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THE WEEK
LEGRAPHs
kstabmsiied
MACOl'i
'VWA?. Tli ESI) AY DEO EM BEfl t is ^-TWELVE PAGES.
, roads and rates.
Extracts from the Commerce
Commission's Report.
T HE total hmlv/ay mileage.
jly, Jiumbcrof Complaint. R.cclreil and
U.nid -Tlie Ilntcs of Houttiern ami
gaatftwMtera Ronds to 11a Io-
..•llgut.il—llate War*.
Washington, Nov. 30.—'The annual re
tort ol the inter-state commsroe commission
cover about seventy paves of print,
with appendix amounting to some tnenty
-jgtiadditional. The report proper is now
la {ype, and the completed volume will be
rttdj for distribution in a few days. 8ome
eitracts from it are herewith given:
Prom the best information now avail
able the railroad mileage on the
of June, 1838, is estimated
j. 181,781, of which 2,812 miles
btdbeen completed and brought Into opera
tion vitbin the six months preceding that
dip The railway construction in 1886 was
8^71 miles, and in 1837 it was 12,638. The
number of corp.rations represented In the
mileage Is 1,251, but by reason of leases or
other contrait arrangements, many corpora
tions bold control of ami operate one or
more roads owned by other corporations, nnd
the whole numb r making reports of opera
tions at the date named was C65.
COMPLAINTS.
Tbs summary of formal oomplaints Is as
follows:
Cases heard and decided, 60; heard, bnt
not jet decided, 6; hearing not completed,
•-.withdrawn or settled, 23; suspended by
rtonest, 10; aligned forbearing, 9; total, 107.
lo the aeciion of the country no-th of the
Potonmo and Ohio and east of Missouri the
ouei in which a greater charge is made for
shorter transportation are few and their
oircnmttinces are such that complaint is
not often made that, they operate
oppressively. In July of the present
rears, however, the Chicago, 8l Paul and
Kansas Cits Railroid Company, having a
line from Chicago to St. Paul and Minneapo
lis,announced to the commissi in its purpose
to reduce very largely its rates between the
termini of the road without requiring in
termediate Mies. The company laid down
tio propositions as justifying its action, viz;
ini, its rates to iuiurmediate stations were
S rfrctly just and reasonable, aud therefore
ere was no injustice in malntaiug
them, and, second, the rates he-
tvetn ifs terminal points were forced
down liy the unfair competition of
another line. The reasoning seemed atroDg,
ltd was certainly pliu-ihle: but this was a
state of things that, at the pleasure of rad-
roid companies acting generally, or even if
single companies were disposed to so net,
might be ma te to exiit at any point of rail-
VOL. LXII1. NO. 35.
chargeable with some degree ol the moral
if 110tle£&l j>>pojj*ihimy.
RAILWAY TRAFFIC ASSOCIATION
It is perfectly reasonable to expect that
the carriers of the country will, in *o far
it is found practicable to do so, make mi h
joint and general arrangements union/ their
number that the public, when availing them*
selves of their services, shall find an arrange
ment with one adequate for the purposes of
any single transaction. One difficulty in the
way of making such arracgeiaents universal
is connected with the necessity of having
some means of enforcing among the carriers
themselves the obligations, moral or legal,
that w >ul I grow out of them. The \ ••'uni
tary establishment of such extensive re
sponsibility wonld require such mutual
arrangements between the carriers as would
establish a com non authority which should
bt vested with power to make train • ar
rangements, to tix rates and provide for
their steady maintenance, to compel the
performance of mutual duties among the
members, and to enforce promptly and
efficiently such sanctions to their mutual
understandings as might be agreed upon.
Something faintly resembling this has
heretofore been done through railroid asso
ciations, but the only effectual sanction
which they have as yet contrived whereby
th** observance of goo i faith in their mutual
dealings could be enforced was through the
device of pooling their freight or earnings.
Even this was imperfect, because the arrange
ment could always be withdrawn from at
pleasure, but pooling is now out of their
power, being forbidden by law. With pool
ing prohibited, the tendency among the
railroads seems likely to be in the
direction of conaolidat on as the only means
of etlectual protection against mutual jeal
ousies and d« structive rate war**, lint any
thing equivalent to consolidation of all the
roads of th* country under a single head, or
even those of a considerable section, whether
by merger or by the formation of a confede
ration which should have powers of legal
control, or by the creation of what is now
technically denominated a trust, could
hardly be supposed possible even if the par
ties were not at liberty to withdraw at pleas
ure.
AN AORHKMRNT NOT TO UK TOLERATED.
If the parties eould come into harmony on
the subject, an arrangement of
the sort would be so overshadowing
so powerful in its centre! ever
the business interests of the country, and so
susceptible of being used for mischievious
purposes in many ways, that public policy
could not for a moment sanction it, at least
unless \,y ht.Uute it were held in c'om- h- il
restraints and under effectual public super
vision and control. Voluntary arrangements
of th** kind in other lines ol l>Ubiue-H are
already sufficiently threatening to public in
terests, and the most ardent advocate of
concentra ion of railroad authority cannot
reasonably expect that anyth!ug of the sort
to contrsl the transportation^ the country
will be provided for by legislation. With
out legislation to favor it, little can be done
beyond the formation of consulting aud
advisory associations, ami the work
of these is not only necessarily defective but
It is, also, limited to circumscribed territory.
