Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1844-12-20
Digest of the Reports Of the Heads OF
Departments.
WAR DEPARTMENT..

WAR DEPARTMENT. n
The Report of Mr.. Wilkin, Secretary of War, d
has necessariIya wide range in order to cover the t
extensive field of the Department, He gives a
very favorable account Of the situation OF the ar
nv. recommending some minor changes as heces-
sarv to render The small force on foot equai 10
their manifold duties over a vast frontier. The
Secretary very properly recommends measures
tending TO the increased comfort OF the rank ana
file N garrison, and urges the creation of schools
to promote the mental culture OF the men ana
their families, as the surest mode OF increasing
their comfort and efficiency. The Secretary rec
ommends that after twenty-five years OF service,
officers be allowed a furlough of two years on fnll
nav. at the expiration Of which they can retire Il
they choose, having Il section of the public lands
allotted them. The Academy at West Point, Mr..
Wikin very properly comments to the attention
and protection of government. as essential TO the
maintainance of the army and the diffusion OF d
conservative military knowledge through the I'm
ion. He urges the establishment OF a national
foundry as measure demanded by every consIde-
ration OF real economy and safety
The Secretary recommends additional fortilica-
lions, aud the immediate completion of those IN a
course of erection at various points, especially
those at the south and southwest. Regarding the
Gulf OF Mexico I" as our own sea" he urges the
commencement of "a line of Notifications on the
Florida reef, as the first step towards the command
of The outlets of the Gulf. 49,,
Like the rest of Nj. Tyler's cabinet, Mr.. VIII
kin is smitten with the charms of the Oregon, ana
diiates on the rich acquisitions awaiting ana IN
vitinp the claims of the government. lie urges an
immediate military occupation and an organization
of the - Nebraska" territory, embracing the val
levs and the head waters of the Arkansas, Flatte,
Yellowstone, sc. and contends that no valid rea-
son exists why this should not be done, no other
power having a claim on this portion OF the laF
west, and we would thus ensure a passage to the
OrnrOn and a like ODpnlnT to the fertile DfalflGS
Of the south west.
The state of the Indian tribes, who are under
charge Of this Department, appears to be faVora-
Bile. The whole number of Indians removed to
Z. the lands west Of the Mississippi is 09,298. The
total census Of the tribes adjacent to the borders,
not including the vast wandering tribes of the far
west, is 254,092. The appropriations for the m
dams this year amount to 81 ,199, 500. OF thu
sum, $77, 115 is disbursed for purposes OF educa'
ton. The Choctaws are to be removed IRON
Mississippi, and the Miamies from Indiana, durin!
the coming year. The differences in the Cherokee
nation have received the attention of the Depart
ment, and order will be enforced.
The report throughout is well written, clear ant
forcible, and does credit to the head of the DE
partment.
POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT.
The report Of the Post Master General gives
fattering view of the condition of the Department
committed to his charge, in a very important, the
we take it, not the most important particular, VIZ
that this branch Of public service very nearly pay
its own way, up to July 1914, the receipts for tn
year proceeding are reported at $4,2S7 ,2S5 49,
The expenditures for the same space are put dow
ut "a. 29S 1867 TO-. The receipts are divided &
fellows: Letter postage, So, 676, 16l So; Newspi
pers, $549 ,74S 80; Miscellaneous, VII, $50 A.
The total distance Of annual transportation to JuI
1914, was So, 409, 694 miles, at a cost of $2,99o,55
The number of post offices in the Union is ID 10
Mr.. WickIiffe bears testimony Of the fidelity
his deputies in pecunlary matters, and states tn
no loss is likely to accrue through them to Il
government. The cases o. mail depredatlons r
ported in three years, up to October 1874, we
1884 in number, and the sums ~aIledged to be 10
amounting to $462, 1856. The sums recovered N
amounts actually ascertained, make a total of $50
242. One hundred depredators have, in the sar
period been arrested and tried. Mr.. Wickli
argues that the Department was never in belt
condition as to safety in the II transmission of mon
and contends that much of this may be ascribed
the employment of special agents.
The post master General argues at length
gainst the proposed reduction Of the rates of pc
age established in Great Britain, and we thi
shows onclusively that if the intention is that
Department shall pay its own expenditures,
plan is absurd. He, however, is prepared to
commend the reduction to five and ten cents,
heretofore. He asks the especial attention
Congress to the private mail abuse, and hopes
equate measures will be taken to protect the l
partment.
Mr.. Wirklitfe is of opinion that the establl
ment of Government mail steamers, especially
tween New Orleans, Mobile, Charleston and "
mington, is desirable; and also that such line
established between this country and Cuba.
thinks that the granting of power to the Depf
ment to contract for the carrying of mailsSto 1
eign ports, would be a source Of revenue to
government and great saving to individuals.
believe these are all the points of general inter
in this report, which is written with care and v
arranged,
NAVY DEPARTMENT.
According to the report of the Secretary of
Navy, our force now afoat is composed of
line, one razee, fourteen frigates, twenty
sloops, sixteen briggs and schooners, three ST
ships and eight steamers. There are on the so'
four ships Of the line, three ~frigates, one st
ship and one iron steamer.
The usual force is maintained on the Mediter
mean, Pacific, and other stations. The force L
on the coast of Africa to suppress the slave tr
consists of a single frigate, two sloops and q b
mounting, in all, ninety three guns. The tris
is to be relieved by two war sloops; this Ia
class of vessels being found most effective.
station is found to be as healthy as any other,
\ proverbial insalubrity being coupled only
shore operations.
Mr.. Mason deems the act limiting the nun
of men in the navy to 1900 injurious to the ser'
as it precludes the putting in commission our
of battle ships. He asks that the maximum