Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1830-12-11

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not what other can be attempted with any real
snla!,lc prospect Of success. IN peace, the sol
der is not stimulated BY that buoyancy, which IN
war induces hun to aspire to promotion through
yallantry and good conduct. To be non Coin
missioned officer, is all that he can hope Tor or
expect To place this class of officers on Il more
advantageous and respectable fuolng. for The p"r-
pose Of exciting sEi,it Of emulation amongst
the soldiers. might prove highly serviceabe. The
subject, being one ot Importance, is at least wor-
thy of consideration and experiment.
Connected with the Army Is the Military AGA
DENY at West Point. The beneficial effects
which have been produced to the country alIea-
DIV, and the more enlarged ones which are in pros
poet, from this valuable institution render II mat
ter of Importance that it should be maintained
upon its present liberal plan and principles The
educating of two hundred and fifty Young gen
t!emen. selc cted from every State liz the Union,
cannot fail to carry with it general advantages
and benefits correspondent to the demands II pro-
duccs on the Treasury. But, apart from this,
the education obtained there being of military
character, the benefits difused through every sec
ton oQpr country cannot but prove highly sauIary
when itshall again be involved i'll war. The 10
formation which is acquired there is carried TO
the several States; these young men become OIL
GERS Of militia; and i'll time, through the means
thus afforded, something approaching TO unifor-
nifty in the discipline of our militia may be ex-
pected The able report Of the Board OF Exa-
miners at tic last commencement, which accom-
panies this report, will present in detail the pro-
gress and advantage of tie institution.
BY the act Of 1918, the President Of the Unit
ed States is authorized to confer upon the gradu-
! ates Of this academy the appointments ct brevet
lieutenants Already there are 81 Supernume-
rary officers thus created, whn cannot now be
provided fer in the line of The Army. In June
next there will probably De. SIS more added, which
will produce an excess OF II over the number
authorized. The law prohibits bre,et appoint
ments of greater number than lOb-one tor
each company; of course, upon reasonable CAL
| culation, but few. if any. OF the cadets. alter
| June, 1851. will be entitled to brevet commits
sion. would respectfully suggest whether some
rule different from the present be not necessary
to restrict for the future lieutenant appointments,
| retaining only so many as might supply the pro-
babe Vacancies which occur within the year.
The number of promotions 10 the Army from
this corps, for the last five years, has averaged
about % annually; while the number of gradu-
ates for the same period has been at an average
of 40. SEhis excess, which is annually increas-
ing, has placed 81 in waiting until vacancies shall
take place, and shows that. IN the next year pro-
badly, and in the succeeding one certainly.
there will be an excess beyond what the existing
law authorizes to be commissioned. There will
then be LOG supernumerary brevet second lieute-
nants appurtenant to the Army, at an annual ex-
pense to the Government Of $4,000.
In the Engineer Department. important opera
tions, as regards the internal impro, ement Of the
country, have been in successful progress
The advantages to our commerce from the i'm
pr0vements which have been made in the navi-
cation of the Mississippi and Ohio rivers, have
ALREADY been sensibly felt; and great good to the
community at large is to be anticipated from fur
Their efforts. The experiments begun, and in
some respects completed, show, that, at an in
considerable annual expense. the Ohio river may
be cleared of its bars and shoals, as to affo,
a convenient and safe navigation at those seasons
of the year when heretofore it has been consider
ed impracticablc.
This subject well merits the attention of the
Government These rivers pass through an i'm
mense and fertile region Of our country, the pro-
ducts of which contribute essentially to advance
our commercial interest. An inc0nsiderable ex-
prndirure from the pulic Treasury will have the
effect TO give security To commerce which at
present is carried on at much hazard, and, by
diminishing the insurance now required. and pre-
venting losses, speedily reimburse to the COM
munity the cost which has been incurred, and the
expense which may be required. At present the
imports to Tie west are mainly along these rivers
and the export trade almost entirely Usually
for six months in the year, one of these (the
Ohio ceases to be useful, because ot the nun,er-
Gus distractions, and consequent hazards. which
arc presented at those times when the waters are
materially reduced. The inconvenience and
risk thus felt are susceptible Of such easy RENE
dy, and at so small an expense, that it becomes
matter OF surprise that improvements so import
ant and valuable to large community should
have been so long overlooked or neglected The
necessity OF improving the navigation OF these
rivers for commercial purposes. all admit; Of the
praclicabiity Of effectins it none eau doubt. The
experiment lately made. through a most difficult
obstruction at place called the Grand Chain,
conclusively tests the feasibility of impro,in Ing
other places; and shows that the expense will be
nconsiderable. As it regards this branch Of the
subject, however, it appears TO me that the i'm
4 r