In the absence of any such concentration of
authority, the carriers by rah have it in their
power to do very much toward establishing
rnd connection iu the country, an.i i , „„„
pnler chant* on the shorter haul was a>l-1 £ e iter relation, ainomf themsclve..
aUnble U th* case under iuTcntlgition. the Tb# ot thla j, verr .relive
rale of the fourth section would be of no I tu- requisite to the esiublifeh-
pnctic.il value whatever. Any rail- I nient of better relations among carriers
rcs-l company might, ny its by ra j| WO uld germ to be recognition
fth" dve a competitor from its' ih *ir nayt t,( the fact that they seem
ob'ia-. -^n »nd ho itself aosolved in return. the public to constitute a class, with/to
legislature nev/.-r ntended this rente-. ujme extent at least, common interest and
icu e«; it didii i intend, as the commission . nicely to be controlled ov the same motives.
bflievsJ, that curriers subject to the law While the commission at this time is
ifcculd at pleasure thus make the rule of the not p re .,g r ed to recommend general legisla
ture ineffectual. I he carrier under in* ■ tfoo lowsrd the estebli-bment and ''remotion
Tiiiigaiion conformed to this conclusion, I 0 ; fe'ations between carriers that shall bet-
udgraded its rates accordingly, and the ter 8(lb8erve pablio interests than those
•bjeitiooable rates mode by the carrier com- w f,| c hare now common, it must, reverthe-
I'.aiLed of were soon discontinued. t less, look forward to the possibility of some*
(SOUTH AND southwest. | thing of th«t nature becoming at some time
la (he Southern and Southwestern states imperative, unless great improvement in the
tit commission han had reason to think car-. ffwUtlon of thing, is voluntarily
timer OF TI1K LAW.
tiers were moving more (lowly
In bringing their tariffs into oouformity
1 fill: the general statutory rule than in niut-r
I section*. The commission recognises the
The report next considers the subject of
tho effect of the law upon cities, showing
oiiteoce ol peculiar difficulties in these that the result of adjustment of rates re-
*ties, growing out of the fact that water ' qnlred by the act has been iu some cises to
Mnpetitior. is felt at so many points, at afford a larger choice of points of supply to
tome ol which It is of controlling force, i ut interior towns, and thus injurious v affect
■j* would uot excuse a failure to keep the distributing poiuts fermeily favored in rater,
nleol the statue iu view, or to press toward | The subject of uniform clas.ificith.n
jtsir.pidly as was found to be practicable, 'is treated at leugtli, n history of tlie former
netUiog satisfied that this duty has been ' and present clastidcationa being given, with
Efficiently apprehended sued ub.irrfd byl^isscki eltts yissinitsj properly ap-
!"* carrier., the commi-sion has ordered nti plicable. After itating the great difiieuity
k.tiiigatiou to be made of the whole sub- in framing universal classification aud th’e
yten the 18th of December, nt its rooms la effect of iatc (beds, as w ell as upon local
uhiretoii, when it I* intended tomakca interests, as upon general, the commission
uorotgli exuni'nstlon ol existing rate sheets concludes that uuiiormity in classification,
ud to give all parties concerned an oppor-, as fast as i: can be accomplished without
wtitj to be heard. i serious mischief, is desirable.
TU report takes up the subject of the' Tire subject of payment of commissions is
|tectof the inter-nte commerce act upon treated extensively. Tire reasons advauced
■ common carriers end says that although in support of the system are stated, but the
■ wire railroad managers have declared it to commission believe that the evils of the ays-
Iu * JsBsging effect the comuilxaion is tern arc much more clearly apparent than its
C l 1 l •■rideiuv sh.wiug tint tin- ads.mUige*-. The ml'j-et is thought tu l„-
r-rul result has been • thcrwlse than sufficient iurportanco to justify the commit-
I I I'] i-hir .ruddy," lire r. |- .rt si.,urn l-riiiifinyr it l. > lie ntlt-rili-.n . f i-..n-
Inc railroad business of thecouutry gress. There are provisions in the act,*, it
•Mereil man j nnd aeverelossei during uow stands, which would render the carrier
Ikn 1 but lh ' ,e have not been due to the and it* officers or agents punishable if by
I cm' 1 * 1 * con,m ' rce act, but to strikes, the false billing, false classification, weighing
OP of new roads which, in some or report of weight, or l,y any oilier clnic-
I' parallel old lines and rate wars. j or means whitsoever they shall give undue
HaTB wAim. ! ar unreasonable preferences or advantages.
, ^reference to the rate ware which | 1’RNal provisions.
