New-York daily tribune., 1859-12-29
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR

kEPOhI Or IHE SECRETARI OF WAR
The Secretary Of War, john b. Floyd reports
the authorized strength Of the Army ct Is,I65 men
all told. On the let Of July the date Of the las, COM
pete returns, the actual number reached Il l9S OF
this number there are not than about IL OGG men
svahbe for active service in the field. These have
been used In manning about lS0 permanent gairsons
posts and camps scattered over an area of 600
square miles. The war with the Comanehes and Kio-
wss stIl unfinished but measures are taken TO sub
due these tribes The Secretary proposes to allow by
law the enlistment Of mounted men for six months TO
be used in this frontier service. The plan, he
thinks, would be economical and eFectuaL. He
repeats the recommendation heretofore made
10 relation to the staff corps, the general
effect Of which will be to throw open the staff duties
70 the whole army, to bring the staff and line officers
into more frequent and intimate connection and to pro
vide for returning TO their regiments such officers as
may be found 70 have no aptitude for staff duties.
HealSo calls attention TO the urgent necessity for
sn additional inspectOr-general; proposes provision
for retiring disabled and infrm officers and again en-
forces the e2pedency OF ensng corps Of teamsters.
The experiments made with cames reported as
suecessfu, and purchase Of fun supply is advised
An increase OF the medical staff is pronounced abso-
utely necessary. The coffee ration Of the army de-
clared too small, and an increase asked for. An at
tempt has been made TO render the artillery service
more efectna BY dividing the corps into two classes
10 garrison the more important permanent fortif
eatous, where they have the means Of practice in
heavy artillery and the other to occupy posts where
troops required, on the Indian frontier
BY periodical exchange of the companies between
the f0rtihcatoDe and field artillery posts each cOmpa
ny viii have opportunity OF instruction and expert
ence in all branches Of the arm, and at the time
share the hardshps of actual service. AssistantSnr
geon Albert j. Myer has snbmts@to the Department
system Of military signals which is found TO work well
and promises 10 be of great service, The estimates
for the ensuing year cOnformed to the last Con.
gressonal appropriations for the army and reduced
nearly two millions below those Of last year. and half
million below the actual appropriations made at the
last session of Congress-
The Secretary thinks that the expenditures for the army
are not ncommensurate with the service rendered
The whole of the army proper for It's entire sup
port and maintenance reaches the sum OF $i3O9S,-
725 r. Daring the past year the extra expenses in-
CURED for the suppre OF Indian hostes IN wash
ington and Oregon amounted to $29S,o59 III beyond
what would have occurred but for these wars. Heavy
expenses likewise incurred for escorts to parties en-
gagged upon service not pertaining TO the legitimate du-
ties of the army. The estimates from the Bureau OF
Ordnance made to conform TO the policy Indicated
by Congress but the opinion is expressed that to
abrdge the manufacture of is of doubtful econ
omy. The experiment Of substituting iron for wood
in gun-carriages is pronounced successful. Some I'M
provements in the form Of cannon have been intro
duced and experiments still going in these and
in relation to rhecannon and proectes. Preparations
for the manufacture Of breechoadng arms which are
considered very valuable, are recommended The ex-
istng law for armng and equppng the militia s con-
sidered defective, and attention called to IT. No ad-
ditional appropriations asked for coast defenses
but the Secretary his suggestion tndt some pro-
vision be made so sea ports especially New.
