Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1857-12-25
Report Of the Secretary of XVnr.

qured. ''''' when re-
Report of the Secretary of War.
The report OF the Secretary Of War is an able doom
ment. 1t shows the necessity for an immediate incr
in the army which at present consists of nineteen %
ments, divided into ten of infantry four Of ARTILLERY
Of dragons, two OF cavalry and one of mounted r;a
the whole strength of the army posted CONSISTING o.
about 1864 men, the actual strength on tbp first Of
July last being 15,764. In addition to the movements
which the troops have been called on to make this veo
this force is called upon to GARRISON sxtyeigh forts If
large and permanent character far it is possible t
supply men for the purpose and to occupy sevpntv
posts less permanently established where the presence If
force is absolutely required The area over which these
forts and posts are spread embraces n crcuit of aho
100000 square miles. For the proper occupation Of
these posts the military supervision of the external bon
Diary of country the projections of tie double line If
Indian frontier extending from Lake ofthe Woods to tba
banks of the Rio GrandC on the east side of the RocL
Mountains and from beyond the river OREGON on tho
British frontier to the head of the Gulf of California on
the western slope of these mountains AID the protecto
of the great lines of INSTRUMENTATION between the vol
ley of the Mssipp and the Pacific Ocean the Secrctar
recommends the raising of five additional regiments
The army has been very actively ard constantly cno
god in the performance Of ardous and important lnt;n
In view of the mcacng attitude of affairs in Utah and
the Importance of prompt and thorough suppression Of
the spirit of rebellion reigning there the Secretary
repeats his recommendation of five new regiment:
which he considers the smallest addition to the army
which the eXgencies of the service will allow.
A number of defects in the organization of the or
are pointed out and improvements suggested
The route from FL Paso to the Colorado is GoS;cno
ted the most eligible route for the railroad to tIo
Pacific it being the shortest of all vet SURVEYED and
possessing advantages the Others of grade climate
distance the deserts, and sufficient abundance
of water; but the consumnation of this project freed
from all other difficulties would require immense sums Of
money and great length Of time
Meanwhile, it is recommended that ut least two other
routes for the passage emgrants and the
of military stores which, if the railroad were built these
routes would still be necessary to make accessible vast re-
gOnS OF our country, be at once opened and maintained
and line of stOckade posts established along them to
insure the safe and rapid transportation of the mails and
perfect protection of Geographic line from one ocean to
the other, which latter object would in itself be worth
far to the country than the cost of the posts and the
expense of maintaining them
The military explorations and surveys are progressing
satisfactorily and every day adding new and importan
facts to present stores of knowledge of the neoor
ply and general character of the country lying between
the valley OF the Mississippi and the Pacific ocean Tive
expeditions have been fitted Cut expressly to explore
tracts Of country hitherto wholly unknown The first
was sent to the Northwest beyond the waters of the u
per Missouri, towards the "Back Hills" and will no
doubt, bring valuable information and the other is on
gagged in exploring the Colorado of the West of which
to this time, nothing scared has been accurately known
The Secretary hopes that this exploration will result in
discovering the best means by which the transportation
of army stores can be effected to the interior of New
Mexico and Utah.
The Importance to the public service of establishing
national foundry is again impressed upon Congress.
The Secretary says on this subject A well mana
gcd national foundry would very speedily develop and cs
tabsh facts which would add immensely to our national
wealth. 1t is scarcely to be credited that with the inf
mite variety of iron and their boundcss extent in
the United States should not have yet discovered
mine capable of making the very best gum if such be
discovered that there means by which the public
service be benefited by it but such is the fact
national foundry would serve as great laboratory
at which the qualities and value of metals throughout the
whole Confetleracy would be tested and fixed Every
variety of iron, with its especial adaptation to partic-
lar uses, would, in few years, be amarly known to
the country and individual enterprise would be saved in
experiments many times the amount which the works
would cost, whilst great national branch of industry
might, by this means, receive a legitimate and efficient
encouragement
There is but lite doubt that many American iron ores
equal at least to those of Norway and yet the nation
al armOries driven by necessity to purchase from
abroad the Norwegian iron for the manufacture of small
arms Choosing to have the best quality of arms, We
must 60 abroad for the best quality of iron nation
al foundry would soon teach to improve the manuac
ture of iron, and would be saved the modification
bringing iron from abroad and the money too we have
to pay for it.
The cost of heavy guns would presently be diminished
and their quality would be, undoubtedly very materially
improved
1t therefore appears to that every consideration Of
sound policy and economy demands the establishment of
national foundry which accordingly respectfully re-
commend.
The seacoast detences gradually but certainly adj
vancng towards completion, and when finished will con-
stitute system of maritime delences formidable in ex-
tent and of great magnitude 1t is considered that the
harbor OF New Y DIRK will be impregenable from any at
tack from the sea when the Notifications in progress
are finished.
The remainder CT the report is devoted to the result
experiments arms, &c. The Secretary accounts for
the very heavy expenditure in the Quartermaster Gene
rails Bureau by the extent and character of the country
over which the operations Of the army have extended
The South Carolina Banks.