Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-12-11

the system Notifications this would obvats nscs
sity for large supply Of heavy ordnance
Some means Of defence must be employed and is
part of any system that may be adopted
app&ars too from the reports hereto appended that the
great naval Powers u Europe have within few gears past
greatly the the guns mounted "a their
the batteries intended to resist them should be proper
tionaby increased Ibeeve it the opinion officers
the army and navy who have devoted much attention TO
subject many of the guns
ought be removed and others Of longer range
very deficient in the heavy descriptions
particularly in eight and ten-nch colambiads the most Of
fectve weapons against vessels of-war.
"To manufacture of good quality is work that
demands considerable time and they mpershable
when properly taken of there good reason why
Government should not at provide the requisite supply
I'm connexion with this subject would sug-
gest that provision be made for distribution Of artillery
among the militia of the States and Territories Our people
deficient in the knowledge of this than any
other and yet is the that would be required
with any European Power. If standing appropriation
made applicable to the distribution Of artillery
the book artillery practice among the States and Terri
tories it would tend much to promote the knowledge
this essential branch of the military art among the citizens
the country"
have devoIved the Department during the present
is the execution of the works known the river and
Dor improvements.
The number of works for which appropriations were
Z,
and the appropriated about two millions and quar-
ter. The appropriations, however, will only in few
instances be sufficient to complete the works for which
they made By far the greater number win require
additional and some of them very large additional APP
preparations to complete them 1t to be presumed that
if Congress should not fit to continue the system
and to provide for other works of similar character
ncudedin the present act they will at least finish the
works that have been begun. ~
deemed II therefore, Of the utmost importance to
make, at the outset such permanent arrahgemeps the
execution Of these works would far practicable
ensure the faithful udicous, and economical application
Of the large of money that have been and may
appropriated for these works to the important purpose
for which they were intended
Experience has shown that for works of this descrp-
ton, in which large disbursed and which
quire for their execution combination of science and
practical Skill it is, general rule safer to rely OFF,
of the army aded when necessary by civil asstants
than civil agents Of whose character and qualifications
the Department must often be ignorant. determined
therefore, to avail myself Of all the aid which the army
could Afford and to conde the superintendent Of the
works to the two CORPS of engineers and Typographical
engineers, both of which are emnenty qualified for this
duty.
This arrangement not only enabled to dhpense
with number of civil agents whose assistance would
otherwise have been necessary but Ia consideration Of
hardly less mportance) to the invaluable aid of
the distinguished head of the corps of engineers.
at first intended to establish joint board composed
of the heads and another officer of each of the corps
aided when circumstances would require it, by officer
but difficulties having arisen in arranging the details
of this pan finally determined divide the works be-
tween the two corps and to establish two boards for
each corps composed of its officers, to aid its head
IN preparing supervising and correcting plans and esti
mates, &c., the members to act separately inspectors
OF the works when in process of construction.
This plan has been carried into effect and in pursuance
of it the works the Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico
have been assigned to the corps of engineers and those
the Northern lakes and Western rivers to the corps
typographical engineers.
1t is believed that this arrangement will eminently
duce the speedy and economical execution Of the works
Owing principally to the advanced season when the
appropriations made little has been done, in regard
to many Of the works. beyond making the necessary
engagements to them early practicable in
the spring.
For detailed information on this subject and on
others connected with their duties respectfully refer
the reports of the colonies of engineers and of the po-
graphical engineers appended to this report.
The estimates for such of the works require addi
tional appropriations viii be submitted as they
can be prepared.
The expedition which l mentioned in my last annual
report having been under the command of Breve
captain Lorenzo Sgreaves explore the Zuni and CO.
dorado rivers from the Of the former to the Pacific
has completed the exploration and returned but the
port has not yet been submitted
Early last spring Capt Marcy sent with party to
explore the headwaters of the Red River. He accom-
pshed the and has returned but the report Of the
expedition has not yet been prepared
Ii affords pleasure to repeat my commentators Of
tary Academy and TO express my conviction Of the bene
fits which result to the service from that institution
The reports of the chief of the Ordnance Bureau and of
the Quartermasers Department will show the operations
of these important branches of the service Several of
the suggestions contained in them deserving of
tention.
The first of these two reports exhibits very satsfac
tory view of the operations Of the national armores Mt
Springfield and Harper's Ferry and concur in the
opinion that benefit would be likely to result from
return to the former mode Of governing these establish
ments.
In my last annual report called your attention to
yera points in regard to which legislation appeared to
me to be necessary will simply these sugges
ons, without repeating the which they
founded. They were
First That the Department be authorized to abolish
such arsena no longer needed and source Of
useless expense.
Second That an additional number Of commissares be
authorized.
Third: That retired list Of the army be established,
as measure of justice both the officers that disa-
bled and to those that not.
Fourth That the distribution Of arms among the mill
tia Of the States and Territories under the act of 1908 be
made hereafter the basis Of the free white male nha
btants OF age to bear shown by the latest
sus instead Of the official returns Of the militia which
ore frequently not furnished and when furnished
often inaccurate
To these recommendations beg leave add few
that further experience has suggested.
BY the fifth section Of the act of September 28th 1850
it made the duty of the Secretary Of War discharge
any soldier who at the time Of his enlistment under
the age Of years. unless such enlistment had
been made with the consent of the parent guardian Of
the soldier.
Young frequently enlisted who represent them
selves to be Of age, but whose discharge afterwards