The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1842-12-11
q EW YORK HERALD.
sew York, sunday. December II. Is4a.

Report OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR.-This docu
ment states that the various posts have been subject
ed to close inspection and that the results have been
satisfactory great reduction has been effected
in the expenditure for the army, owing chiefly to
the cessation OF hostilites in Florida and the sus
pension of many of the undertakings authorized In
the engineer and ordnance departments, from the
fear that the state of the treasury would not warrant
their execution. II is estimated that the present mi
litary establishment of the country may be main-
tanned at a cost little exceeding three millions OF
dollars
The number of troops serving IN Florida has great
ly diminished leaving adequate number to protect
the inhabitants from the miserable remnants of
tribes still remaining. Arrangements have been
made with all but very few of those Indians, for
their removal TO the west of the Mississippi or TO
the district in the southern part of the peninsula as
signed them for their habtaon. And it is believed
that by this time all the bands north OF that district
have agreed to cease hostilities and remove there
Two or three instances of outrages have occurred
since the orders issued for the termination of
hostlliues, but they ascertaned to have been
committed by bands who were ignorant Of the mea-
sures adopted or of the terms offered
The invasion OF Texas by Mexico rendered tex
pedlent to station strong corps OF observation near
the southwestern boundary, which was accordingly
done, an adequate body of troops being now placed
there, under the command Of General Taylor. The
reduction of the army to the minimum prescribed
by the act OF August, 1872 is gradually proceeding
The whole number OF troops is at present nine thou
and eight hundred and lorty-seven change in
tue system of recruiting is recommended, and GER
tanly something should be done to amend the state
Of the laws on this subject.
The report of the officer in charge of the Ord
nance Bureau is represented as exhibiting very
satisfactory condition of that most important branch
of the service. BY steady perseverance in the
system OF laying up in the season of peace, those
materials which require length oftime to adapt them
10 use, and of abncating those articles which can
not be supplied on an emergency, we shall soon have
at our command cannon, small arms, fixed anmu-
milton, gunpowder and its component parts, to an
extent commensurate with our wants.
Some Legislative provision in reference to the lead
mines and mineral lands Great difficulty has been
experienced in leasing these lands, in consequence
of the claims set up by persons who have entered
them for purchase at the land Office when they were
not liable to entry, by persons who have occupied
them without any right or pretence of right. These
persons constitute powerful though not a numerous
class who are able to exact from the miners who
bring out the ore, large portion Of their produce,
while they refuse to pay any rent to the United
States
Attention is again invoked, in the report, to the
dishonored pledge given by the Quartermaster-Gen-
eral, the Creek Indians, for the remuneration of
their services in Florida, and consideration for
their removal Ii is 10 be hoped that this just claim
will be settled with prompttude. The state of the
various fors-the necessity for the erection of add-
tional defences in the harbor of New York-the
prosperous condition of the Military Academy at
West Portland the matters referred to in the
ports of the Colonel of Typographical Engineers,
severaly taken up but this portion of the report
does not present much of novel interest.
Altogether the country has every 10 believe
that the important department under the supervision
of the Secretary of War, is at present in condition
of good order and utility.