The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-12-11

Tor the regular army, provision has yet been made o
supplying them with the necessary books for that par
pose According 10 the estimate OF the generanchiei
an annual appropriation OF $40 900 for lew years woul
| be sufficient for this object 3
/ For the condition OF the Military Academy, refer 10
the report OF The Chief engineer and The accompanying
highly nsaory report OF The last board OF visers
in which you will Ind further continuation OF the esli-
mate placed the value and efficiency OF that nsii-
Iion The recommendation OF the board 10 increase the
academic term 10 hive years which has been ire
Qaeny presented by preceding boards OF visiles, and
which Is believed To be sustained by important consd
| citations he low standard OF requirement fixed To
sntiie cadet 10 admission must often lead To The intro
ducon OF those whose previous education has been very
defective and the study OF the scientific and military
branches included IN the leaves little time for the
acquisition OF that knowledge Of International law, Of
language and OF literature demanded by lbe interests OF
| the service.
The officer OF the army may often be required prompt.
ly 10 decide upon questions Of national law where
would be seriously injurious 10 his country, and his
ports and memoirs the channels through which deeds
most illustrating his cOunrys history transmitted to
other people and 10 other times. 10 The standard
OF requirement 10 be possessed previous admission
the academy would in some degree deprive the instla
ton OF its present popular character excluding those
who from the want Of early advantages coad not then
pass the preliminary examination The grade OF cadet
being the lowest in commission known 10 army,
should be, as II now 10, within the reach Of youths
every condition oi life and this, together with The fact
that by lhe mode OF appointment ali sections AMI all par
ties are fairly represented gives TO The institution that char
acer which should belong TO il ra OF he military
establishment Of the United States Ii then, more f-
shed education than that which TO be obtained by the
course now prescribed be desirable for the officers of The
army the recommendation of the board for increase
OF the academic presents, believed the least OBJ
Iectonable mode oil etectng that object The
Submitted or The current year are recommended TO lavo-
able consideration.
The appropriations made at the last session OF Con.
gress are all 10 the ot application to Tie several
works for which they were respectively granted These
works deSlIneu to Vaue
but there other points OF coast and interior on,e
which eqaly require protection and the estimates submit
ted Tor these also recommended TO favorable consdcra
ton, under The belief that when completed these torica
will be reliable, and by far the most eco.
nomical, mode OF defence the government could provide
An opinion has, 10 some extent, prevailed that the
growth OF our country, the increased facilities of trans
poration, The application OF steam To the propulsion OF
vessels and The improvements in implements OF war
have essened they have not removed the necessity for
Notifications upon frontier. This opinion which
is apt 10 result from long continued state of peace, and
which history teaches has been usually abandoned when
nations have been submitted to the test OF defensive
war
President Monroe, than whom few will be considered
higher authority this subject, special message
Congress- March 26. 1922 urged the completion of the
system deiences which adopted Immediately after,
and view OF the effects Of the OF 1912. and urged
his recommendation by the expense, the waste
OF life and property, and the general distress of the
country which had resulted from the OF such prep
araons before the commencement ol that war; and he
further gave This impressive admonition "Should
other before il is completed, the experience Of
The past marks, characters strong 10 be mistaken
inevitable consequences and should such occur,
and find unprepared for It, what will be jusifca
ton 10 The enlightened body whom represent Tor not
having completed these defences" The increase Of our
population attended by extraordinary progress all the
pursuits OF peace, has not led any change in the policy
OF our government which would indicate IN the future
purpose TO sustain large military establishment to
wage aggressive IT, then, in the future, in the
past policy OF government is TO be that OF peace.
and the citizens OF the country 10 be relied Tor
lis defence whenever war shall occur, Ia not perceived
ct,vao ,,f
remove the necessity or propriety OF The proposed de-
fences.
The Paxhan gun. and other Improvements 10 the i'm.
plemenis OF and the application OF the pro-
pulsion OF vessels OF war, rather have
creased than diminished the value OF lorications The
rapid progress of fleet, by diminishing the opror
unity TOR preparation alter the point of attack deter
mined increases the necessity OF foriiiyng the main
nues OF approach The Psixhan gun adds 10 the efIi-
cheney, and consequently 10 the value, OF iosicaions
for the FIRE OF large shells is formidable to the tim
bers and rigging Of ship than 10 the masonry OF fort,
and steam vessel must expose larger surface subject
TO injury than sail vessel OF the same class.
The report OF the Secretary OF War, in answer TO
resolution of the House OF Representatives of the 81 OF
March, 1851 containing the views OF the chief engineer
the army and other officers OF that corps and OF the
navy, presents the whole suolec, under consider a,on
so fully it is not deeped necessary TO add
this occasion.
The action OF Congress at lis last session is consd-
cred indicative of the intention continue this system
OF defence and gives TO hope that the approps
asked for this Tor the further prosecution
OF these works will not be withheld
The xposed aud deenceess condition of the Pacific
claimed and received the early attention OF the de-
partmeu and prompt measures were taken Tor the sp-
pcaon OF the appropriation made at the last session OF
Congress for the deence OF the harbor Of San Faucso
But the minute examinations requisite before the
OF the works, and the Inquiries 10 be made
az to the places OF supply and the OF procuring
Materials have limited operations 10 the preliminary pre-
paraons such erecting the requisite
accommodation for kmcn, levelnx Sites and making
/ the detailed surveys for The Notifications
AT The last session OF Congress an appropriation ot
$50 900 was made the practicable and
economical for railroad from the Mississippi river
the Pacific and the act required that the several
reports relative to the explorations should be laid before
Congress before the first Monday o February,
/ 1854
| The time allowed and the money appropriated, il is
feared, will prove insufficient for the complete solution
of this important problem was, extent oil country
to :uratey surveyed and numerous lines thousands
OF mles IN extent, TO examined aud IL is hardly, there
lore, be hoped that such data be collected as will
satisfactorily answer the question proposed But !, Is
confidently believed that much Information will be added
to the stock previously possessedperhaps enough to de-
iermlne praclicablty of the proposed enterprise
/ The following general sketch OF the country 10 be ex
pored will give idea OF the magnitude oil the ex
animation required.
The western portion of the continent OF North Ameri
ca irrespective OF the mountains, raversed from north
to south by broad, elevated swell plateau Of land
which occupies the greater portion OF the whole space
between the Mississippi, river and the Pachc OCEAN The
of this plateau the water ot the country
nearly midway between the Pacific coast and the Mss
sppi IL he represented the map by undHatng
line traced between The head OF the which
flow eastward, and those which fow westward. II d.
vdes the whole between the Mississippi and the
Pacific into two nearly equal portions, that The east
being the larger. Tha of the shed