The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-12-13

0lSCOvcIou U
BILE Of making the very best such be discovered,
that there means by which the public service can
be benefited by III but such is the fact
national foundry would serve as great laboratory ~
which the qualities and value Of metals throughout the
whole confederacy would be tested and fixed. Every
variety Of ron with especial adaptation TO particular
uses would in few years be Familiarity known 70 the
country and individual enterprise would be saved In ex
perments many times the amount which the works would
cost whilst great national branch Of industry might by
this means, receive legitimate and efficient encourage
ment
There is but little doubt that many American iron
equal least to those Of Norway and yet the national
armories are driven by necessity to purchase from
abroad the Norwegian iron for the manufacture Of
arms must go abroad for the best quality Of IRON
national foundry would teach improve the
iacture of ron and would be saved the modification
Of bringing iron from abroad and the money too we have
10 pay for it,
The cost Of heavy guns wou presently be diminished
and their quality would be- undoubtedly, very materially
it, therefore, appears to me that every consideration Of
sound policy and economy demands the establishment
OF national foundry, which accordingly respectfully
commend
ORDNANCE.
The report of the chief Of ordnance will explain in de-
tail the condition Of that most important branch OF the
public service Its general operations have in the MAN,
been satisfactory. The manufacture Of small arms
at the two national armories continues with very
much the results as heretofore. The arms
fabricated are. OF the most superior quality, al
though it is than questionable whether the
nied gTooved musket is any Improvement whatever
pon the musket Of the pattern adopted in 1912 for the
The valuable property at Baton Rouge belonging the
government being greatly injured by reason of the de-
cayed condition Of the wooden enclosure which was con-
struCted many years since. is, therefore, advsable
that provision BIO made for building substantial
iron fence, and thereby preserving the buildings and
grounds, which subject TO serious damage and
constant depreciation.
would also advise that for the purpose of still further
improving the grounds authority be given to purchase
ut Of land near the principal building and sell piece
of land al the extreme end Of the property of little value
for government purposes. For these objects small ap-
o,x,,ll aoY nrn6
As school of practice for the artillery established
Fort Monroe which is much needed by the service,
it is very desirable that or two small tracts of
land the immediate vicinity Of the post and directly
affected by the target firing, should belong TO the
government therefore authority ought to be given to
purchase this land and thus remove all distractions to
the satisfactory establishment of the school at this i'm
portant post.
THE NATIONAL DEFENCEs
The report of the Chief Engineer will inform you of the
character and condition Of seacoast defences 1t will
be that these works are gradually but certainly ad
vancng towards completion and when finished will con-
stute q system Of maritime deences formidable In ex
tent and of great magnitude.
New York, the great heart of commerce this CONT
nent where and greater interests concentrate than
any point Atlantic coast may be considered
mpregnabefrom any attack from the sea when the fort
fcations now in progress shall finished The fortif-
cations will be better, the guns heavier and more nume
rous than those Of Sebastopol.
Upon the general system of coast defence II is
hardly necessary TO say word at this day. The policy
of the 10 be fixed in that respect and
wisely too no doubt il the works be prosecuted with
wise economy Fortifcations now very justly es-
teemed the cheapest and far the most eectual means Of
defence for every important commercial point with the
heavy of the present day. no fleet can match for
fcaon and when completed, these works be kept in
perfect repair very tring cost until needed for
iual service fertilization costing not much more than
double the necessary to build and equip first class
line Of battle ship will constitute formidable defence
for harbor, and will continue to do so throughout any
length of time. The value OF this mode OF defence
is becoming apparent every day. As our
population Increases, and the facilities for inter-
communication are multiplied, military force of any
rated any given point in the shortest possible time
Fortifcaons which will naturally rerd the landing OF
foreign foe must give time 10 concentrate force al any
given point equal any emergency Aarger force could
be thrown into New York in two weeks by means Of in.
terna communication than could be brought there from
abroad in year by all the means which any European
Power could possibly command
ramhed system Of railroads spreading throughout
the whole eountrythosc sinews OF iron which bind with
ndssoahle the commercial interests Of commu-
nity-confer upon the nation capablity for defence
which obvates forever the necessity OF standing armies
or of a navy more than Is necessary give
protection TO ships in the prosecution Of our extended
commerce,
The attention OF Congress has been frequently called 10
the glazing discrepancy between the enactmens reguat
the pensions OF soldiers and those OF sailors There
invidous distinction between these two Of
vice which rests upon principle of reason Justice.
would beyond doubt conduce to the interest OF the army
and the public service too If pensions in the army
put upon the same footing precisely with those ofthe navy
The mmendation OF the chief comme ito
your favorable notice and 10 that Of Congress
MILITARY HASDs.
The importance Of regmenta bands 10 the service ad.
mits Of no doubt in the estimation OF military men. In
European armies great attention Is paid TO the
subject, and great excellence exists IN this de-
partment Heretofore in our service, the bands
have been supported by contributions from the
men in the shape Of savings from the ration. Under
the regulations Of the army, this fund, which
certainty the property Of the soldier has bec returned
him in the shape of more palaahs addition TO his sub
sistence particularly when complaining from ndisposi
ton The bands will be broken up unless some means
set apart for their mante nance This can readily be
done by appropratug sufficient for the purpose out
OF tin fines and foreitures Of the army This fund could
not be devoted TO a more desirable object
OREGON WASHINGTON
Ry a law passed the eighteenth day Of August, 1886,
commission directed TO be appointed for the purpose
OF ascertanng the sum OF money fairly due To the volun
Of Oregon and Washington Territories for their
vices In the Indian wars which threatened 20 lay
law, Captain smith, Of the First Dragons, Cap
tain Rufus ingalls,, OF the quartermasters depart
ment and lafayette Grover Esq Of Salem Oregon we're
appointed TO examine the accounts and claims, and 10
make a report in conformity with the law and upon the
facts they existed so far ut least as was possible to
These officers entered upon their duties on the 10th day
Of October 1855, and "a have aborcd with great
asduy and patience in discharge Of them until the 10Th
day Of October last when they brought TO close
have examined this report very carefully, and conclude
that from the data they adopted for their guide TO the
prices OF and subsistence and time OF service
aered by the men, II Is not probable just
result could be attained than these gentlemen arrv
ed at The amount ascerained 10 be due very large
and Congress will have 10 make provision for s pay
ment II intended they shall be lquidated, Of which
presume there now be no doubt.
rRKycH LOADING ARMS.
The appropriation for the purchase Of the best breech
loading rife has been nearly all expended for OF diff
ferent consruction-some for experiment in the held
thought the best test and have been pur
chased for use the army having been already approx
ed by trials in tho hands Of troops in actual service
think there existed Of the sort At the time the
APPROXIMATION was made which has not been materially
improved SINCE and much Of this Improvement has taken
place since the made OF this sort Of last summer,
Wesi Point under the direction Of board OF officers
appointed for the purpose The variety OF brccch loading
arms Is extremely great and the ingenuity exhibited IN
constructing them highly credtabc Some OF these arms
are best or Of service whilst others best
another and the purchases made have been determn
cd with view n this object improvements are still going
on in the construction Of this particular arm and. with
further encouragement, valuable results viii no
doubt he attained.
of these combine, in very high degree, CO.
ry and accuracy Of fire. with great force at long range
ropocRAPHiclI BUREAU.
The clear ard complete reports from this bureau VIII
fully apprze You Of It's abors during the past year and
its present condition.
souWrcT, CAPITOL Asp roer crr1E ErrrssoS