Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1841-07-17

IL mas Deen lOunu lnlpcSSlDle, IN some instances,
to enforce the most salutary regulations. The
necessary degree Of Difference to the orders and
wishes OF the superior authority, it is manifest
has not been felt. This probably is the nevita.
Bile result Of the nature of the interests and in.
fuences, in no manner connected with the OBJ.
ections Of these establishments. which too often
control the conduct Of the superintendent.
For these reasons, it is deemed OF great impor-
lance that the armories should be separated as
far as possible, from all connexon with the
party politics Of the present day. The force
of the objections suggested to civil super
intendence cannot be better illustrated than by
the statements contained in the accompanying
memorandum OF the Ordnance Department,
which appears to be taken chiefly from the cor.
respondence between that Department and the
superintendent Of the army at Harper's Ferry
But the expediency OF continuing the superin.
tendency Of these officers must finally be decided
by Congress. Some hesitation was felt in drop.
ping, temporarily, the civil SUPPLEMENTARY; but
as neither Of the late superintendents, though Of
much personal worth, was regarded as possessing,
in due degree, those particular qualifications
which are important in the management Of such
establishments, their removal was thought fit
occasion to introduce a new system. Time has
not yet been allowed to test sufficiently its ad.
vantages or defects. If it shall be the pleasure
Of Congress to allow the existing vacancies un.
der the law, as it now stands, to continue for
short period, the public interests will be suhserved
whatever may be the result OF the experiment.
| If the policy recommended by the Ordnance
| Department, and so far sanctioned by this De-
partment shall succeed, it will be well for the
public service. If it shall fail, there will no
longer be any pretext for future changes; and the
Department will look to the selection of the
most competent superntendents from the walks
Of civil life, and to the means Of improving the
efficiency Of these establishments by such new
regulations, under your direction as may be sug
gested by experience.
Additional appropriations, to the amount OF
S25,637 66, are required by the Pay and Quar-
termaster's Departments for the service Of this
year. The amount asked by the Quartermaster
General appears to be indispensable. 1t about
the sum which Congress at the last session failed
to appropriate, though included in the estimates,
and understood to be in part for arrearages Tor
the year 1910; and a large portion Of the present
demand may not be improperly set down to the
same account. A portion OF the sum required
by the Pay Department is for arrearages for the
year 1910, as will appear from the report of the
Paymaster General.
The agents and superintendent heretofore en-
ployed in the construction of the various i'm
provements on the lakes, the seacoast, and in
the interior, have been discharged, except such
as have been retained at small compensation,
to guard some of the most important works re.
naming in an unfinished state, and the public
property connected with them In few in
stances, it has. been found expedient to employ an
agent to take care of the property Of the Gov
eminent collected for the construction Of those
works, until Congress shall determine upon the
question Of continuing or abandoning them, where
there was no fund out of which they could be
paid. Some OF these agents have been paid from
the proceeds Of the sale Of portion Of the public
property, others can be paid only by further sales
or an appropriation by Congress. 1t has also
been ascertained that the expenditures upon sew
era OF these works have exceeded the appropri.
atoms made for their construction. These ar
rearages are generally due to contractors and
laborers in no way responsible for this error; and
provision should therefore be made for the pay
ment of them. The amount necessary to dis
the agents employed as above stated, appears
from the report of he Chief of the Corps Of Top
ographical Engineers to be 39,997 -.
The subject Of the expediency OF completing
the comberland 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 de-
fence, propose to postpone the further notice Of
until the stated session of Congress as the con.
sderation Of it will involve the propriety Of ma
king appropriations for various works of internal
improvement not necessarily connected with that
object, and, consequently, will require more
time than Congress, at its approaching session
may find it convenient to give.
: At the late session Of Congress, the sum Of
$50, 900 was appropriated to be expended, under
: the direction Of this Department. in repairing the
breach in the Potomac bridge. Soon after the
; adjournment, an officer of the Corps of Topo
graphical Engineers, distinguished alike for his
science and practical skill, was selected to make
I the necessary examinations, and to report suit
: able plan for the execution Of the work. With
: what skill and accuracy he has performed the
= preliminary service will appear from his rePor
! to the Chief of the Corps. The highest conf
= dence being reposed in the soundness Of his judS
: ment, it was determined at once TO expend m
portion Of the money placed at the disposal of tn
Department for the accomplishment OF so impor
IS tant work upon plan which did not promis
d to secure, what was held to be indispensable, il
e permanence and durability. From the state
s. ments contained in the report Of Maj or Turnbul
;, it is obvious that the repairs, if done upon tn
d plan which formed the basis Of the estimate upo
n which the appropriation was made could nc
i, stand through single Of (reshet or ice.
II The question was then presented, whether it We
al,