American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1867-11-27

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No disposition has yet been made of
the appropriation made for the building
Of the bridge at Rock Island, on account
of the refusal of the ,ai!road company
to perform their part Of the contract
USELESS ARsLNALs.
The disposal of number of useless
I arsenals is recommended, aud sites for
others are reported upon. .. ...
... ARMS AND AMMUNITION.
During the year over,twenty. three thous.
and Springfield muskets were altered into
breachloaders, and over one hundred thou.
sand rifles sabers have been cleaned and re.
paired, and all the soldiers on the plains
have been armed with these muskets-
Up to the present time fifty thousand
stand of arms of all kinds have been chang.
ed into breach. leaders, WEIGH is pronouu.
ced the best aud most serviceable gun in
the world. Seven hundred million car
tridges have been made for the muskets,
with an average failure of one.third per
cent. all smooth-bore cannon of less
than eight inches have been condemned.
WEST POINT ACADEMY. ..
The Military Academy is reputed to
be in fourshiug condition, and contain
ed in Jure two hundred and ftty>6ye ca
diets, of which number sixty.three has
since graduated and obtained commits.
sions. fni 3#E 9fsir '.t ~ E.
ESTIMATE FOR NEXT FISCAL YEAR.
The entire military estimate for the
coming fiscal year are set down at seven
ty seven millions. Five thousand dol.
lars are asked for by the Department
Of the General Of the Army three hun
dred thousand dollars for tho Adjutsnt
General, aud for the Military Academy
three hundred aud fifty thousand dollars.
An appropriation of forty,two millions will
be asked to supply the deficiency, aud
meet the expenses of the Quartermaster
Generals Department. The Medical de-
partment will require about fifteen thous.
and dollars. The Pay Department
about twenty millions aud half and the
Engineer Department about ten millions
aud half A million and halt will be
asked for the Ordn Bu>reau, aud
twenty seven thousand dollars for Signal
Service. No appropriation will be asked
for the Subsistence Bureau and the Bu>
reau of Military Justice. ,.. ...
REDUCTION oE THE ARMY.
Gen Grant is of opinion that the peace
with the Indians will materially decreace
the expenses Of the army, aud justify a
reduction of the force About thirteen
millions and half of the entire appro>
priation are intended to meet defcien.
cies. The report will state that all the
vacancies caused by the increase Of the
army have been filled, and that all ap,
pointmcnts must in future go to the fsot
of the register. "a.
INCREASE OF CADETS RECOMMENDED
He recommends an increase of the
number Of Cadets who can be accomoda,
ted, which will not require any enlarge.
ment of the present buildings or be any
additional expense to the Government.
He will suggest the manner in which the
new appointments might be made, as fol
lows Three at large, and one for each
Congressional District when a cadet on
ters the second class. ...-.
CONTINUANCE OF ADDITIONAL PAY RE-
COMMENDED.
The continuance for at least one year
Of the additional pay to army officers will
be recommended.
DISTRICT COMMANDERS REPORT.
No reports have been received from
Generals Sheridan and Sickles, but
they will make reports at some future
time on the condition of their districts.
Genera! Canby, Pope, Scho6eld and
Ord have sent their reports. General
Sherman, who has made his report,
thinks the immediate peace with the,
Indians is certain, and recommends
the employment of Indians in the ser
vice. From July 1st to September
Both one hundred and twenty-four
wagon trains passesed over the
plains, taking nearly five thousand
men five hundred women and about
the same number of children nearly
six thousand mules, twelve thousand
oxen, and about one thousand horses.
Gen. Th9masreports every thing quiet
but the people still show disloyal ten
dency.
GRANT on MILITARY COMMANDERS.
On the subject of military COM
manders it is understood that Gen.
Grantwill hold the following opinion:
The military commanders so far as
their duties are concerned, are held
in subordination to him, (Gen. Grant)
and to the War Department in their
military capacities but in their civil
characters they are entirely indie
pendent of both, except in the matter
of removals and appointments. lie
feels that while they are independent
in their military sphere, there is not
one Of them who would not yield
positive and entire submission to any
expressed wish of the civil admins
tration placed over them by the con-
stitutional acts Of Congress. Gener-
al Grant entirely approves of the
manner in which the several district