Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1835-12-24
DECE.1yAzsze 81. 1880.

improvements which have since taken place in all that
10 Tue application of the power of steam furnish
motives for providing these cooperative deen-
ces Alternately projecting and protected by the fixed
uaries, tnese movable will be found to be of
% "ienest Importance In fact with adequate force
o ihs description stationed in the vicinity of our ne
nent military works and enabled to take refure under
'"eir cover, whenever necessary, hostile fleet would
scarcely venture TO pass the position thereby
itse TO the hazard OF annoya i'm detail and of ben
captured and destroyed whenever n change of wind or
ccny oher OF the many accidents which a maritime
force Is liable, might furnish favorable opportunity for
acuon oil the steam batteries. Our Atlantic frontier
VIII not be properly secured till this of efficient
cooperation in its defence is introduced.
IN my last annual report comnu the. sacts
winch appeared TO render IL proper that the opc raons
Up Upon tne TWO most important works, Fort Cahoun and
he delaware Breakwaer, should be temporarily sus-
PENDED Experiments have been made test the. fleets
ao prooape extent of the which were in opera-
uon and which seetcncd iniure &c not DESTROY the
oty OF these works. 1t is believed that the dep,es
$40" pi ue foundation OF Fort Calhoun near check
ca, mat further danger is not to be apprehended But
as wn De seen by the report of the Quarter Ge
neral the experiments the Breakwater have NOT bee
30 decisive as to settle the question connected with that
WORK. ana IL has been thought best ask Congress an
appropriation only of one hundred thousand dollars,
whcn under any probable circumstances can be Judi
ciously expendcd.lt is to be hoped that the exper
ents which will be continued and the scientific
Is proposed TO make next season, furnish data for
just conclusion the subject of this important sruc-
nre, and indicate, either that the causes which have
threatened to njure its utility, have produced their full
OF that they may be couneracted by change
IN the original plan This artificial harbo is too valua.
e 70 an extensive commerce, peculiarly exposed
from destruction F's "
The report of the vsters appointed to inspect the
MILITARY Academy, and the documents transmitted bv
neh are submitted for your consideration, together
WIN the suggestions they have made, and which are
calculated in their opinion TO promote the eliciencv
OF .hat institution. These annual examinations by
BODY oil highly respectable citizens called from yarons
parts oil the country not only useful checks up
on any improper tendency to which all public establish
menis are more less liable, but they are satisacto-
~, when they bear testimony the value of the sys
eih, ana TO the correctness of administrations and
Pracucay advantageous by the suggestions they offer
mat improvements may be made in the several depart
M Vi Tue Hltary Academy, cannot be doubted
NOT can IL be doubted that thorough examination by
Congress of its various concerns whether administra
i've financial, or instructive, would be highly useful
ana would tend TO It's permanent melioraton Its re-
suits, so far these be Judged by the con-
duct and qualifications of the officers of the army about
twothrds of whom have been educated nj This ine,;,r
ton, have been decidedly beneficial The standard of
requirement Tor the military profession has been rased
habiis OF discipline and subordinaon necessary first to
learn before the duty of can be properv eye
cuted have been acquired elementary KNOWLEDGE pecu
marty adapted to military life has been more extensive.
y and accurately taught and have been better ena
pied to keep pace with those improvements, which the
nations OF Europe have made and making in this inn
Portant branch of modern science.
Agreeaby to your permission have introduced into
the estimates an additional for the armament of the
Notifications Without going into any unnecessary de-
tan upon this subject at this present time will barely
remark that this is called for by the actual state
OF our preparations and by provdent regard to the du
y of self defence Dc no increase takes place in III;
Notifications and arsenals sufficiently provided
resolution passed the House of Representatives at
the last session. requiring the Secretary War TO
cure certain information, having relation to the establish
ment OF foundry in the District of Columbia The in
formation which has been collected will be communicates
IN obedience to the resouton but impressed with
the Importance OF the measure, that induced to brn
1T to your notice in this report.
The United States have no establishment for the manu-
facture OF cannon. The supplies wanted as well for te
eld artillery of the army and militia Tor the armament
of the Notifications now procured from fnnr nr;vot
oundrcs one near Richmond, one at Geor0etown one
opposite West Point, and PittsburG: which nm
pear have been established at several nepods IL, r.
expectation that their products would be received bv The
Government, the public necessities might require and
at such prices as might from time time be JUDGED
reasonable AS there private demand for this mann
facture IN our country it obvious that no person od
make the requisite preparations which understood
10 demand considerable Investments and the en-
Pioyment ct ski'fu workmen, practically acquainted
with this branch of business, unless expectations of
just reimbursement were held Contracts for limit
ca periods have from time 20 time been made providing
Tor The delivery OF quantities. but as had the
honor TO communicate to you in my annual report of
November 2is 1881 the act of CONGRESS of March ad
1909, present serious difficulties in the ya ~
such arrangement and since that time no formal con
tract has been made for the supply of cannon The pro-
petors of these foundIes have annually informed
That It the appropriations would permit and if cannon
OF designated quality and size fabricated these
would be purchased. In this manner the subject has
fingered, without any authority the part of this De.
partment, TO make efficient arrangements Durino
the year. the appropriation o- the of the
oruhcaons mas been principally expended in procuring
IRON gun-carriagesj and the foundres have not been
employed in the fabrication of cannon for tbe ,;I;,a
branch OF the service bisrbelicYed shat this eircurn
stance by derangng their operations has seriously
injurious, and, II Vt again occur, may induce some Of
them TO discharge the workmen specially employed upon
TINS business and who may hereafter be collected with
great difficulty. The Government now. deoends ,non
this temporary and uncertain arrangement for the sun
ply OF this indispensable element OF national defence
The circumstances which required the change / b,d
the honor to submit four yeats since. They have Lost
none OF their force dnring the period which has inter
yened; and, independently Of the considerations
Cd having relation to the uncertain condition of these
tablisbments, there others bearing upon te 81
the material and workmanship, which render il
that the Government should he its own manufactures Of
this article The cost Of cannon while this is kent vitb;
areasonable limit, is object compared with be fso
qualities of strength and ghtn With the Yeri;ons
OF The present manufacturers cannon far as the nos
cessary facts are known TO me- have reason to be sas
ned But IT IS sufficiently obvious, that in branch or
business where slight difference i'm the ooicr;aI and
sght neglect IN the process, may produce remediahle
mischief and where, from not easily ascerfa,e
these defects may disclose themselves in the midst of
most active service and after the guns have resisted ali
the usual proofs the manufacture Of the article sbol
be carried where these neglects.nre least keIv IN
happen; where, in fact there eau be no interest ~ ,
other than the best materials TO employ apv Other
than the most stiu artisaDsTime and experiences are
necessary 10 found and perfect establishment for this
purpose upon scale suited TO wants.
II does not seem necessary exhibit in detail the num-
Der Of cannon in possession Of the CtVernment
and distributed in its forts arsenas and temporary os
and the number that will be required to cofnnef H.
armament of the Qualifications already consfrnofed If
those M the process OF construction and Of those pro-
ected and The number necessary for tke proper demands
OF field service II is sufficient observe here that lie
quantity IS Tar more than enough 70 justify extensive