was carried. the revenue
sse ior 3m = wss less shS
v cents. From each pound Of second
tH was county-free matter). From each
pound OF third class, Ia cents. From each
pound Of fourth class: lS;s cents The
has been from 29s. 600 900 pounds In 1884 TO
sl2.OoO.0oo pounds In 1895. and 10 almost
increasing drawback is far outstripplng any
possible growth of postal revenues.
Abuses Must se Corrected.
! Our mail service should Of course be
charge upon them so light as perhaps TO
exclude the idea OF our pest office depart S,i,
In the face OF constantly recurring do
ficiency In It's revenues. and In view OF the
! fact that we supply the best mall service
In tho world. Il seems TO me II is quite time
/ 10 correct the abuses that swell enor-
mously our annual deficit. II we coneede
/ the public policy OF carrying weekly news
| papers free IN the county OF publication.
and even the policy OF carrying at less
than one-tenth OF their cost other bona
! fide newspapers and periodicals. there can
i be no excuse for subjectlng the service 10
the further immense and increasing loss
| involved In carrying at the nominal rate
| OF one cent a pound the serial libraries,
sometimes including trashy and even
Which. under ess the loose Interpretation Of
a loose statute. has been gradually given
second,class rates, thus absoroing oil
| matter, which pays three or four times
more than It's cost, and producing large
annual loss to be paid by general taxation.
i III such second-class matter paid merely
tho cost OF it's handling our deficit would
disappear and surplus result which
mali facilities or cheaper rates OF letter
postage. ] recommend that legislation be
az once enacted 70 correct these abuses ,S and
ulation or our postal rates.
The Navy.
The work OF the navy department and its
| present condition are fully exhibited In the
report OF the secretary. The construction
OF vessels for our new navy has been ener-
| getically prosecuted by the present admin
/ istration upon the general lines previously
adopted, the department having seen no
/ necessity for radical change In prior meth
DDS. under which the work was found TO be
| progressing in a manner highly satisfac-
| Tory Ii has been decided, however, 10 pro-
| vide I'm every shipbuilding contract that the
| builder should pay all trial expenses, and
/ Il has also been determined TO pay no speed
/ premiums In future contracts. The pre-
iniums recently earned and some yet 10 be
/ decided are features OF the contracts made
\ before this conclusion was reached.
on March 4. 1898, there were in commits
/ sion but two armored vessels, the double
/ turreted monitors Miantonomah and Mon
/ terey Since that date, OF vessels thereto
fore authorized. there have been placed IN
their first commission three first-class and
| two second-class battle ships, two arinorcd
cruisers, one harbor defense ram and five
double-turreted 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
pleted about March /, and at least four
more gunboats Will be ready for sea In the
There have been authorized by congress-
since March, 1898, five battle ships, six
light-draft gunboats. l6 torpedo boats and
one submarine torpedo boat Contracts
! for the building OF all OF them have been
let. The secretary expresses the opinion
supply OF cruisers and gunboats. and that
hereafter the construction OF battle ships
and torpedo boats viii supply our needs.
Department of the Interior.
The report OF the secretary OF the interior
presents a comprehensive and interesting
exhibit OF the numerous and important az
fairs committed TO his supervision. IL y
impossible I'm this communication TO do
more than briefly refer TO few OF the sub
iects concerning which the secretary gives
full and instructive information.
this department and for its disbursement
for the fiscal year ended June 20, 1895.
greater sum than was appropriated Tor the
entire maintenance OF the government Tor
the two fiscal years ended June 80. 1861.
The Public Domain.
to /, S40, OO0, 900 acres, have been 80 reduced
that only about 0O.O0O.OO0 acres still remain
In government control, excluding Alaska.
The balance, being by far the most valuable
portion. has been given away 10 settlers,
10 new states, and TO railroads, or SOLD AT
"A 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, 1879. about
-, 100000 acres have thus been conveyed 10
these corporations.
agree with the secretary that the re-
malndsr OF our RuSi sh anS theiT senS
tioa guarded by better economy and greater
prudence.
The total Indian population OF the United
States is III ,23J, according 10 census
made IN 1885, exclusive OF those within the
state or New York and those comprising
the i've civilized tribes. OF this number
there are approximately $4,000 children OF
school age, During the year ~. SsS OF these
which has attended recent efforts 10 ex-
tend Indian school facilities ard the an
ticipation OF continued liberal appropria-
tons TO that end, cannot fail TO AFFORD the
utmost satisfaction TO those who believe
that the education OF Indian children IL a
prime factor In the accomplishment OF
Indian civilization.
Conditions Improved.
IL may be said I'm general terms, that I'm
every particular the Improvement OF the
Indians under government has been
most marked and encouraging, The sec
rotary, the commissioners OF lAdian affairs
ana the uBcnt8 nuNlHk OA III
dams TO whom allotments have been made
sWongly urge the passage OF a law pro-
hibiting the sale OF liquor 20 allottees who
have taken their lands Ia scyeralty. 4
earnestly join In this recommendation.
Allotment OF Lands.
A commission organized and empowered
under several recent laws Ii now negouat-
ing with these Indians for the rclinquish-
ment OF their courts ana the division OF
their common lands In seyeralty ana are
aiding In the settlement OF the trouble
some question OF tribal membership inc
reception OF their nrst proffers OF negOtia-
ton were not encouraging, but through pa
tionce and such conduct on their part as
demonstrated that their Intentions were
friendly and la the Interest OF the tribes
the prospect OF success has become more
promising. The effort should be to save
these Indians from the consequences of
their own mistakes and improvldcncc ana
10 secure to the real Indian his rights as
against intruders and prOfessed friends
who profit by his retroRression.
1 indOrse the recommendation made by
the present secretary OF the interior as
we'll as his predecessor that permanent
commission consisting OF three members,