Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1831-12-15

II Is esnmated that an iron cannon will safely bear
which it should be broken up 81 w
The United States have no armoics for tI,o fbrioo,
oil cannon The practice for years has been TO make
contracts with the owners of the four foundcres at Rich
mohd' Georgetown, Ptsburg, and West Point to the
amount oil the annual appropriations allowing about an equal
"Pooh 10 e2ch' and such price as the Ordnance de-
P"r'meht' Oh the best Information, Judge reasonable
This procedure has been repeatedly stated in the anp
t report 10 Congress- together with the reasons which
led to It, These founded in the capital and
required TO conduct this business in the necessity of de-
IN some degree, upon the integrity and character
oil e manufacturers, as there may be defects I'm he niece
nov dlScoy cradle owing TO the necessity of mixing
ogeer iron OF different qualities and in the belief taf
general competition for these supplies ,ycre cvcitc
inc existing establishments would be broken down and
others endeayor take their places which would eith
a from similar causes or furnish cannon unfit for ser
vice. and thus leave the Government at some critical neri
o. W'hout the means oil procuring this indispensable arm
defence The proyisionsof the acts of Congress- March
iouo seem however to present serious objections to
hs courses and bring the subject before YOU at tbis
Time, that 1T may be fully considered.
tappears TO me, that public armory for the iobr;c,
non OF cannon, is required by Obvious con.dr,,ions a.
forming such an establishment, the necessary
ana artisans would be provided, and such supplies Of beo
w ordnance manufactured as the Government 1oirbt d
rect The actual value of the article would be asc9rt
co. ana contracts with individuals could he formed with
,un ,SnowieIge OF the circumstances. There would he
ro u"lPer Oh cOinbinations nor would any injury result
rom lalr competition The supplies might be so conroIl-
gu as 10 lcaye no fear OF deficiency in the quality or
qu9hu,y OF this essential arm of defence
In the Report of the Surgeon General will I found .
II
psW o. we operations OF Me medical department. and
s propositions submitted by him for its better organiza
uoh. FOurteen thousand dollars are annuallv cxHcrdnd
roy he employment of private physicians because the
Is 40. suhcienly numerous to discharge the duties
;,i VI u. &c nave sixty -four military stations and
recruiting rendezvous requiring surgeons and we have in
D. il'y-three surgeons and assistants There is
10 IN me present arrangement nor is il adyanta
scous 10 'he public interest An increase of the oe
recommended by the surgeon general is evidently re-
INC considerations urged by him for an addition TO fc
Pay on surgeons and assistants arc certainly E,rciIc
mere is no portion Of the army who's. cotypcnsa;o i
80 inadequate nor Is there any which presents less po
poets OF reward There but two grades Of r,nL In
PUT medical service, and the eInolumcn Of The bis, =;
on, iite superior 10 that of a captain -
~ IS que to the army, that The subject ofbrevct compis
mould be placed before you. So far az the scr
f I I, compensation Of officers holding those commits
s , VIC present regulations are Just and well calculated
w. prem any injury to the public service No Officer
can receive the pay Of his brcvct rank unless sern H.
tna' CaPaci'y when on duty andhavino command
IN The army now drawing brevet pav '"S ''o o'iceIS
" W ''-''"F 'o~ Pfe.fuPpose experience IN