The New York herald., 1870-12-10

for inlantry service IN enforcing the revenue laws
which service has been done with efficiency.
Tho rvef ana harOOr surveys and works have
been conducted with energy; sailsiac ory progress
enas nsen made lnd active operations are gong on,
except at some points on the Gull coast, where the
| prevalence ot yellow lever has temporarily sus-
pended held labor. The reports upon each of the
surveys called ior By the dcL OF Juy IL last viii he
submitted Us soon Us received. The report OF The
Chiei OF EnSinecrs exh bs In deiai, all necessary
Information upon the progress oi these works.
Action has becn taken as follows IN connection
with certain acts and resolutions passed ~ the last
session ol Congress.-ln acc Jrdance wuh the act OF
February = ls7O, an olicer has been detailed TO
superlntend the survey and examination OF tlle VAL
the proposed bridge from Portland 10 the east bank
o. thc river, lut no report has yet Dcen received.
bridge ecross the Niagara river from Baifaio to
Canada Is sill under consideration by a board OF
engineers, an more detailed and extended surveys
are IN progress. No plan and awings Of the bridge
across the Arkansas river at Little koci, with map
showing us oc iton. as requr by the act OF July
| ], 1870, mas yet been furnished BY the Ciuzens'
Bridge Company, and no action nas therefore, been
taken by the department IN this matter. lhe Green
bay anu Mississippi Canal Company not having filed
satisfactory agreement: in writing 10 grant ana
convey TO the United states the property and iran
cnlses mentioned In section two OF the act OF Juy 4
1870, Tor the improvement OIL water communication
| between the MISSISSIPPI RIVER and Lake Michigan Dy
the Wisconsin and Fox rivers the amount appro-
| priated ny the act OF July 10. $780, 100000, FOR
the Improvement OF the Wisconsin river, has
not become ayailane. The oncer III charge
oil the improvement has been directed 10 submit
PROJECT Tor the applcal on Of The amo int. Tue suin
appropriated Tor widening and deepening the snip
|
now being applied to this improyem by dredging.
Inc Improvement in deepening the harbor OF waters
| oil the mouth OF the Sus uehanna river, for winch
| sum ol $4,000 was appropriated, IL In progress
| under contract 10 dreagc the channel, which VIII
| probably be completed TINS season. The board Of
| oifccfs Tor the examination OF all bridges now
erected or IN process OF erection across the ONO
river was organized on the 18th OF October ana Is
| now IN session at Cincinnati, Ohio The question OF
| the location or pier In The Delaware bay, at or
near Lewes Delaware, and the extent and material,
whether stone or iron, To he used In us construc-
report VIII soon be received to the best manner or
applying the amount appropriated tor tie structure.
The survey OF the Basou Icche, provided Tor by the
JOINT resolution OF MAJ g. 1870, made, and the
result submitted TO Congress at It's last session. An
Appropriation OF SIT 500 was subsequently made for
the improyement or this BAYOU, and contract
entered into Tor It's execution, but the work has
been delayed by the prevalence of yellow lever IN
| that region.
In tne survey OF the lakes operations were chiefly
carried on In Lake SupeiOr, extending to Lake Mcni
gan and other necessary points. and embracing
toward the close OF the season, par Of Lake Cnam
pan. Such ol tic results oil the surveys az are or
special value for purposes Of navigation are made
known at once Ny the publication of preliminary
charts preparation OF more elaborate map follow
Ing. The survey OF the lakes y work Of great
utllity ana the estimates Tor this object commend
| themselves TO attention. The surveys and recon-
n0lssances required In connection with the perma.
nent sea coast defences for other military purposes
ana or The movement OF troops IN the territory oc-
cupled or irequenied by lnilan ribes have received
due attention, The geological survey on the central
route OF communication with the Pacific coast has
progressed IN the most satisfactory manner ana The
| pubucaton OF It's results Will lcrm hIshly valuable
| contribution to science ana to the varied wants OF
| the government and the people. These surveys aud
recOnnossances are progressing activey IN the field
ana Office aud arc eSselal to The operations or the
government. Provls,on should De made lor them
! by annual appropra ion.
| In the Ordnance Department the estimates are far
In advance OF any submitted since the close OF the
nance OK ordnance stores was reaues ell OF ma lie for
the present year. the uneXnended balances were
| placed beyond the reach 0l The ordnance bureau,
| and much embarrassment was caused in procuring
supplies FOR nliing acquisitions and III taking care OF
stores on hand Az Springfield Arnory fey thou
sand arms are he.ng manufactured ior competitive
trial In the neld, under the recommendation OF the
Chief OF Crnance, IN con ectlon wlh the report Of
| the board lately convened at ST. Louis.
