Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1841-06-09

| th,n due regard to economy, inhut need the DE.
partnent i'm giving its sanction Ia the plan of dis
penslng with the civil superintCndency authorized
by law. After full consideration, It was believe,
that this could be safely and advaniageouSly done
Accordingly, the armorics now in charge N
Skiiul and experienced officers Of the Ordnance De
partment One defect in the policy at taking SUI
lpcrntendcnts from civil life, as shown Ivy past ex-
perencc, Is the want OF the proper qualifications IN
the persons usually selected. Some degree ,o
science, rs well rs proc ical know ledge in the con
sttuciion and use o arms, indispensable requi
| sites IN the supeTincndents. The desired and pro
per qualifications rarely to DC found united il
the same person in civil life, whose services bC
commanded by the Government. Another and
more serious objection To the system OF supervision
heretofore practsed. is found IN the defective and
inadequate control which the Department has been
able to exercise the superintendents. IL has
been found impossible, IN some instances to enforce
the most salutary regulations. The necessary de-
gree of Difference to the orders and wishes Of the
perior authority, is manifest, has been felt
This probably is the inevitable result Of the nature
of the interests and influences in no manner con
nected with the objects OF these establishments
which too often control the conduct OF the superin-
tendcnts. For these reasons, il is deemed OF great
Importance that the armores should be separated,
as lar as possible, from III connexlon with the party
politics OF the day. The force OF the objections
suggested TO civil cannot he bet
tersillustrated than by the statements contained IN
| the accompanying memorandum OF the Ordnance
Department., which appears TO be taken chiefly from
the correspondence between that Department and
the superintendent OF the nj hdrpers Ferry.
But the eSpediency of continuing the superinten-
dcncy of these officers must finally he decided by
Congress. Some hesitation WAS felt in dropping,
temporarily, the civil superntendency; but Meth
er oi the late supcrntendents though of much per-
sona worth, was regarded as possessing, in due de-
gree, those particular qualifications which are mpor-
tant III the cement Of such establishments, their
removal was thought Mt occasion to introduce n
new system. Time has not yet been allowed 10
Is adj or hail
be the pleasure OF Congress 10 allow the existing
vacancies under the law, as it stands, To con-
tnuc for short PERIOD the public Interest will be
subserved whatever may he the result OF IA, exper-
| iment. II tho policy recommended by the Ordnance
apartment, and tar sanctioned by this Depart
ment shall succeed, II will be wei for the public
service. II 1t shall fai there vii no longer be any
pre.eXt for future changes; and the Department will
look to the selection OF the competent supcun
| tendcnts from the walks OF civil lite, and To the
means OF improving the efficiency Of these establish
ments by such new regulations uuder your direction,
as may be suggested by experience.
Additional appropriations, TO the amount OF SS25,
| 637 ST required by the Pay and q uartermas-
tcrs Departments Tor the service OF he priest mt year
The amount asked by the Ouariermaster General
| appears To bc Indispensable. IL is about the sum
which Congress At the last session failed TO appTo-
prIatc though included in the estimates, and under
stood To he IN part for arrcarages for the year $780,
and large portion Of the presen, demand may not
| he improperly set down to the same account a
portion OF The sum required 10y the Pay Depart
ment is for ges OF the year 1910, will APP
pear from the report OF the Paymasier General.
The agents and supsrintendents heretofore en-
| ployed in the construction of the various improve
mens the lakes the coast, and in the Interior
have been discharged, except such have been re-
| tanned ut smalIicompensaion, to guard some of
| the most important works remaining IN unfinished
state, and the public property connected with them.
In a few instances II has been found eXpedient to
employ an agent to take care OF tho property OF the
Government collected for the construction Of these
works, until Congress shall determine upon the
question OF continuing or abandoning them, where
there was no fund out of which they could I've paid.
