The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1867-11-23
RDNANoE BUREAU.

There Is reduction of one-third in
the ordnance bureau, and a reduction
of seventeen per cent. of the men en-
ployed in the arsenals.
THE ROCK 1sLAND.BRIDaE,
No disposition has yet been made oi
the appropriation made for the build
ing of the bridge at Rock Island. on ac.
count of the refusal of the railroad
company TO perform their part OF the
contract.
USELESS ARsENALs.
arsenals is recommended, and sites for
others are reported upon.
ARMS AND AMMUNITION.
During the year over twenty-three
thousand Springfield muskets were al
tered into breech- leaders, and over one
hundred thousand rifles have been
cleaned aud repaired, and all the SOL
diers on the plains have been armed
with these musksts. Up to the present
time Any thousand stand of arms oil all
kinds have been changed into breech-
leaders, which Is pronounced the best
and most serVfceable gun in the world.
Seven hundred million cartridges have
been made for these 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. % ,t-.
The Military Academy is reputed to
be in Il dOurishinR condition, and CON-
tanned in June two hundred and fifty
five cadets, of which number sixty-three
have since graduated and obtained COM
missions.
ESTIMATE FOR NEXT FISCAL YEAR.
The entire military estimates for the
coming fiscal year are set down at sew
enty-seVen millions. Five hundred
thousand dollars are asked for by the
Department of the General OF the
Army; three hundred thousand dollars
for the Adjntant General, and for the
Military Academy three hundred and
fifty thousand dollars. An apprOpria.
ton OF forty-two millions will be asked
to supply the deficiency, aud meet the
expenses of the Quartermaster Gener-
ais Department. The Medical Depart
ment will require about fifteen thou
sand dollars. The. Pay Department
about twenty millions and half, and
the Engineer Department about ten
millions and a half. A million and u
half will be asked for the Ordnance
Bureau, and twenty'seVen thousand
dollars for the Signal Service. No ap-
preparation will be asked for the Sub
sistence BureSu and the Bureau of Mil
itary Justice.
REDUCTION OF THE ARMY.
Gen. Grant is of opinion that the
peace with the Indians will materially
decrease the expenses of the army, and
Justify reduction of the force. About
thirteen millions and a half of the en-
tire appropriation are intended to meet
deficiencies. The report will state that
all the vacancies caused by the increase
OF the army have been filled, and that
all appointments must In future go to
the foot of the register.
1ScREASE OF CADETS RECOMMENDED.
He recommends an increase OF the
number of Cadets who can be accom-
modnted, which will not require any
enlargement of the present buildings
or be any additional expense 10 the
Government. He will suggest the
manner in which the new appointments
might be made, as follows: Three al
large, and one for each Congressional
District when a cadet enters the second
class.
CONTINUANCE :oF ADDITIONAL PAY RE-
COMMENDED.
The continuance for at least one year
ofthe additional pay TO army officers
will be recommended.
DISTRICT COMMANDERS REPORT.
No reports have been received from
Generals Sheridan and Sickles, bul
they will make reports at some future
time on the condition of their late dis
districts. Generals Candy, Pope, Scho
field and Ord have sent In their reports
General Sherman, who has sent In his
| report, thinks that immediate peace
with the Indians is certain, and recon-
mends the employment of Indians tr
the service. From July 1st to Septem
Der 30th one hundred and twenty-foui
| wagon trains passed over the plains
taking nearly six Thousand mules
twelve thousand oxen; and about ont
thousand horses. Gen. Thomas re
ports everything quiet. but the peoptt
still show dislOyal tendencies.
GRANT on MILITARY COMMANDERS.
On the subject ofmilitary command
ers il is understood that General Grant
will hold the following opinion: The
military commanders SO lar as theti
duties are concerned, are held In sub
ordination to him, (Gen. GranD and tc
the War Department in their MILITARY
capacities, but in their civil character
they are entirely independent of both
except in the matter OF removals anC
appointments. He feels that while they
are independent in their military
spheres, there Is not one of them who
would not yield positive and entire
submission to any expressed wish o.
the civil administration placed over
them by the constitutional acts of Con
Qress, General Grant entirely approves
or the manner in which the several dis
trict commanders have discharged their
duties. E..
"THAT GoAT."-A promising disciple
of Josh Billings thus discourses on the