Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1835-12-24
Twemty-lourth Congress--sst sess.
DOCUMENTS accompanying the Presidents -hfssage.
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR
Wan DEPARTMENT.

DOCUMENTS accompanying the Presidents .Nrssage.
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR.
WAR DEPARTMENT.. ! "A,
November 80, 1885. 5
To the President Of the United States:
SIR In conformity with your instructions. and with
the usage Of this Department, have the honor to lay
before you statement of its operations during the past
season. and reports from the various bureaus exhibiting
in detail, their respective proceedings far these
appear to be sufficiently important for communication in
the usual annual statements
The general positions of the Army remain the same
at The time of my last report Some movements how
ever have taken place. which proper should be spe-
cialy brought before you.
Fourteen companies have been placed under the COM
aand Of General Clnch in Florida, with view 10 I'M
pose proper restraint upon the Seminole Indians, who
have occasionally cvnced unquie spirit and to Ell
sure the execution of the treaty stpuations providing
for the removal Of these Indians AS soon as this takes
place. these troops Will their proper positions.
The regiment Of Dragons has been uscfully employed
in penetrating into the Indian country, in exhibiting to
the Indians force we'll calculated to check to punish
any hostilities they may commit and in adding to our
phicul knowledge of those remote regions. Col
kcarney, with detachment marched through the
country between the Dcs Mones and the Mississippi ri
vers; Col Dodge, with another, made excursion south
of Missouri towards the Rocky Mountains; and Major
Mason, with third joined by detachment of infantry,
ployed in duties connected with the assemblage
ola body of Indians at the Cross Tmbers, the great
Western Prairie; for the purpose Of establishing pcrna
nen specific relations between the wandering
bands and the United States, and the agricultural
Indians, who have migrated under the public faith to
that region who seemed disposed TO improve their
condition BY more settled habits. Thedues committed
TO these troops have been well performed.
The information concerning the discipline and march
Of the army is satisfactory. The officers engaged in
great diversity Of duties, growing out Of various acts
of Congress- many of which have direct connection
with their professional avocations. These duties are
satisfactorily executed, and the expenditures which
they lead generally made with fidelity, and accounted
for with promptItude.
beg leave to ask your attention to the report Of the
Chief Engineer, in relation 10 the state Of the corps
under his command. The number of officers in that
CORDS is not sufficient for the various duties committed to
it, The consequence is that in instances, the pub
lie works have been neg ected or delayed and in Others
they have been prosecuted by those who had not the ne
cessa!y professional skill and experience Persons in
civil Iife possessed of competent scientific knowledge
will often enter into the temporary service OF the
Government for such compensation is provided by
law for the officers The progress OF improve
throughout the country creates demand tor those
qualifications which required in the military and To-
biographical engineer SERVICE and higher rate of COM
pcnsuton is allowed than ii has been The usage of this
Department TO grant gradual and moderate addition
TO The corps of officers is the only remedy for this state OF
things and satisfied that considerations Of econo
N.Y. as well due regard 10 the proper execution of
most important class of the public works calls for this
rangement :,
The same considerations apply in 4 considerable de-
gree the Typographical Corps and ask your fvoura-
Die consideration for the recommended by the
officer the head Of it. One of the plans suggested will
accomplish the Obj without any addition to the public
expenditures and will make adequate provisions tor
branch of service connected with the defence of the
country and which has also the advantage Of furnishing
information that may prove highly valuable to every
portion of tire community.
Aereeably to provision in an act of the last session
of Congress- that part of the Cumberland road between
the town OF Cumberland and the Ohio River has been
surrendered and pied by the States through which
passes: and arrangements have been made by the
thory of the States for the collection Of such tolls will
keep in proper repair The funds appropriated for the
completion Of this road have been applied TO the object
and will be fully adequate to its attainment The work.
with the exception of some of the bridges, and few nc.
ccssary repairs nearly finished and is assabe in its
whole All accounts concur in representing as
constructed in the most faithful manner Captain Dela.
field who has superintendent the operations, and the Of
icers engaged with him, entitled to commentator
for The zeal and professional ability they have displayed
The United States exoncracd from all future
claims on account Of this road while competent provl-
sion has been made for its preservation.
The progress in the other works OF internal improve
mcnt is shown in the report OF the Chlef Engnrer-
Among these one of the most remarkable we'll from
its Importance from the unexpected facility with which
has been so far executed is the removal Of the raft
Red River An immense body of timber, extending one
hundred and eleven miles along that sream had covered
large portion Of its surface, and interrupted all coWu
nicaiion This has probably been collecting Tor ages
and not only was this great natural highway thus shut
I'D by it. but fertile and extensive region along The RI
yer was inundated and the whole country in its vicinity
subject to local diseases, having their origin IN ts SUD-
mers0n.
This work has been in progress upon the present sys
tcm little than two years. and the whole rxpend
turc including sum of twenty three Thousand dollars
was applied in previous experiments that tned has been
about one hundred and thry-ivc thousand dollars. 1t
is estimated that additional appropriation OF iory
thousand seven hundred and thirteen dollars Will be re-
ourcd to complete it.; and which, with the sum OF ten
thousand dollars in the treasury, will make tor Tie
whole cost one hundred and eighty five thousand seven
hundred and thirteen dollars The river has been clear
ed for distance of Lightweight miles, ana mere YET re-
main 90 miles Of distractions 10 be removed lhs Por-
ton it is expected will be finished carly in the next sea-
son. if the necessary appropriat are made IN time
Before the present plan OF ettectIng tins "ork was
adopted there various projects suggested Tor lis &C
coupshmcnt but the most sanGuinc protector could not
have anticpacd such great physical change, as IS al
ready taking place. within the time and the means that
have been devoted TO the work. loose estimate OF lie
land which will be reclaimed and rendered valuable by
this improvement which has been made by Col Brookcs
formerly Indian Agent in Louisiana and intimately nc
uuainlcd will, the region upon the Red river places at
Upwards Of million Of acres and it will form one OF the
most productive districts in the Union This operation
mere matter OF pccunary value. VIII return many
times the amount expended upon II.
have brought the subject to your view at TINS tne
not only on account of its intrinsic Importance, but from
the il affords TO the introduction and pro-
sccuton ola system Of improvement, by which the pup
lie lands upon the lower Mississippi and some OF It's lrDn
tarics MA be reclaimed from their present condition. ana
rendered fit for agricultural purposes. whether the oo
iect be atainable within the limits Of reasonable eX
pensc there arc not satisfactory data for determining
But i!s great results the country, in health, in power,
and in wealth, are obvious
No appropriations having been made at the last SESSION
of Congcss for the prosecution of The works upon he
Notifications it has been deemed proper 10 submit add-
tional estimates of these objects. And some of the
forts first commenced have been completed, estimates
have also been approved by you for the commencement
Of Others which have been recommended by the Board
Of ENGINEERS in the continuation of the system o! defence
devised by them and submitted to Congress- number
of our most important harbors and nets yet either
wholly undecndcd partially protected as to render
her situation altogether insecure N the event Of expo