■ u ken place in the Northwest and l The commission believes jhat the penal
'‘"lother lines during theytar, tho re- : provisions against wrongs of this nature
l' 11 says: Tho legal right of carriers to re- should embrace also the owner of tho pro-
r 1 ' - -!.. r-.r ac.il.- loanv eatorit u .der | erty or any party a.-ting for the ow.,er or
rJ” « It now stand, is’unquestioned, consignor of the property, who shall be a
R«7 have proceeded to do so to a destruo- party to any such unlawful conduct.
T ' -d »i.eil..- r with any „I.i:r.ate The c,i.i„i, mend, that curriers
I : il,,-;.,-,-U,., i, at I, u.st very cngiged independently ru nrt.-r-stute tr.,rlic
|J«tiocabIe. The atatute in its requiie- «« rivers. lakes and other navigable waters
f and just rates, ha. had of the country he put, in r,t tu m
r m f, w proteetiou of the public from publishing and maintaining rates, upon the
»nri from unfair discriminati ans.; ssme footing with inter-state carriers by rail.
; 1 ,c - ii m a i hut railroad ,-omiui- It hcliev, d tii.a tticy will c " n, l, , .
... *j**, need protection against their . rather than harmed thereby, and that.excoses
d t ,a 8 made unreasonably low,! uow made by carriers by rail for great di--
.J\ haa not conferred upon the ! parities in rates for correspondiog tranipor-
-, ***?? an y power to order an increase tattons ns between points which are not af-
T** which it can see are not reuumerative.! fected by water eompetton would thereby,to
therelore, it may lie said railroal »large extent, be taken away.
MiiS A ‘ rKD
Mr. W. O. Jama, at Newton County, Foand
Hand In the Wonaa.
Covington, l)ec. 2.-[Special.]—A mes-
in this evening after the coro-
SECRETAIIY VILAS
Gives An Accouut of His
Stewardship.
EXHAUSTIVE ANNUAL REPORT
Of tho A lLiIrs of Hi* Iulurior .‘Jupnrtiuent—
I'ensionii, l'ateuts, fc'chools
ub<1 Iudiims - Enonnoan Sums of
Money I’nlcl for Femlonii.
n •♦TLT* Y n, Joi tnetr rivals, out ol tneir
4V. J**nolder», if they will recklessly
Ufafy** that lead to bankruptcy. Inde-
r runt i a y relurn ® tostocknolders, it la
rate# ke remunerativcjbe-
^01 th* .flaw. tL.l I . aw- -t a
^ta- I ,1 * ss*kg:B IIC if. Ill UII v sis 11 V a | PC"
i*L lae *df c t that Insufficient revenue seuger came in
t^isf n P° < r i the service performed for ner to go eight miles out io the western part
*'»hi*r* lJO i d ,cr . v ‘ < : u '‘" ,1 unreasonably j of tbl . coun ty to hold an inquest over the re-
feUc will never' ohje”'to fair rates, j ™»ins of W. G. Jones,a prominent planter oi |
never bt enlightened as to what j this county, who, the messenger said, Imd |
ttli anJ disposed Steadily to as- been assassinated on or near his own plan-
,4® maiatenanco,*o long as rail- tationatan uuknown houryaslerday even-,
t ri ^ # * €r, i In their abiurd ati«i des rue-1 inn. . . .
$ perpetually and in a most em- The unknown asuassin discharged a ; oad or
'.•uner cuiting f«ir rates, informing buckshot 1 ala tht brick of Mr. Jones heart j
r«oi»c th at something lens, perhaps as he was walking along a path in the woods.
7 can be afforded. i The assassin is supposed lo have been con- j
*Tr. Jones was found I
a large tree iu the
ct of I €ne,, # be afforded. j The asssMin n. suppoht-d lo nave oe
•tali. chief penilexiiies enrounterert ct-alej behind a tree, as Hr. Jones w-s
. ? *uh complaints against rsilroad ‘ fir--* ‘ LI * 1 ---- - **—“
ate ruihrJ r ‘u‘- frorr * the tefct that to tb-
*i) e railrc
: in von,
th * ,e is cauie
fiem any w h
1 iritereAlit of the
unity, so
.plaint in
re, the whole interest h
lead thl
woods.
The crime is supposed to have teen com
muted by some dissatisfied tenant.
This is the third ioouest in thirty day*,
two inurd'-rs aud one death by accident.
The report of the Secretary of the Inte
rior which will be submitted to congress
today with the President’s mess?ge is very
elaborate, occupying 148 printed pages.
From advance sheets we extract the fol
lowing statements in reference to the prin
cipal offices of the deparnient.
THE PUBLIC LANDS
The complete and elaborate renort of
the commissioner of the general land office
exhibits tlie work accomplished in that
bureau during the year and the pres
ent state of its affairs, and I shall extract
its general features of information with a
view' to calling attention to some points in
respect to which legislative action may
appear desirable.
