The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1870-12-22

and clothing amounting to $31936. Tht
total sum disbursed was SCI, O77,SS, leav
ing balance of $4,922 10, still on hand
l. The number of commissioned medicai
officers for duty with the troops on June
80, 1870. was lat. There were 217 mil
itary posts besides many detachment.
each requiring the services of medica
officer. Hence, contract surgeons wer'
employed, the number of medical officers
being inadequate Economy would be
Subserved by filling the vacancies IN ths
medical staff, and increased efficiency
gained in this branch of the service The
employment Of contract surgeons must
continue should the existing law be unre
pealed.
| PAYMAsTERs.
| n During the past year the army has been
paid with regularity and promptnes>
| The present number of paymasters is S.
the number authorized by the law Of Ju y
| %. 1869, is CO. but no vacancies can b
filled. A necessity for the employment Of
number seemingly out of proportion to
the force 10 be paid is created by the ok.
iseence of so many military posts and tn,
distribution Of. regiments over so great Il
extent of country. While the reduction
| OF The army diminishes the number Of
men to be paid the number of stations
continually increase and demands the
lcopstant service of those fit for dury to
keep up the payments,a and 10 this connec
Zion 1t may be remarked that this dis
Ifrlbutlon OF posts over vast breadths Of
country accounts for that prepoDderance
u the staff corps in our army which is
obse we'd on comparison with the armies
lofiforeign powars.
Underthe act of July IS, 1870, the
Ulcers Of the army are paid by salarie,
| instead of by allowances of various kinds,
The system has been in operation bat a
few months but that short experience
shows the change to have been "a wise one
| The complications and calculations Of the
lold system ire avoided and The payments
rendered simple, more prompt, and far
more satisfactory
| 1t is believed that the monthly pay
ment of troops, instead of bl m nthly a.
at present will be ben fetal, and. If
found practicable, steps viii be taken t.
secure this end.
lf3s H.g CONSTRUCTION. ~
Constructions upon the permanent de
fences during the past fiscal wear have
been restricted to their repair and pre-
seryation The Engineer Departing nj
has been actively engaged up plans FIR
the modification of the defences TO meet
the requirements of the latest improve
nents in model wartara Many Of thu
plans tor the defence of our most IMPORT
1Ant harbors have been approved bv me
andsthe estimates submitted by the Chiet
r Engineers for carrying them out are
| presented for the consideration Of Con
gress Such appropriations as were mad
at he last session of Congress for the par
4 rialexecutI"n of similar plans fur the
harbors of Portl nd B,sten, New YORK,
: Philadelphia and San Francisco, are DC
ing applied to those defences
Upon the recommendation of the Che,
.lnf Engineers, three able and experienced
officers of engineers were sent to E1r0De
10 examine INTO the manner and extcni
lot the employment of iron in scacoast DE-
fence. They have been received VIII
great courtesy by all foreign Officers, and
Ievery facility has been afforded them fn
making their examinations, and asa in
dfsistet TO the honorable Secretary oil
Ntate for the pains he has AIKEN to inSurt
he.sanccs OF their mission.
The batt&lion # engineers srntiort1
,.h.fy at Willrtt's Point, New York, nj.
| y IN made lhr tor. edo sch0,l IT thp atlny
nd is engaged in invest CAUTIOUS. and *
,4erinvnts AS to the best nethol o. I'm
! poyiog TINS auxiliary in harbor defence
/ Phe batta!llon is caretuly Instructed and
maintained IN an efic,ent state for fAd
~ervice. 1t ASSISTS IN the instruction ~
practical engineering at the Militars
kcadem2, takes care Of Che bridge trains.
eqQl gag, and engin ars' tools at engineer
ieplts, make military surveys, and ha~
,ren occasionally called upon for MIN
~ service in enforcing the revenue laws
which service has been done Win eff
citncy
The river and harbor surveys and
works have been conducted with energy ;
satisfactory progress his been nude aud
active operations are going on, except al
some portions on the Cuff c0aSr, where
be prevalence Of yellow fever has TEN
porlIy suspended field la or. The report
on each of the surveys called for by the
act Of July II last, Will be submitted as
soon as received. The report of Chief
of Engineers exhibits in detail all neces
sary information upon the progress of
j these works.
| Action has been taken as follows in con
uect:on with certain acts and resolutions
passed at the last session of Congress In ac-
cordance with the act of February I'd 1870,
an officer has been detailed to superintend
the survey and examination of the Willamette
River, Oregon, with view to the location of
the proposed Bridge from Portland to the
east bank OF the river, but no report has vet
been received. The question of the location
of bridge across Niagara River from Buff.
| 10 TO Canada, Is still under consideration by