The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-12-07

Iber may be reduced as the insurgents
shall come to ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS author
lily Of the United States, Of which there
are assuring indications.
Increase of Army Recommended.
It must be apparent that we will re-
Iquire an army Of about SO, 1000, and that
during the present conditions in Cuba
and the Philippines the president should
have authority to increase the force TO
the present number of 100. 0G0. 1nclud-
ed in this number authority should be
given to raise native troops in the Phil
ippines up to 5000, which the Taft
commission believe will be more effec-
tive in detecting n suppressing guer-
rillas. assassins, and ladrones than our
lown soldiers.
The full discussion of this subject by
the secretary of war in his annual re-
lpOrt is called to your earnest attention.
/ renew the recommendation made in
my last annual message that the con-
Igress provide a special medal or honor
for the volunteers. regulars, sailors, and
marines on duty in the Philippines who
voluntarily remained in the service
after their terms of enlistment had ex-
Ipired.
/ favor the recommendation of the
secretary of war for the detail Of Off
GERS from the line of the army when
vacancies occur in the adjutant-gener-
ais department, inspector-generaI's de-
lpartment, Quartermaster's department,
subsistence department, pay depart
ment, ordnance department, and signal
corps.
The army service can not be too high
lly commended for its faithful and eff
Elective service in active military opera
tons in the field and the difficult work
of civil administration
The Postal Service.
IT. --- 4
the postal service is a sure index Of the
Igreat increasing business activity of
the country. Its most striking new de-
velopment is the extension of rural
free delivery This has come almost
wholly within the last year. At the be-
lginning of the fiscal year 1S99-1900 the
number of routes in operation was only
391, and most of these had been running
Hess than twelve months. On the 18TH
of November, 1900, the number had in
creased to 2,614, reaching into forty
-four states and territories, n serving
la population of 1901, 524. The number
of applications now pending n await
ling action nearly equals all those grant
ed up to the present time, and by the
close of the current fiscal year about
4, 900 routes will have been established,
providing for the daily delivery OIL
mails at the scattered homes of about
three and a half millions of rural popu-|
Ilation.
This service ameliorateS the isola-
ton of farm life, to good
IrOadS, and quickenS and extends the
dissemination of general information.
Experience thus far has tended to allayI
the apprehension that it would be so
I~eXpensive as to forbid it's general adop-:
ton or make it a serious burden. It's
lactual application has shown that it
increases postal receipts, and car be
accompanied by reductions in other
branches of the service, SO that the
augmented and the accom-
lplished savings together materially re-
Iduce the net cost. The evidences
which point 10 these conclusions are
presented in detail in the annual re-
port of the postmaster general, which
with it's recommendations is commend
ed to the consideration of the congress.
THE full development of this special
service, however, requires such a large
outlay of money hat it should be I'M
dertaken only after a careful study
and thorough understanding Of all that
it involves.
Navy and Naval Reserves.
Very efficient service has been rem
dered by the navy in connection with
the Instruction in the Philippines and
the recent disturbance in China
A very satisfactory settlement has
been made of the ~long-pending ques-
ton of the manufacture of armor plate.
A reasonable price has been secured
and the necessity for q ar
mor plant avoided.
1 approve of the recommendations
of the secretary for new vessels and for
additional officers n men which the
required increase OF the navy makes
necessary. 1 commend to the favora-
BILE action of the congress the measure
now pending for the erection of a statue
to the memory of the late Admiral
David d. Porter, l commend also the
establishment of a national naval re-
serve n of the grade of vice admiral.
Provision should be made, as recon-
mended by the secretary, for suitable
rewards for special merit. Many Off
GERS who rendered the most distinguish
ed service during the recent war with
Spain have received in return no recog-
milton from the congress-.
Public Lands.
The total area of public lands as
given by the secretary of the interior
is approximately LOU, SS1, 662 acres, of
which 917, 1876, $50 acres are undiSpoSed
of and 154, 745, 1872 acres nave been re-
served for various purposes. The pub
lie lands disposed of during the year
amount to 13, 453, SS7.96 acres, including
81, 423. 09 acres of Indian lands, ar in
Grease of 4,271, 474.S0 over the preceding
year. The total receipts from the sale
of public lands during the fiscal year
were 4,379, 1870, an increase of 81, 500,
62O.76 over the preceding year.
The results obtained from Jul forest
policy have demonstrated it's wisdom
and the necessity in the interest of the
public for it's and increas-
ed appropriations by the congress for
the carrying on of the work. On June
80, 1900, there were thirty-seven forest
reserves, created by presidential proc
Ilamations under section "a of the act
of March 8, 1891, embracing an acrea
lof 46, 425, 529 acres.
During the past year the Olympic
Preserve, in the state of Washington,
was reduced 265, GAO acres, leaving its
Ipresent area at 1928, $40 acres. The
Prescott reserve, in Arizona, was in
creased from 0,240 acres to 423, Csc
lacres, and the Big Horn reserve, in
Wyoming, was increased from 1,127, Csc
lacres to 1,1S0, 500 acres. A new reserve
the Santa YneZ, in California, embrac-
ing an area of las, 600 acres, was Great
led during this year. On October 10
=