Patents were issued during the past
year to the number of 47,180 for agri
cultural land-', covering an area estimated
to exceed 7,500,000 acres, an increase of
22 ; G22 patents over the number issued
during the preceding year, witli a greater
acreage by more than 3,000,000. 1,034
mineral patents and 114coal-laud patents,
the latter for 15,988.72 acres, were isnied.
Of railroad lands there were patented or
certified 829.16245 acres. Under the
swamp-land a°.t title passed to states for
96,515.49 acres; and under other internal
improvements and educational grants to
various states 99.205.42 acres were con
veyed. On miscellaneous claims, embrac
ing private land claims, donations, In
dian severalty grants, and scrip location*,
patents were issued CGrccitig ^o/tv2 ol
making the aggregate quantity of land for
which title was parsed during the year, in
part reckoned and estimated in pari
8,605 104.29 acres.
PKNSIONS.
The exclient and elaborate report of the
able commissioner <*f pensions coutainn so
full,and at the saiu.- time to compact an
exhibit of the operations of his bureau
during the year, and of its present condi
tion, that ior a proper understanding of
its affairs in detail, reference to the re
port itself is requisite. It may bo in
teresting to exlr.i-:t roinc of the more g-m-
eral figures which emmuariiu its irausao-
ti us and exhibit the present aspect of
this branch of government affairs:
Original pensioners to the number of
06,252 were added to the pensions rolls
during the laet fiecal year, and increases
were grnnted in 45,716 cases. The names
of 16,730 pensioners were dropped from
the rolls for various eau-es, so that at the
eud of the year the total number remain
ing of all classes was 452.537, rtTwhlchTWt.-
020 were army invalid pensioner-, 90,882
army widows, Children and dependent
relatives; 3,815 navy invalids, 2,083
navy widows, children and dependent
relatives; 800 survivors oi the war of 1812,
nuu 10,787 niuuwi uf tiicnst; wuu Berreu iu
that war; 10,060 Mexican soldiers, and
5,104 widows of Mexican soldiers.
At the present time 102 different rates
of pension prevail, ranging from $2 per
month to 1416 66 per month; but the aver
age annual value of each pension at the
close of the year is shown to be $125.30;
and the nggrrgats annual value of all
pensions $50,707,220.92, an increase for the
year of $ •.-8.-2. "•■•.TU.
The amount paid for [tensions during
the ycir was $78,775,861.92, nn increase
over the previous year of $5,303,280.22;
the difference between the actual pay
ments and the annual valuo having been
o&avoned by first payments involving
arrears. Thus there were paid to 64,282
pensioners, receiving trial payments during
tile year, tlie sum of $22,299,605.46, and
there remained in the hands of pension
amenta 6,674 cases of this kind unpaid on
the 30th of June, upon which were due
$2,465,722 69. The cost attending the dis
bursement of this money, embracing the
pay of the officers and employes of tnc bu
reau, its agents, eurgenns, special examin
ers and others, was $3,262,52407; making
tho total expenditure for all purposes by
the bureau duringtheyear,$82,028336.59;
being 21} per cent, of the total gross in
come of the United States for that lime,
and nearly 31 per cent, of the total ex-
;>enditurea of inc government for the fiscal
year. This entire business was transacted
without defalcation or finaucai! irregular
ity involving the government, and there]
was some acceleration oi the rapidity of!
payment.
An examination by the commissioner ]
seems fairly to indicate that the average
age of pensioners is fifty years, and that
the average duration ot liie extends to the
age i-f -i xty-M vi a.
TUB INTKI1 STATE COMMERCE COMM1-.-I .V.
I desire to renew the recommendation of .
my predecctscr in office, iu the lost annual
report, thatihis rommhsion he made inde- j
pendent of the Ltepartmehtof the Interior,
required to report directly to the Presi
dent or to congKiw, and uuthoiic.d to ap- {
point its own officcis and employes, ami to
deal directly with the treasury in the ex-!
penditure of and accounting for the appro- J
i.riattmi* load, for it. .upper*.
The chancier of this commission, »s in- ‘
dicatedby the natureof theduliee assigned
to it by law nnd the m&m.erof its appoint-1
nient, which it may be safely expected will j
always secure maintenance of its conslitii-
tion upon the present high plane, renders
this a measure of personal justice, lieoiden .
that, the duty of deietmiuitig upon the i
appointment of its officers and employes |
on appeal, as it were, from the cornu, i sm , >n |
itself, is invidious and irksome; nor is the |
Secretary of the Interior able to decide the
que-tions involved, except by inquiring an
exhibition of tlie dreninstance* and con- {
dilio is whieli affected the judgment of the
com in —ion in miking appointments or
•tpendilurcs. He cannot well have any
h.ni-f .< lory ur trustworthy means of inii.>
pendent inquiry. His duty must, there-,
fore, either bo perfunctorily performed, in '
which case it is still more disparaging to
the < baricter of the commission, or it mu-t
be performed in tlie exercise of a siijn-rin .
tending authority without means of judg
ing as satisfactory as those possessed by
the cort»i-'ion wi.. se action lie reviews.
