The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-12-28

ne .douao. Of vs instead Of The four years. ssrm,
Witch vas done by my predecessor, has a00rded the
ears Of improving the course of ssdts, and introduc
previously possible, though gyssiy needed Some
sight mobilization in Ana programme Of IN.
aEastion V perhaps neslsa % So. as not %
sludies in accordance with Their relative importance.
an giving attention to thvt matter now Tho subject Of
sinissTsos, &c. have thought p.raoaissly desirable
give mporAs to- and have taken steps for that
ExrSxpy ruRxs OF rux DEPARTMENT
The crcnmsians co connected with the expenditures Of
Che War Deparn ent for the present sca year
AnsMaous n.Si not free from considerable embarraas
neDt Un gnis year Congress- has scarcely ever failed
,oTrent a9 appropriations asked for BY the department.
md vnAsEhe country was prosperous and large sums
were rectaved NJ the treasury, these appropriations
~ Meral and extensive scale.
The 6tmates for this fiscal year prepared for the
s Osngress with the greatest scrutiny and care large
reductions made In many items Of expenditure, and
indeed all reduced To the lowest point 70 which was
q ss
asking for money to deiray expenses necessarily
Acurred beyond the sums appropriated by Congress-
0hs reduced scale Of expenditure Congress- seemed 70
ahink still greater than the public service required,
and arbitrary reduction Of very nearly millions Of
ahe date Of this until the Of
Ne scal ear, when this reduced scale Of expenditure
shsud begin, short tirno that It involved much
dt1eulty IN preparing for over so wide space OF ter
.ttsry army occupied An essential change In the
movement and economy Of the army absolutely
necessary to conform TO che policy OF Congress- and to
avoid deficiency. The usual expenditures upon bar
racks and quarters for thetroops greatly dimnhod
Ne civil employees in the service were almost entirely
dispensed with, and large reductions were nsdo Ia the
expenditure for forage and keep Of the animals OF the
army, by selling at public auction utter due advertise
nent IN the newspapers such as were not absolutely es
have confored the estimates for the ensuing year 70
Hsye, thereiore rodscsd them very nearly two millions
Of dollars below those submitted last year. and half mil
Non below the actual appropriations made at the last ses
In the year 1885, Congress increased the numerical
strength Of the army by adding 70 four regiments two
army increased about thirty per cent From these
the necessary expendtoresor the army were
largely aug nented THIS from necessity
that still continues and decreed by Congress Itself
IN addition TO these for larger army expenses the
rise in the price OF every article Of required
for support has also tended 70 swell the aggregate
FOR the maintenance Of our army Neither the strength Of
army the expenditures for it's support and opera
have been enlarged In proportion TO the growth Of
the population the extension Of the frontiers requiring
Aefepce the cost of articles Of military supplies.
To arrive at proper conclusions this question of ex
pcndiares they most DO compared with the service rem
dered aud in this view comparison with any previous
time may be confidently challenged The present army
has work 20 do which might employ usefuly and active
sy I've times its numerical force does that work eec
tvely and at cost certainly not incommensurate with
is value and benefit the country The whole Of
the my proper for entire support and maintenance,
reaches tho of $13 1925 72) thirteen millions
nheyeght Thousand seven hundred and twenty five dol
lars and seventy cents. With the help of such egs
nation as asked for the above sum would be materially
reduced
every year for objects s impossible to oresee estimate
for During the past year the expensesncurred for
the suppression of Indian hostties In Washington and
Oregon amounted to two hundred ninety. eight thou
sand, i've hundred thirty nine thousand dollars and
eleven cents beyond what would have occurred but for
these wars Heavy expenses are likewise incurred for
escorts to parties engaged upon service not pertaining 70
the legitimate duties OF the These sums amounted
last year 10 over seventy thousand dollars SO II will
O
seventy thousand dollars imposed upon the War
Department for these Objects which could not be FORE
ORDNANCE ARMS AND EQuHMESTs
have ordered the estimates from the Bureau Of
which the action Of the last Congress seemed
10 indicate by its appropriations cannot for
BET ,, TO express the opinion however, that 70
least, measure Of very doubtful economy, and may
10 the end To be both dangerous and expensive
foreign war would create an immediate demand for an
immense number OF arms probably enough, nearly to
strip all arsenas and TO require the purchase Of fur
ther supplies from private manufacturers whose mercy
the government would be- in the emergencies of war.
Besides the manufacture OF arms other expenses are
necessarily incurred in experiments and improvements IN
Them which Of the greatest importance TO the service
Of the country That constant progress In the improve
nent Of and other appliances Of warfare which has
81 hate characterized the military service Of other nations
has been, up 10 this tme less active in The ex
pcrfments which have been in progress for some time
carriages for sea coast and garrison cannon have
suited complete success Thoy demonstrate the pract
Of no onx q vepa 1911
IN point Of economy, but also tn quality The ultimate
saving in money to the country BY this msnuacure can
not only expensive but has been found impossible
% the wood Of which they From
decay So that each gun In all our forts must be rcmount
cd ccc every ten years be for service The substitution
Of iron wood has remeded this perfectly and the gun
carriage may considered naestrucuble Models
f wrought iron sea coast and garrison carriages have
sordDgy been adopted, and iron VIII be used IN their
fabrication hereafter.
houp IN nj
greatly increasing their endurance under repeat
ed discharges and rendering them consequently more
liable for service III view OF the not nrequent accidents
from the bursting Of iron and the disastrous conse
Suences that may result therefrom, it important that the
adopted models should be the best calculated Tor
and that but the best material should be used
h, and the best processes applied TO Their aorica.
ton. Experiments To ascertain the best model
have been instituted and carried on with satisfactory
results. They still progress with special reference
class Of Of heavier cabre, for tue more com
pIete determination OF the best method Of distributing the
given weight Of metal throughout the different parts Of
the obtain the greatest strength 10 Be-
eectualy the best material and mode OF fabrication
will require the establishment Of national foundry and
again urge this important measure and repeat the re-
often heretofore made for the requisite
legislation to effect 1t.
The subject Of rifle and proecles has received
much attention. and careful experiments have been nsi-
aatsa 70 test variety Of sucn oonsrvanSes MOI
cannon beyond those required for experimental purposes
until full and fair trials shall have demonstrated pract
ay which Of the various Inventions possesses most ad
vantages, whether combination OF the advantages
peculiar several OF them may not furnish the best 60
yeynment model.
New patterns OF horse equipments for all the mounted
troops have been adopted and their manufacture has
Asen commenced to the extent permitted oy the appro
pration applicable thereto 1t s however, insufficient TO
the wants Of the service this respect, in conse-
Auence Of its reduction below tho estimate The new
pattern was adopted after careful consideration Of the
Views the subject experienced officers OF mounted
service taken connection with che question OF the great
est economy compatible with fitness for that service
The operations at the national armoFies and the arse
nae, in the manufacture Of small arms and other sup
pee pertaining this branch of the War Department,
are stated detail in the accompanying report Of the
Colonel Of Ordnance.
asming and equpping the whole body Of the militia
Of the United States, which was passed in 1903. The
provision then made for the purpose remains the same
at this day, and is insufficient for Its efecua accom-
pnshment This s eyinced by frequent acquisitions and
urgent applications from States and Territories for ad
vancos Of arms and equipments beyond their regular
quotas.
BREHcH- LOADING ARMS.
Under the appropriations heretofore made by Congress
20 encourage experiments in breech loading arms very