Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1852-01-01
Ab,traet q the Report Of Inc Secretary Of Var

Abstract Of the Report Of the Secretary Of war
The Report Of the Secretary Of War,
il an able and satisfactory state paper,
and its recommendation will be generally
approved:
wear ending on the sOlh Of June last,
were $S,vov,zoo 20
For the next wear 1885, IT'S SO
Showing reduction Of 81, l6l, 49z 20
The entire number Of men Is lO,55S,
furnishing on effective force Of NOT more
than s 1000 men. When il Is considered.
the Secretary says that this small force IS
scattered over frontier Of several thous-
and miles ir extent, its insufficiency will
be apparent.
Tie increased expenditures resulting
from our recently acquired territory, in
GLIDING Texas, amount TO "a boo, 100 70,
according to carefully preptred estimates
The defence Of Texes, New Mexico.
and the Mexican territory adjacent TO our
own, from the incursions Of hostile Indian
tribes, has chiefly engaged the attention
OF the Department. These tribes are &C.
tuaied less by hostility tothe whites than
by motives Of plumber.
The California and Oregon Indians being
of an unwarlike character, and amicabiy
disposed, it was thought the regiment Of
mounted riflemen could be dispensed with
on the Pacific, and it was accordingly or
fdered 10 Texas, amt chain OF military
posts established on the Texas frontier.
The Secretary presses previous rec
concentration, that the department be au-
ihorized to enlist transfers.
The removal Of the distractions TO the
navigation Of Red river and the Rio
Grande would greatly reduce the ex-
pense, be says, of supplying many Of the
posts in Texas and New Mexico, by di-
minishing the amount Of land Transports
ton.
But the expenditures Of the army will
always be enormous, SO long as large
portion OF it is stationed on the frontier;
aad to this end the Secretary recommends
that every facility and encouragement be
afforded TO the formation Of local militia
in our new settlements, and that arms be
distributed among the inhabitants.
The Secretary suggests tia: il is ~ the
advantage Of Texas herself. us well as
the United States, that the Indians should
be left in possession Of small part Of her
territory, and recommends that food and
other necessaries be furnished them for q
series OF years.
The Florida Indians have been placed
under charge Of the Secretary of the In
terror.
The Military Academy, the Armories
at Springfield and Harper's Ferry, the
operations Of the Bureau Of Topographic
cal Engineers, tho Survey Of the North
ern Lakes, that Of the Greek boundary,
and that Of the Delta of tho Mississippi,
and the expenditures 10 Salt Lake and
Santa Fe, are briefly noticed and favora-
bly, commented on.
The Secretary calls attention to the
laws organizing the Subsistence Depart
ment, in order that its efficiency may be
maintained, and pecuniary lisk and loss
may be guarded against.
The Secretary announces that the
Board appointed for that purpose have de-
liermined on a site in the vicinity Of
Washington, for an asylum for disabled
and destitute soldiers.
He suggests the expediency Of creating
a retired list Of disabled officers.
He recommends that the act which al
lows small additional pay to officers and
soldiers in California and Oregon be con-
tinued in force, and that it includes also
New Mexico.
He concludes by recommending sys-
TEN Of equalizing the distribution Of arms
10 the militia Of the several States, on q
basis derived from The latest census re-
turns.