I in- report of the cciumittion for the
present year ton Lot vet b.en received.
When it .hall have been delivered lo me I
«haU *rs!:.-mitr- : «pv of it io you aud also
to congr ss, as r qiiired bv law.
till REA U OK EDUCATION.
The. wor k under tlie direct ion of the
commissioner of educat on for the year
glided June 39, 1888, is shown by iris re-
jtoft to have ireen carried for a a r rt upon
lire lines indicated in the last report ot uiy
predecessor.
The correspondence ot the office is
Hinted to comprise more than 30(',000
p eces of mail matter, and to have re
ceived careful and prompt al’ention. Tlie
bureau library hss bten increased bv the
aridition of 1,800 volumes and 15,000
paraphleig, and a short title catalogueof
ihe whole colhction, now numbering
21,000 volumes ai d 75,000 phamplets, has
hern made ready for publication.
The commissioner re|H>rts that the con
dition of public Hinl private education
during the year shows a normal increase,
particularly in the Koutbern stales. More
than 12,000,000 pupils were enrolled iu the
pnh ic schools, sod of there about 8,000,-
000 were in average daily attendance.
PATENT OFFICE.
The following statements exhibit in de
tail the business of the office for the fiscal
THE AMERICAN iN A V Y
Mr. Whitney Tells of Its
Reconstruction.
VALUE OF UNARMORED CRUISERS.
year endiog June 30, 1888:
Applications for patents
ApplicHthius for (ic^lgn pHU-nt
Applications for re-Dsnc putt 1
Applications for legbtration
marks
Number.
.. 31 .ft 70
1,068
its HO
of trade-
1.309
A pplicatiOQS for ri-gi^trution of labels
Caveats 2.408
Patents granted, fiieluding re-issues and
designs...... 20.653
Trade-marts regime red,
1,(8J
Utoli retMsrel
165
22,101
Patents wl>hh#d for non psyment of final
fee* 2.957
I’ate t-* expired
11,611
Receipts and expenditures—
Itcoeip** from all source**
Kxpondltures (tficluding prii
nnd biudiog opd contingent
peusea)., r.,.. w
81,122,994 Kt
ti'g
ex*
953,730 14
Kurolus....*.
169 261 69
Its lance in theT'easury of the United Stntes on
account of piUgnt fund.
June 30 1807... T. U.liVUOl y.»
June 80,
109.261 69
Total 1.
...... 3 3J7,666 65
Com parative i Lite men t
V * jfXCKli-TS.
June 30, 1 c 84..3i.....a...~
$1,145,533 10
June 30, )*>.A-a...7..‘.
... 1,074 971 :r»
June 30,
June 80,
1,206.167 HO
1,150.046 0»
june 30, 1S88..A..
nPONDUDKkH.
June 30, 1634
1,122,991 83
1913.345 9 5
June 30. lCSft L..*
970,272 5M
June 30, 1386 :
991 h 9 41
June 8 *, 1887 /
9NI.644 0 1 .*
June 30, k;
953,730 10
Number of •ppUcatfoys awaitim*
part of tbe m
OOlTPARA'ftYE STATEN UN?.
V 1. 1M4 * 9,756
J Ijr 1, ft.7m)
July 1. im 6.71*2
Jti'yl, 1*67 7.601
July 1, 1888.. 7.2*27
«■oWfkmiNs.
It waa profitedty tae'ftct of July 4,
18:4, that !• Indian agent
be ri qui^t^^lfcjbllf klVJual report, to sub
mit a OM/nwiSAlndians o! his agency
or upovJri* »nder bis ebaxgo;”
b w'+iG'.ipp t o pnil > mtdc-te testi
«»xt*^naea necwarlly incident to a complete*
census, nn re particularly of the larger
tribes, ami it could not but result, as it ha-*
resulted, that such a census should fail,
except among the Miialler and mo.e civil-
actual numbering uf the Indians. The re-
pprta do n >t, therefore, taken as a whole,
furnish such rellflVe statistic* as detyr«
mine v/hntr.sr the Indian population lu
cre ises or diminishes. The totals so re
ported during the past decade sufficiently
prove this. Take the figures:
...... 204 369
2 9.211
247.761
243,299
246, m
In the total n j tuber last reportfd as
above, viz, 246,095. there is included an
estimated 20,000, «*nihracing tlicsi who arc
scattered over different pans of tho western
country, chit fly upon the Pacific coast, be
yond the scope of agencies. Some of these
are located upon ]>ortions of the publij
domain under laws granting Indian home-
steady and are making pleasing efforta for
nior.i! and social advancement; but much
the larger portion are of the wandering
clar*, who, in small hands, abide in remote
localities, gem rally hirmless and peacea
ble, mUisting themselves with more or less
f net * n. Th* j* • figures do not embraco the
Indians of Alio^ka.
