The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1842-12-24
wAR DISARMAMENT REPORT.

WAR DEPARTMENT REPORT.
Nh 6pcnces hes made report this ysat,
in length almost uneaualied. We cannot
pretend to more than give an abstract Of It's
most important facts and suggestions crowd.
ed az arc our columns with various and
;n'esesmng intelligence ~ strE Kfts
A close reduction has been made in the
nambers Of The army and its expenses, The
number Of troops a, present is 9647 The
law Of The las. session prescribed gradual
reduction to the minimum of 1920, and BY
shs beginingof ls44 this point will be reach
ed Il is confidently believed that the pre-
sent military establishment Of the country
NAV be Kept up al a charge Of %, loo 600,
and The estimates are 10 that amount. The
abolition Of offices required by the ac,
above referred 10 have been effected al far
as tina. ac. gave authority
Attention is again invoked, IN the report,
10 the dishonored pledge given by the
Oua,,er.master Genesal, TO the Creek
Indians, for the remuneration Of their ser.
vices in Florida, and as consideration for
their removal. An act is asked to enable
,he department, TO clear tho maze Of the
accohn,s Of Indian Disbursing agents
similar 10 .haI Of 1891 which will au,horise
transfers ofappropriations without actually
drawing dollar from The Treasury.
IL appears that 6S,l24 Indians have
been Yemoved to the regions west Of the
Mississippiand Of the pnce numerous tribes
east Of sha, river, less then $4,000 souls
remain. The greater pornon Of these are
under treaty obligations TO remove within
fsw years. The time has arrived when we
should turn our attention Of devisng some
form ofgovernment may secure peace and
order among these sons Of the forest, and
protection against others. The repor. here
enters largely into the necessity and duly
OF the U. 8. government 10 provide for
the moral and intellectual improvement Of
she gieat number who have become directly
dependant on the Uni,ed States by their
removal. i.l 20 lii
The rumber Of pensions on the roll is
25,0s5, less By 1896 than al the date Of the
las, report; $50 claims on account of re-
yolutionary ices, have been presented
within .he year, and that % warrants have
been issued for <,250 acres Of land; Ale
for services in the last war with Great Bri.
tain have been presented wilhing the same
time, and that 65 warrants have been sued
for ,720 acres of land.
The report of the ordn nee bureau is
satisfactory, and il said ,ha, tho system
pursued will soon provide munitions Of war
commensurate with our waots. A national
foundry On limited scale is suggested,
where. iron may be tested, and models for
ordnance fabricated. Some legislative
provision is needed in reference 10 the lead
mines and mineral lands, on account Of
difficulties between claimants Of the lands.
and sbossengaged in mining and holding by
lease from tl,e government. Isis recon.
menried thatthe reserved mineral lands in
she north part of Illinois and the Territories
Of Wisconsin and Iowa be allowed to be
sold in lots Of ten acres each, at mmum
prize Of ten dollars per acre.
Considerable progress has been made in
sbe survey Of the northwestern lakes. and
preparations for its continuance the next
teason have been made. which will enable
those - charge of the work 10 accomplish
more than was practicable during the las.
year Tie surveys for the defences Of
Soller's Cats. and Of Delaware Break water
harbor are completed. Those for the de.
setce of Sandy Hook, and the harbor and
toyL Of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, are
in executions, as will as military leconnois.
sance of the peninsula Of Maryland. south
Of the city. An expensive and very
thorough reconnaissance of the defence of
N,0rleans,eEbracing a large ex,en, Of terfi.
tory. has been completed. The Red river
raft has been removed, The appropriation
Of 100000, made at the last session Of
Congress Tor the improvement Of certain
rivers is said TO be entirely inadequate. and
will be money thrown away unless increas.
ed. .~ ~s
A survey Of the country north Of the
Missouri having been completed, i, is in.
tended 10 cause similar survey of the
country south OF thai. river. embracing the
approaches To the Rocky Mountains, their
several passes, and gradually the regions
between them and our possessions on The
Pacific. Attention is again invited io The
great importance of establishing chain Of
military posts extending from the Council
bluffs TO the mouth OF the Columbia River;
Of which plan and estimate Of the expense
was laid before the Military Commiliee OF
lastsession.
The condition and utility of The West