The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-12-16


1870 reach total Of $40 1913, Ala so.
The estimates now submitted are for $500 me q,
including apprentices The number established
by the act approved on the 18th of last June.
Should Congress at Its present session enlarge or
diminish the number now authorized, the appro-
priatons should be made necessarily to cores
pond, and the estimates which follow must co.,
form to existing legislation.
The department has continued previous arrange
ments for the custody and preservation of the
ironclad leet which it has on hand. These ves-
sells can be servIceable only in time Of war.
and the probabilities are that with prolonged
peace they will, from c0rrosion and other causes,
greatly deteriorate and not unlikely become USE
less before they will be needed for service. 10
the meantime their keeping and proper care are
attended with considerable annual expense, and
at no very distant period a large outlay, almost
equal to the construction of new vessels. will be
required to put them In sailing and nghtng con.
dition.
Since the passage of the joint resolution author
ling their sales, but two have been disposed Of
the Cataw ba and 0neota, of a class of eight ves-
sells similar in all respects-at their appraised
value, $775 O00 which has been paid into the gen.
eral treasury, as directed, and not applied to the
purposes OF this department. Exception was
taken to this sale and transfer, aud Congress,
through committee, ordered an investigation.
Delay and EN- barrassment followed to the annoy
ance of the foreign government which was iud
rectly the purchaser, and the effect has been to
deter other powers from offering 10 make pur-
chases, and such Of our countrymen as interested
themselves TO effect sales, as business operation,
have apparently abandoned their efforts.
1t has been and still is the opinion Of the de-
partment that the true policy OF the government
js TO dispose, If possible of all the vessels of the
classes whose sale has been authorized by Con-
gress. To keep them entails q large annual ex-
pense Epon the government, and in few years, if
unused they will become vaueless as vessels Of
war. and will have to be broken up aud disposed
of as old material. II is worthy of consideration.
therefote, whether they should not be sold, If OPP
portunffy offers, at less than their present sp-
praiseDlent.
REPORT OF GEN. GRANT.
HEAhop ARTERs ARMY OF tbs UNITED STATES,
Washington. ID. c., November "a 1865. \
Sir Il have the honor TO submit the reports Of
division, district and department commanders for
the post year. These reports give full account
Of the operations and services of the army for the
wear, and refer 20 them for details.
| would earnestly renew my recommendation OF
last year that the control OF the Indians be trans
ierred 10 the war department. call speciA At
tention to the recommendation of Gen. sherman
on this Subject. The recommendation has my
earnest approval. 1t is unnecessary that the ar
guments in favor of the transfer should be re-
stated the necessity for the transfer becomes
stronger and more evident every day.
While the Indian war continues i do not deem
any general legislation for the reduction OF the
army advisable. The troops on the plains are all
needed troops are still needed in the Southern
States, and further reduction can be made In the
way already used and now in operation where II
is safe, namely: by allowing companies TO dimin-
ish by discharges, without being strengthened BY
recruits. and by stopping appointments of second
lieutensnts.
IN it should be deemed advisable. the veteran
reserve regiments might be discontinued by 40
sorption and retirement of officers and discharge
OF men without detrimeut to the service. Very
respectfully, your obedient servant,
U. 8. GRANT. General.