7.V2.W7
1S7J-'K1 JftO 27
l.sSO 'M *211.8'i t
Th© United Slftlf* Soon to Hank Second
Among the Powers lo Its Commerce-
Desirojtog Agencies—The Coast*
Deft*! st* Problem—Expetisei.
Washington, Nov. 30.—SecreUry Whit
ney has prereote ( hisanuual report to the
President. After giving a brief review of
the condition of the navy as it will exist on
the 4th day of March, 1889, in comparison
with the same as it existed on the 4th day
of March, 1885, and furnhhing a list of the
armored vessels heretofore authorized by
C0Dgres9, the secretary says: So fir os ar
mored ships are concerned, the subject is
yet to be treated in a broad way by the de
partment and by congress. At the present
time the conditions Are such that everything
necessary to a fi st*cla«s fighting ship can be
produced and furnished to the department
in this country as soon as, in the course of
construction, any element or feature is re
quired; but this has not until the present
tune been true, and, therefore, consideration
of the subject has been necessarily postponed
by the department until the present time.
COMM BUCK DEHTROYKIU.
The efforts of the department in ship con*
struction hove, necessarily, 6lnce March,
1885, been devoted to unarmored vessels,
and as t»these the department is able to re*
port that when the ships iu course of con
struction aud those authorized shall have
been computed, the Uuiied Slates will r^uk
second among ua ions in ihe possession oi
unarmored crusiers, or “commerce de
stroyers," having the highest characteristics,
viz: of the size of 3,000 tons aud upward,
and possessing speed of nineteen knots and
nnurard.
‘The imporfonce which has been placed
upon this branch of naval armament will be
appreciated from the statement that Hug-
laud and France possess C00 vessels of the
class known as uuarmorod cruisers. The
attention of the world was attracted to the
destructive effect which was produced upon
the commerce of the Uuiied ISiates by
cruisers tilled out under the auspices of the
Confederacy in the war of the rebellion.
The total tonnage of registered vessels of the
United States had risen year by year
until, in 1801, it amounted to 2,012,020 tons,
aud between 1861 aud 1866 it was reduced
1,492.926 tone, or In other words, to a point
which we baa reached iu 1849, from which
decline we have uever recovered. The in
surance war risk upon American vessels
during the war rose in exceptional casts to
as high as 25 per ceuL
protection of commkkce.
Sir Chas. Wilson, director general of the
Ordnance'Survey of Gre.t Britain, recently
GKN. lOKKhON'd ltKPLV.
tie Kipr«*<«f»i Hcgret That It Is Impossible
for Him to V’lslt Augusta.
AtJGCSTA, Nov. 30.—The following letter
from Gen. Harrison, dated Nov. 26, was re
ceive i by the Augusta National Exposi.ion
people today:
Gentlemen: It gives me pleasure to ac
knowledge the receipt of your communica
tion of Nov. 14th, lh*8, Inviting me on be
half of the board of directors of the Augusta
National Kxp >*itiou to visit the exposition
and to meet the citizens of Georgia, who will
be assembled there, at some time convenient
tome. I notice, also, with intercut, the
kindly terms in which, on behalf of your
people, you extend ami press upon me this
Bt tractive invitation. I assure you that if it
were possible for me to leave home to make
such a visit, it would give me great pleasure
to observe, in connection with yourexposi-
tiou, the development your state is making
in arts and imtuuiactures. The commerce
between our people, which is nor so much
facilitated by oar great railroad systems and
the genera! diiluHiou of manufacturing in-
terests throughout the state-, will, 1 am sure,
stiii more cioseiy unite in interest and in
sympathy the people of our whole country.
Will you pleaie expr©** to your board of di
rectors and, also to the gentlemen who have
kindly united in the request presented by.
you, my sincere thanks for the invitation,
aud my great regret that 1 urn uot able to
enjoy the hospitality which they so cordi
ally extended.
A Perambte for Ofllce.
Atlanta, I>eo. *2,—[8pccial.]—Nearly
all of the candidate* for county office* will
go into a nomination, which ih *et down
for Dec. 13 This was deemed advisable
owing to the army of candidates in th*-*
field lor the rfiice of coroner of Fulton
county. There are fourteen candidates
now out shelling the woods for you**.
Thirteen oi them art* white and one col
ored. J. C. Harrison, one of the number,
has si ready announced that he will no', go
into the primary and ns the colored cn .<!•-
date will abo run on the ou's.de, it is rea
sonable to suppose that on the day of the
election tiK-re * ill be three candidates in
th*» field, the nominee, the independent
and the republican i &mlidaGs. This c.jn-
te»t will, therefore, be .iu interesting one,
both in the primary and at the ballot box
when the final content takes place.
passei from it and doe* notrtturn;"
Lord Charles Hereford, lately a member of
tlie boar ! of admiralty, in ihe same connec
tion stHted: “To lay one hilt of the people
in Hi gland would absolutely have no bread
the sea. It is a matter of life and death for
you to protect the commerce, and you have
not the ship* to do it with."
