The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-12-11
ANNUAL REPORTS OF THE SECRETARIES
SECRETARY OF WAR.

of the movements of the army which, he saws.
have most engaged the attention of the Depart
ment during the past year, viz: the defence of
Texas, New Mexico and the Mexican territory
adjacent TO our own, against the incursions of
the neighboring Indian tribes. These Indians.
it is remarked, unlike their race ON this part of
the continent are actuated not SO much by hos
tility to the whites as by motives of plumber
The Secretary goes on to detail the steps taken
to bring these indians TO s,bection.
The entire nassbsr Of kess benssa, the role
of the army amounts to OBS; which, accord
ing to the usual estimate will furnish an effect
i've force of not more than $500 men. When
it is considered that this small force is scattered
over frontier of several thousands of miles in
extent its insufhcency will be apparent
The report then goes ON to show the causes
which have produced the enormous increase in
the expenses of the army. These causes princ-
pally, are-that nearly one-half the army is
stationed on our remote frontier; and the mill
tary posts, instead of being situated in pro
ductiye section of country, as formerly, are now,
for the most part where but few supplies can
he obtained.
The consequence is, that while in
1916 the cost of transportation
(of troops and supplies) was SI3O.O53. 50
In lS50-'5l it amounted to 2094 ,4Os 81
=. = - cN~"Ne- ~, ~04t &C r~->-~as s. .
was - 90 1920
ia - - 10y - p = 49, ~
The great increase in this last item arises not
only from the causes just mentioned but also
from the great increase of animals in the Quar-
termaster's department, which, in 1916, amount
ed. only to SAT, and in lS5O-'5l to upwards of
$1,000 and also to the fact that the mounted
force has been greatly increased.
From statements carefully prepared by the
different bureaus Of the Department it appears
that the increased expenditures in the army re-
sulting from our newly acquired territory lin
GLIDING Texas amounted to S4556, 7O975
The expenditures for the support
of the army for the fiscal year
ending 3Oth June last, were SO, 1000 26S. So
The estimates for the next year
are 1898 IT'S SO
Showing reduction of 81, l6l 1872 IS
Authority is asked for the Executive to abol-
| ish useless arsenals and the previous recon-
mendation for power to enlist men, especially
as teamsters, again renewed. The removal of
Instructions in the Red river and the Rio
Grande is also suggested, Us a matter of econ
| omy.
The Secretary is of opinion that policy and
humanity both require that we should employ
some other means of putting a stop to In
| dian depredations, than the terror of our arms
We should try the effect of conciliatory meas
ures. There is no doubt that the Indians are
| frequently impelled to commit depredations by
despair and hunger.
Tho Sacratar.y thoroCo.o Il, 1900,
ures to be taken to furnish, for series of years
food and other necessaries to such Indians M
| will abandon their predatory habits and cult.
vate the soil Authentic information, recently
received at the Department leads to the belle
that these tribes are far less numerous thar
| they are generally supposed to be- and he hal
no doubt laying aside considerations of human
ity) that it would be far less expensive to feed
than to fight them
The Military Academy which the Secretary
visited last summer, is highly commended.
The operations of the bureau of Topographic
| cal Engineers have been various and important
during the last year.
The survey Of the Northern Lakes and va
rious other surveys, are referred to rs in pro-
gress, and an increase IN the number OF topo-
graphical engineers and commissaries recon-
mended.
The site for the military asylum, near Wash
ington has been purchased
The expedency of creating retired list of
disabled officers is renewed again.
The act giving additional pay to the officers
and men stationed in California has expired,
and it is recommended that it be continued in
force, and also be made to include New Mexico
The report closes by referring b. the fact that
Al nj, AZ arms bst ~ a., tln aa,oroI
States, under the act of 1908, are based upon
the number of their effective militia; - but in
consequence of the imperfect returns, the dis
tribution is very unequal IL is therefore rec
commended that the number of free white
male inhabitants in the several States between
certain ages, hereafter be the basis Of distr-
button.
POSTMASTER GENERAL
The annual report of the Hon. N X Hall
Postmaster General, occupies nearly eleven
columns of the National Inieiigenoer, and
presents volumnous exposition Of the nature
and extent Of the postal arrangements Of the
country, the changes that have resulted from
the law enacted last session, and the additions
and improvements that are yet needed to meet
the exigencies of our extended territory, and
the continuous enlargement of our political
and commercial relations.
1t appears from the report, that at the close
of the fiscal year ending ON the 30th day of
June last, there were in operation, within the
United States, CLIO mail routes their aggre-
gate length was 1876, 900 miles and 5,5l4 con-
tractors were employed thereon.
The annual transportation of the mails Of
those routes was SO 272, 252 miles the annual
cost thereof $3,a2i, 1854 being about six cents
four mills per mile.
OF these 53272,252 miles of annual trans
portation, S,56s,707 miles are required To
be performed upon railroads, at u cost of
$685., 0l9, being about eleven cents five mills per
mile 5,45i,9S2 miles in steamboats,, ut a cost
Of $454,s93, being about eight cents three
mills per mile l9,726,5sS miles in coaches ut
cost of SI,O47I5s, being about five cents
three mills per mile and 1882 1915 miles in
modes not specified, at n cost OF $934,6s3, be-
ing about four cents eight mills per mile.
The number Of postmasters appointed du-
ring the year ending June 80, 1851, is, $3.50.
The gross receipts of the Department for the
year have been So, 1886, 1922. This IL an in
crease of 1899, O06 Al over the revenues OF last
year.
The receipts from hostages, American and |
foreign, for the last fiscal year, exceeded those
of the preceding year 5000 223.s5, being an in
crease of about 1917 per cent.
II the balances accruing TO the British post
Office during both years are excluded. las they
must be to show the true increase Of our own |
postagcs,) the increase will BIO $997,6l0.79 or
more than 1855 per cent.
Excluding these balances, the receipts OF the
first threc-qnartcrs of the year exceeded those
Of the corresponding quarters Of the preceding
year about 20lS per cent, but the hostages for
the last quarter fell off, and exceeded those Of
the corresponding quarter Of the preceding |
year only about IA per cent. 70 that the in
crease for the year was only about 1865 per
cent, ~ before stated.
The reduction during the last quarter of the
uear Il mostly Attributable 10 it, near |