Some of these agents have been paid from the p o.
ceeds OF the sale of portion Of the public property;
others be paid only by further sales or under an
appropriation by Congress. II has also been aseer-
tanned that the expenditures upon several OF these
works have exceeded the appropriations made for
their construction. These arrearages are generally
due TO contractors and aborers in no way RESPONSE
bic for this error and provision should therefore be
made for the payment of them. The amount ne
cesSary TO discharge them, as well 10 pay the cx-
penses OF the agents employed above stated, ap-
pears from the Report OF the Chief of the Corps of
Typographical Engineers, TO be s39,997 ~.
The subject of the erpediency OF completing the
Cumberland road and OF improving certain harbors
and the navigation OF certain great rivers, which
may be regarded as necessary and proper in making
adequate provision for the public defence propose
| TO postpone the further notice of until the stated
session OF Congress- as the cOnslderak1n OF 10 will
involve the prOprley OF making apE{szfiatlons for
various works of Internal ImproyeIveb not neces-
sarlly connected with that object ant snscquenty
will require more time than Congfess, at its ap.
preaching session, may find it convenient to give
| AT the late session IT Congress, the sum OF $50
600 was appropriated TO he expended, under the
direction of this department, in repairing the breach
in the Potomac bridge. Soon after the adjournment
| an officer ofthe Corps Of Toposrap hical Engineers
distinguished alike for his science and practical skill
ted tO ks ne
and to report suitable plan for the execut on of the
work. With what skill and accuracy he has per-
! formed this preliminary service. will appear from
his report to the Chief of the Corps. Tie highest,
confidence being Teposed IN the soundneSs of his
| Judgment il was determined at once TO expend no
portion OF the money placed ut the disposal OF the
Department Tor the accomplishment OF so important
4 work upon plan which did not promise To secure
what was held to be indispensa bic its permane nee
and durability. From the statements contained in
the report of Major Turnbul, is obvious that the
repairs, # done upon the plan which formed the ba-
SIS OF the estimate upon which the appropriation was
made, could not stand through single season of
| treshet or ice. The question was then presented
whether II was proper to commence the repairs up.
| on the only plan which promised the requisite
strength and durability, but the Of which would
/ far exceed the appropriation made by Congress,
and which, il was known 10 the DEPARTMENT wns
supposed TO be ample for the otje ct, or wait the
sanction OF that body at the approaching session.
The great convenience and Importance OF the bridge
nt this point, and the strong interest felt by the CHI
Zens of this District that the repairs should not be
delayed, urged the immediate commencement of the
| work, while its questionable proprety, under the
prospect Of an immediate session OF Congress drcd
ed the Department to postpone further operation.
until that body should have an opportunity of act
ing upon the subject. The utility and inportanc,
Of this bridge, not only TO the citizens Of this city
and District, butte the carrying Of the public mail
and 70 the Southern travel al the season of the wear
when the river Is obsructed by zee, are general
! ly felt ard acknowledged, that need say no more
TO recommend the additional appropriation required
| or that the sanction Of Congress he given in some
other form, at an carly day Of the session. TO the
making oil the necessary repairs upon the only sole
and dufubie plan which presents itself.
Another pubic work Ci great interest committed
10 the Of this Department. deserves some notice
at this time. The sum Of s75,O was approorilt-
ed ~ the late session Of Congress for cloiring out
the Red river raft. The large sums yfmoney here.
tofore expended on this object, the high expectation
INDUCED, after the FIRST successful experiment Of the
practlcablIy Of eiiocIng Il, the subsequent accumu
latIon and continuance Of partial distractions and
the consequent disappointment Of the Public caused
the Department 70 give It's early and serious atten-
ton to the subject. Believing that Congress, in
making his appropriation INDUCED the hope that n
would boa that would be required for the competIor
ofthe work, the Department, resolved that the highest
degree Of permanence and utility nttaina BILE BY N,
use Of the means placed at It's disposal should he nc
cOmlshped directed that officer Of the hihest Gre
dit for skill and Judgment should proceed with
out delay 70 ascertain the nature extent and causei
Of the distractions which interrupt the navigation
Of that rver, and 70 submit plan for their removal
That officer has not yet reported 10 the Depart
ment. II Is Intended that the steam and snag boats