We cannot at present protect our coast
but we can rt turn blow for blow, for we shall
zoon be in condition to hunch a firet of
large aud fast cruisers against the commerce
of an enemy and able to inflict the most serf
ous and lasting Injury tnCreoo.
DIPftOVBD rOWRU OF MACHINERY.
With regard to the production of power by
machinery the report aays: An examination
of the state of the art in 1885 led to the con
elusion that the machinery of naval vessels
ought to be so designed as to produce ten
horse-power for each ton of machinery, and
it was determined to make that the standard
ami to enter into no contract* that were not
based substantially thereon.
The plans of machinery were purchased
abroad, which, upon trial, have approxi
mated that result. Uidders were authorized to
bid upon plan* thus submitted to competi
tion, or were permitted to submit their own
plans, but were obliged to guarantee the re
sults determined upon by the department
under severe penalties for failure and with
compensating premiums in case of attaining
better results. It result* that all the con
tracts for the construction of ships which
have been entered into since March 1885 call
for production of power by machinery equal
to the highest standards.
The eflorts of the department in this matter
have been cordially seconded by the bureau
chiefs, and it is believed that at the present
time the department has reached the point
where entire reliance can be placed upon it
for the construction of war vessels equal in
character to those of any other country.
RXPBNFK8 OF TIIK DRPARTMR.NT.
It is gratifying to be able to report, says
the secretary, as will be seen from on ac
companying table, notwithstanding the
large expenditures for the new navy in the
last three years, the reduction in other di
rections have made the total expenditures
of the department less for these years than
for the three years ending June 30, 1884,
the ordinary expenses of the depart
ment having been reduced over twenty
percent. (The year 1884-85 was omitted
from the table ss not having been wholly in
either n'lministration.) The table mentioned
hhows that the expenditures for the years
endine June 30, 18*2, 18*3 and 188-1 were
$47 979.397, and for the years ending June
3d, 1886,1887 and 1888. $46,830,630.
Under the head of “coast and harbor de
fense," the Secretary states that in the lu*t
annual report of the department the consid
erations were given leading to the conclusion
that it would te unwise for the department
to follow the course of Karonean powers in
building unprotected torpedo boats.
FLOATING BATTERY.
Zn the present nncertainty regarding the
practicability of sub marine boats, and while
waiting practical trial of the dynamite gun
boat, it has been deemed wise for the ^part-
meat to build one light draught, heavily
armored harbor defense floating battery, or
r»ni, for which deigns have been prepared
by the bureau of construction and ft»*airi
engineering, in consultation with the chief
of the bureau of ordnance. The advertUe-
meats for thi* veM!«l call f-ir the MibinihMon
of bids in th* month o' February next. It*
characteristics will be found stated in th**
table of armored v**^*ln before mentioned.
The busincM methods of the department
are di»eu*»ed at some length, and a history
given ol the eflorts being made to simplify,
svatematize and improve them.
evoted to naval progress
t home and abroad, and in
it the vtatement in made that the necessity
for increased numbers of fast protected
cruisers, whether for purposet of protecting
or destroying commerce orfor service with
Me. t« us scout*, has hern emphasized during
the naval mamuversof the ye4r, nnd is
fully recognized by all naval power.-*.
ARMORED VKKHRIH.
With the increase of the number of cruis
er* it baa been recognized, in view of the
recent introduction of high explosive pro
jectiles in the matter of power and rapidity
of tire in other guns, that renewed xtt.-ntio*
must be given to the armored fle-t, and
the prevai ing opinion iu Kngland,
France, Italy aud Russia is strongly in favor
of additional armored ships, to be bnilt at an
early date. In thene new veNseln, the armor
wilt be much more widely distributed, and
will certainly protect battery and crew as
well us the warerli'.e and machinery. Th*
dcstrucllvc.’jts * of high expiofeive Hu.II fir*
agalost unprotected tddes emphisizvs th*
peculiar sdvants :< » of the mortar type for
coast defense. The secretary com itf*n the
subjt-cts of i:,ij• r -v. d powder j r . j-clilee
and torpedo boat*, Sjji g III reg«rd t* th*
Mterthat re cut naval maneuver* .t-road
have shown that they mn*t still be rt g .rded
as the most useful for coast and Lurt.or de
fense.
TIIK ESTIMATES. .
The estimates for the navy aud marina
corpi for the current fiscal year, amounted
to $28,0 3,621; those for next year amount to
$ 6,767,677. a difference of $8,705,063. Th*
appropriation for the current fiical year
amounts to $ 9 912,481, being $6,821,196 lese
than the estimate for the next fiscal year.
Tho secretary closes by giving the main
points of the reports nib mi tied by the
admirals of the navy, the chiefs of the
various naval bureaus and the board of
visi ors to the United States Naval Academy,
abstracts of which have been published
horn time to time, us they were placed in
the hands of the secretary.
A TOUGH TltlO*
A Suftpect With a Luug Catalogin' • f var*
—Two Others \\ ho .vtnj be Wanted.