York from the danger OF attack. IL Is suggested that
all completed permanent forts be lighted with gas,
both for safety and economy. Inc claims upon GOV
erpment for volunteer service urged upon the at
teption of Congress. BY the report ON Explorations
and Surveys appears that the military road from Fort
Wala Walla to Fort Benton, for whch specal sp-
preparation was de, has been commenced ana near
iy two hundred and sixty miles OF Ut completed Seam-
boats can navigate the Oregon river to Fort Nalla
Waa and the Missouri river to Fort Benton, thus III,
q h nf sfX
miles 81 line of steamboat communication between the
Atlantic and Pacific, the widest portion OF our
possessions. For the completion OF this road wlch Is
deemed very important, further appropriaSpn Is
needed Reliable information has been recently fur-
nirhod tho Department of the existence OF 6roA'
mineral wealth in the mountains through when Pol-
ton of the road passes. The experiments IN sinking
artesian wells are considered far as any expectation
of oyerhowing the Western plains is concerned,
as q failure. large amount OF geograpnicaI ana
scientific information has been added al snai cosl,
tbrough the abors of the different field parties, 10 our
knowledge Of the resources OF the regions wes o te
Mississippi The expedition TO explore the country IN
the vicinity of the San Juan River, and 70 seareh
for practicable route between Santa re ana southern
Utah is completed bat the result IL not YET rePoreu
That 10 explore the sources OF the 1euoW otoe i ~
the Missouri is to be resumed inc ensuing anT;teJ
ia recommended that corps OF hity men ge eiils'eu
for all such expeditions. Attention s calico 10 1e re-
port of Lieut.. Michlers survey OF an iner-oGeaio @
Ship Canal the Isthmus OF DaIlen, wa Io asJ
and TfuaDdo Rivers. small appropriation ls neeueu
to compiete the survey. The wagon-roaa upon Tue
Ss,S nsrssl reaching from Fort Smith, Arkansas, 70
tbs Colorado of the West is completed MS lar us lhe
apnrooriation would do it. is now suneeh ior my
trayeI of troops military supplies, or emigrhis Inc
Secretary satisfied that the preservation OF rnt anu
Justice through the means Of any Jurispr9ae1oe SNOW"
or recognized by the people Of the United States Is
impossible in the Territory OF ltah. me Mvrosi
ha ohsarxes are exempt from Indian hoshhties, anu
therefore, need no protection; and as in the present
aftituds of affairs in that Territory there seems 70
be no need for the presence OF ana An amy .be tbe
troons there viii be otherwise disposed OF the
cor,srp season. The murders Of emiSrants,
Il il asserted are perpetrated by Mormons disguised as
Indaps The conduct Of General johnston ~ ~ ms nis
commend and In opening roads IN that REGION nSny
corr,ended Capt j. II. simpson opened TWO new
routes from Camp Floyd in California ener oi miSn ,b
Ia shont two hundred and fifty miles shorter ,n4n tne
,s ,st Tonte by the way of the Humboldt River,
sna far better for grass, wood and wafer lhe s'Ins
n time of travel by these roads 10 smigrai's E tYr
IN ~ n,:s;e "a abort fifteen days, and Tor the mails
Son. fonr The saving in stock and dranght cattle on
,hesa rones over thoeo formerly uaVeiea, vwIne "
rTa water and abundant grass, is estima1e1 q.
Fee ner cent Captain simpson mas asV lVynu %s SW
n soad mass from the valley oil the 0rest o-I'
nmsFfo ~ the way of the Tmpanagos River Vshsy,
nd bes Chesneys fork Of the uinta RIVER n'o . see
u1 ~ Green River which will shorten tne Touso
SrS3yaS hv Colonel Lorng from Camp floyo 70 santa
ES nrohabiy AZ much as eighty miles. Il. A..
Tka disturbance along the IeAan noi.oa .I w. Sar
inc the last Summer has 9een sl;S faiIo,v;nc
ne shsndonment of Fort Brown is espeey .a;s
~" IT, yenc,t asserts that the condition oil t9lhss
Gon1 the whole extent of our Mexican o9unuhy'
e ;xtsen hundred miles in length, demands I'm On
,;xev that Congress should adopt policy ~licn su1
eve 1eaee and security TO cur eiuLehs, anu t NJ;
nrnishment for crimes eomuitted upon thoI a. y ,sr
IN bsnd;lti and sayages residing within - H. 1ei
Nss~ II The recent dHhli W itoA-