The properly OF the United States at Harper's
Ferry was sold in November and December, 1860, In
accordance win the terms prescribed by law. IL ID
| recommendSd that Ro ne Arsenal, New fo.k; Cnam-
plain Arsenal, Vermont; Mount Vernon Arsenal,
| Alabama: 'Appalachlcola Arsenal, Florida, and
| North Carolina Arsenal, North Carolina, be sold,
and that the captured lands IN eveport, Louisl
ron aud DAVIS counties, Texas be also di posed OF.
| similar Recommendation was made ID my last an-
the Country are wiS n osy y opao
should M DC SO a. and the proceeds used 4 necessary,
TIC coast. Not only economy, tut many lntercsls
connected with the subject make it advisable
sparsS with aavastaaee os PROCEEDS to
be used as above indicated. Rock Island Arsenal
a S Sen N th as e
specuon, mlnufely made. OF the improvements at
that point in September last. gave NE great sarls
faction, as they are OF an extensive and SUBSTANTIAL
| kind, and such as are demanded by the growing
power OF lne country and oI Ihe West. An arsenal
OF like character In the East could be erected from
the proceeds OF the sales of Useless articles, without
any app opriation 0i funds from the public treasury
When the new lOrm OF Dreech loading arm IS decid-
ed upon and accd In the hands OF The troops there
should be callei in ron all the states arms OF the
old style which have heretofore been issued and q
i new issue made to them OF those OF the improved
pattern. 1t Is the part OF wisdom In the public de-
tense TO Keep the mllitlathe manstay OF the nation
10 time OF war acquainted " th the use OF the best
| arms the government armores can offer. our So.
| army, be ma ntiined by the ability which viii thus
De given US or putting promptly on war footing
q formidable force.
Under various Joint resolutions passed at the last
session OF Congress 225 pieces OF condemned
ordnance were donated 10 soldiers cemeteries, in
| ADDITION to large indclnite amount for monu
| mentS.
Tie duties imposed upon the War Department by
the enactment or Congress providing for the obser
vaLicn and report OF storms by telegraph anj signal
have been discharged under the management Of the
Cnef sianal onIcer. number oil OBSERVERS care
July chosen, have been enlisted, instructed III their
duties, examined as To their qua. fcations, provided
with instruments and sent TO the stations winch
have, on consultation with the best au hortes been
selected. Arrangements have beel made with the
Western Union. The international and the North
W stern teg raph companies for the transmission OF
reports. ana an organization OF telegraph lines ci-
fectel, by which 1t i5 hoped unusual system and
ports on this plan commenced OH November |, 1870,
and the widest publicity IL given them through the
press by bulletins, anu, as time permits, the neces-
sary arrangement viii ne extended by maps ana
other mcIhoas. This work Is without precedent In
this country and II is necessary that each step should
he wei studied and devised before execution. As
sist,nce from scientific men and institutions hero
and in Europe has been generously accorded. and
| chambers 81 commerce, boards OF lrale ana COM
| mercia associations throughout the United
| States have given encouraging cooperation.
| Military organi alton and control secures a
promptness and thoroughness In lne ,ecuton OF this
| work perhaps not otherwise attanap.e. 1t is asked
tDaJ proper provision be made By Congress tor
vice involving such extended responsibilities The
| experience OF the coming year Will anord some
practical tests OF the benefits which are expected to
result from this important undertaking. Its cxecu-
ton thus far has very satisfactory aud 1t IL con.
fdchtly believed tnat the systematic means adopted
TO carry out this wise legislation OF congress VIII
| result In benefits to commerce which Will amply
usiiiy an appropriation adequate to It's accomplish
| ment.
The act relative to expenses incurred by the Ter
ritnry OF Montana Tor the suppression of Indian hos
Titles has been carried Out 10y having complete
examination OF papers, vouchers and evidence niado
| b nIiicR o. q u