Atlanta, Dec. 2.—[Special.]—CapL
Mike White this afternoon arrested Jim
Nubbin, Tom Hamilton and Brownlow
Patton (all c dored) ss suspicious charac
ters. The names given above zr.-.j be
right, but Capt. While thinks they art
known by others.
Nobhin ia c -vered with scare, giving
him tho appearance of having b*en
through numberle.'s encounters in which
all kinds of weapons were used. He b
about 25 years of age, and w.!l weigh
about 185 (round:*, dark c iffee color, mus
cular, with rqtiare shoulders, thick n ek
and heavy frame, lie talks like a H'gnlar
plantation darkty, nnd claims that la* vm
re-md near New Orleans, lie is marked
ss follows: Rullet Ww..nd in the right hip,
and another in the left hip, scar on rigid
breasL two ioche* long. «nniher o!5
left shoulder or.e and a hilf inches long,
anoiier scar under the left car, &Ino scar
red under left eye. Another scar
iu th* edge of the hair on
the neck behind the left ear, long ecar on
the back of his left hand, one up^p^ fui
tooth out, a so t*
chapt**
Tom Hamilton is n ... _____
is five feet nine and a half inches high,,
apparently 24 years of age, and weighs*
about 145 pound*. He i J - pitted badly, an.
is he had been through a »i»jp* of small
pox, and has a long Near on his neck.
Jlrownlow Patton, the third suspect, D
five feet time inches high, about 22 years
of age, and will weigh aoout 170 pound*.
, He claims that he was reared in Knox
ville.
Capt. White think* that they are hard
ened criminals who are wanted in some
section of the South. He ha* an idea that
they nro ct-capcd convicts.
LONG Width, C AND AUIWSOV
The General Goes to Indianapolis to Her
the I , reildent-EI«ct--GO , vvltjr Hnettug.
Indianapolis, Dec. 2.—A late train from
the Sonth tonight brought the distinguished
ex Confederate general, Jas. Rongstreet of
Georgia, accompanied by his friend-*, Hon.
E. A. Aiigier&ud Alton Angler of Atlankt.
It Is understood that Gen) I/>ngitreet will*
hold an interview with tho Pre.ddent-eNoW
tomorrow.. Ilia visit in declared to l>«
purely a social one, and at tho invitation of
Ms old friend Dr. Milcheli, formerly of
Atlanta. \
Tonight Gen. Harrison presided
at the 3rd anniversary of
the Indianapolis Ilencvolent Society.. The
audit ; <•. mu il • rr*l n* irlv 3,000. <n-n. liar
rison opened the exercine-* of the evening
with u few remarks. Ho cjngratutu’.ed the
Indianapolis Benevolent Society, and these
later but not leas useful charities, whiolt
have gathered now in a circle about it, upou
the manifest Interest in this community
which this great meeting attested. He re
called many meetings of the benevolent
society in contract with this. It was
formerly the habit to hold tli****; an
niversary meetings on the evening of
Thankfgiting day. Many o' them in
earlier yearn of his recollection were
but h i •* t r - *• I y attended. Perhaps thi-*
was tnc result of the lethargy of
over-feeding on Thanksgiving day;
for, notwithstanding ihe toartie attendance
which sometimes rewarded the inviutionr*
of the society to it* uuuivereary, there had
hlwats been, lie believed, a very widespread
and deep mu rest io the work of this benevo
lent organization. •
lie congratulated the city of Indmuapoli*'
upon th*’ magnificent demonstration of the
fact that its people are not absorbed nimply
in trade, that their hearti are not given
wholly to th : ngM that pertain to selfiffinesn,
hnt Mini HbrrsUt^ ssd a
friendly disposition to help the unfortunate,
are uh characteristic of the city as iu enter-
prise in lines of trade.
A Warning to Young Men.
< ii-u. Jill! es A. Walki-r of \V) lb v»4h-,
Ya., i.-, in ro*t‘ip: **f :i letter from ;i young
Virginian who recently removed to !»•*
AngeltB, Cal., which may serve as a warn
ing to aspiring young men from going to
Southern California. Gen. Walker’s cor
respondent writer: “This is the worn’
overrated country in the whole world.
They have nothin;; here except climate,
and— » j* h climate! You nearly freeze in
the ii, »riiicg and evening* and hum up in
the middle of th* day. K.»*rything is ala
most exorbitant price. What do you
th:r.k • »f <■ :\\ !*»■■!* g : ♦ •) |** r tou and wood
$11 per cord7 The fruit here is not half
>o gosxl as it is in the Hist, with the single
exception of grape-, which are the finest
I have ev»*r *n f he only thing that
bring 1 * u farmer any revenue is alfalfa hay,
which they can only raise by irrigation,
which i* very c Jolly. The whole •>*
Sx irhi rn Clalifo'U'a is laid off into town
► at from $600 to $5,000 per
,ch owof r expect-* to sell at
ihoM; tigiir*** l> borne Ka*te r n a*nd*-rfooL"