The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1861-01-03

the treasury; suggestion which
might be applied with manifest advan-
tage to the various hangerson of gov
ernment.
Various amendments of postal laws
are recommended, and the report con-
cludes with an exulting peroration con-
cerning mail-bags, on which twenty
five per cent. saving has been effected
1t is to be hoped not at the expense
of the bags, which were not too good
before.
REPORT OF THR SECRETARY OF WAR.
The report of the Secretary of War
is quite minute in its details. The
strength of the regular army is SUBJ
stantially the same as at the time of the
last annual report. The troops availa-
bic for service on the border have been
actively employed in service against
the Indians. llaa
The department of Texes has been
restored to peace and relieved from all
apprehension of invasion by maraud-
ing tribes by very active campaign,
carried on in the heart of the Indian
country. Owing to the many and dar-
ing outrages perpetrated by the hostile
tribes in New Mexico, it was found
necessary to withdraw large portion
of the troops stationed in Utah from
that Territory, and transfer them, by
rapid marches, to the troubled districts
"a distance of 700 miles through a
trackless wilderness.
The fact is dwelt upon that, while
the appropriations were to sustain the
army upon a peace footing, it has been
found necessary to prosecute an active
and sanguinary war along a line ex-
tending from the thirty fifth to the for
ty-sixth parallel of latitude, with numer-
Gus tribes of hostile Indians.
The importance of restoring to the
War Department the superintendent
and control of the Indians is urged at
length, on the ground that the idea of
obedience cannot be impressed upon
the savages by any other means than
the military power.
1t appears that the Quartermaster
has disbursed, through the agency of
his officials, $24,OOO,OOO during the
official term of the present Secretary.
He thinks it would be difficult to secure
more honest disbursement or strict
accountability on the part of the Off
cials than has attended the expendi-
lures made during the past four years.
In order to facilitate the passage of
troops from the Mississippi Valley to
the Pacific coast, road has been con-
structed from Fort Walla- w ALA, on
the Oregon River, across the noun
tains, to Fort Benton at the head of the
Missouri. Over this road a detach-
ment of 5000 men marched from the
latter place, and reached Walla-W ALA
in less than sixty days, in good condi-
ton.
The Colonel of Ordinace reports
that the experiments for the improve
ment of coast defences, the casting of
cannon, and the manufacture of can
non-powder favorable to the endurance
of heavy ordinance, have resulted fa-
vorably. The superiority of rifle can
non is declared, and the growing of
the ordinance now in use recommended,
as cheap and easy mode of adapting
them to the use of James expanding
projectiles. Arrangements have been
ordered to be made to effect this change
with portion of the smooth-bored
guns in use. In this connection, COM
plant is made Of the statute prohibit
ing the purchase of any arms or mill
tary supplies whatever of a patented
invention, as the department is unable
to procure supply of the proper pro-
jectiles with which to experiment
The law of 1908, relative to arming
and equiping the whole body of the
militia of the United States, is declared
to be insufficient for the offectual ac-
complishment of that object.
A national armory, for the fabrica-
ton of cannon, is declared to be vitality
necessary, and legislation to that end is
urged.
The experiments with breach loading
arms have resulted favorably to that
description of weapon. They are pro.
nounced to be "the most efficient arms
ever put in the hands of intelIgen,
men," The triumph Of such arms
over muzle loading is declared to be az
certain as that of the percussion car
over the flint and steel, while for caval
ry the breach-loader and revolver are
destined to take the place of the sa
Der.
Great improvement is claimed fol
the explorations along the Rio Colo
rado of the West, made during the
last four years, to which the establish
ment of new, shorter and better route
between Great Salt Lake and the Pa
cifc settlements is credited as also
the development of the extensive re
gion north of the Platte River, show
ling the existance there of several prac
tical wagon routes, valuable in mill
tary point of view. In these explora
tions the general Typographical ,ant
photography have been obtained, geo
graphical positions determined, elm
ate observed, and general geology as
certained. ...s..9.sa
In view of the exposed stuatiion o
the settlements on Puget Sound ant
adjacent waters from ineursions of hos
tile tribes from British and Rusial
provinces, a new steamer, to take tn
place of the Massachusetts ship, nov
used, is recommended. The Indian