The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-12-09
ANNUAL MESSAGE.
Continued From Seventh Page

exclusive Of armor and
81, Coo, 600 each
'3. Three sheathed and ~copperei
protected cruisers of about 5000 tons
trial displacement, to have the high
est practicable speed and great radius
of action and TO carry the most power
full ordnance suitable for vessels OF
their class. Estimated cost. exclusive
OF armor and armament, 10000
"A. Six sheathed and coppered cruis-
ers Of about $500 tons trial displace-
ment. TO have the highest speed COM
patible with good cruising qualities,
great radius OF action and 10 carry the
sells OF their class. Estimated cost. ex-
elusive Of armament, N,14l, 500 each.
TO REVIVE GRADES OF ADMIRAL
AND VICE ADMIRAL.
Il join with the secretary of the ma
Wy liz recommending that the grades
of admiral and vice admiral be tenn
porariiy revived to be filled by officers
who nave specially distinguished them
selves in the war with Spain.
PENSIONS.
There were on the pension rolls on
June 80, 1898, 993, ia names. an in
crease of nearly 5000 over the num-
Der on the rolls on the same day Of
the preceding year The amount ap-
propriated by the act of December %,
1896, for the payment Of pensions f.:
the fiscal year of 1898 was s140. 900, 600.
Eight million, seventy thousand eight
hundred and s~eventy-two dollars and
fOrty-six cents was appropriated by the
act of March 81, 1898, to cover deficien-
cies in army pensions and repayments
in the sum of $12, 020.3 3. making a total
Of $14S, 0S2. S92. 79 available for the pay
ment Of pensions during the fiscal year
of 1898. The amount disbursed from
hat sum was S144. 651. S79. so, leaving q
balance of 50, 431 ,012.9 80 u~nexpended on
the Goth Of June. 1898. which was COW
cred into the treasury. There were 2S9
names added to the rolls during the
year by special acts passed at the sec
Ond session of the Fifty-fifth congress.
/ making a total of 6,4SS pensioners by
congressional enactmefts since 1861.
PATENT OFFICE.
The total receipts of the patent Of
fee during the past year We're 1888,
94S.44. The expenditures We're 81, 0SI, :
633. -, leaving a surplus of SIP, 314. 65.
The department of agriculture has
been active in the past year. EXplOr-
erS have been sent to many of the Coun-
tues of the eastern and western h@mis-
pheres for seeds and plants tina. MAY
be us"fL: to the United States and
with the further view OF opening up
mark2NS Tor our surplus pro 1uctS. Inc
forestry division of the department is
giving special attention :" the ,~rcrless
regions Of our country and IS intro
ducing species specially adapted to
Semi-GrId regions.
"Nation-Wide experiments have beer
conducted to ascertain the suitableness
as to soil and climate and states for
growing sugar beetS. The number OF
sugar factories has been doubled in
the past two years and th2 ability OF
the tnittd States to produce its OWN
SuSa" fitm this source has been clear
lV tmnIS1rated
The leather forecasts 4 I'd 0lserva-
ton stations have been extended
| around the Caribbean sea, to give early
warning of the approach of hurricanes
from the south seas to our fleets and
merchant marines.
civilian MKINLEY.
Executive Mansion.
December 5, 1895"