Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-12-15
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY oF wAF

report from the Department OF War,
accompanying the Presidents Mes
sage. The details are given in accom-
panyins reports on various branches Of
the public service, made in conformity
to the instructions Of the Secretary,
and maj ked from A. to K.
No. A. is the report of Major Gene
raj Brown, on the number, condition,
and positions Of the army, whose dis
cipline is satisfactory, though deser-
ton prevails to so great an extent as
10 be serious evil. This is TO be as
cribed to the many advantageous pur-
suits afforded by the country 10 its CT
.tizens, and 10 the difficulty of appre-
hension, and is proposed to be remedied
by the detention Of small part Of the
monthly pay of privates till their final
discharge. The good effects Of the
school Of practice at Fortress Monroe,
all visible in the improvement of the
artillery corps, and it is recommended
to procure horses for the purpose Of
aiding there the requirement of both
the Artillery and Cavalry exercises
These are said to have had the greatest
share in deciding the fate Of modern
battles, and as it is proper to adapt the
peace establishment to the eventual
state of war, so far as it consists with
economy, this plan recommends itself
both by the practice it gives of the Ar
tillery and Cavalry exercises, and by
the facility Of its extension in the event
of war.
Documents B. c. D E. F. G. are re-
ports from the Quarter-Master Gene
raj, Commissary General of Subsist-
ence, Pay-Master General, Surgeon
General, Commissary General of Pur-
chases, and Ordnance Departments, by
which it appears that the administra-
tive branches of the army have been
conducted with zeal and success
The expenditures, notwithstanding the
movements in the South, have been
confined within the appropriations, and
the disbursing officers are commended
for punotual fidelity. In applying the
appropriation Of 100000 for arming
new Notifications, it has been prefer
red to obtain cannon by private con-
tract, instead of advertising for bidders
a. heretofore.
Document H. is the report of the
Engineer Department, accompanying
which is that of the Visitors of the A
cademy at West Point. THIS es'ab-
lishmeut is warmly commended, as
nursery ofthe military art on the cheap
est plan, and as supplying officers Of
the greatest promise, In it many aux
Hilary requirements are made, psrticu-
larry civil engineering, whose impor-
lance is the greater from the efforts
now making for internal improvement.
Great praise is given, also, to its moral
character, and the stric,ness of its po-
lice. From principle Of impartiahty,
cadet will be appointed fromevery
Congressional district in the Union,
and it is recommended to supply this
institution, as well as Fortress Mon
roe, with horses.
il appears by this report Of The En-
gineer Department, that our forti6ca-
tons are in successful progress, though
delay has resulted from the smallness
of the Engineer corps, which requires
augmentation. The law for procuring
surveys has been acted on, these great
projects having engaged the Engineer
corps,-the connection Of the Ohio and
Chesapeake Canal, and that of Lake
Memphramagog and the Come cticut,
and the National Road from Washing
ton to New Orleans. The reconnois-
sance of the two first has been COM
pleted, and reports are in preparation.
The location Of the road to New Or
leans has excited much interest, and
one Of three routes will probably be ia
ken, one by the capitals of the south
ern states, the second the direct line
which approaches the range of noun
tains, and nearly parallel with them,
the third crossing the Blue Ridge, pur-
suing the valley between the north and
south mountains, and passing near
Knoxville The two first have been
explored, the third is now inspecting,
and reports may be expected during
the present session
Some difficulty occurred in fixing the
site Of the Cumberland Road, and an
unfavorable report being made on the
new route proposed, the old one was
adopted, and contracts have been made
for twenty-eight miles, which are in
course of execution. The plan Of Nc
Adam has been adopted, its superiori-
ty having been asoertained by twenty
years experience in Great Britain, and
by the appreciation Of that government,
as also by small experiment here. BY
competition, the cost per mile has been
reduced from s 900 to $4,000. Mea-
sures have been adopted for the execu-
ton of Ae several surveys OF roads,
and ofimprovements in navigation, di
rected by Congress. Ii DroDosed TO en-.