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

| corps. and thus restore to the cadets an incen
tive to exertion OF which they have lately
been deprived .a
| WEST POINT
A personal visit to West Point, in June last
afforded satisfactory evidence of the high
state of discipline, and the comprehensive
Judgment which characterizes the manage
Inent of the academy. A thorough inspec.
tiDn disclosed some defects, and exhibited
some matters of detail in which changes were
desirable, but its we'll earned character as a
military school is fully sustained. The act
OF Congress passed at its last session. placing
the professors, in respect to retirement from
active service, on the same footing as officers
of the army, is regarded as just provision,
giving those gentlemen whose lives have
been spent in the daily performance of ar
duous duties an opportunity for rest with
liberal pay when the efficiency of the corps
requires their retirement. e1 rnls 81
RAILWAY DEBTS. s.. ~. 4.
But little progress has been made by the
railway companies in settling the debts con.
tracted by them at the close of the war by
the pure base OF the material of the military
railroads. The total debt remaining due and
unpaid on June 80, 1870, was $6,9l2. LOG o.
principally owing from Southwestern com
panies. Their payments during the year
amounted to the sum OF 1866, 800 49, but ow-
ing to the amount OF interest the entire reduc-
ton was only $5S, 1884. Action by Congress
roads, while suits have in some cases been in
sti uted against those defaultng. ~
In the matter OF transportation, the Pacific
Railroad has saved the government much
money; but, as before stated, with the open
ing to settlements in the wilder portions OF
he country, army posts are pushed further
and further into the wilderness and as the
stations are extended the expenses of trans
portation are and will remain very great.
s PURCHASES. b#g oeua a
AS the Quartermaster's Department de
pended on the balances of old appropri
atoms, no appropriation for clothing and
eqnipage was last year asked The act of
Congress of July IL, 1870, destroyed tbs
resource, and there are no means on hand
or the purchase of tents and clothing
The stock offs me of the essential articles
IS exhausted and purchases must be made
AS to the purchase of horses for cavalry
and artillery, the result was the same.
The balances supposed to be available
were cut off by the same law, and hence
1t is earnestly hoped that the additional
appropriations asked tor both these OBJ
jccLs for the present fiscal year, as well
IS those for The next fiscal year, may be
appropriated without deduction. itaI at
by the act OF Congress of March 2, 1861
lhe sum OF $4,000 was appropriated FIR
the construction Of a new post in the
valley OF the Red River Of the Nor b.
ana So, 900 for surveys to be made in con
nectlon herewith During the year troops
haVe been located at til point selected,
and the construction of the post known
rs Fort Pemhlna. proceeded with. The
Importance Of he post is fully set forttt
IN the report Of General Hancock, which
| is presented herewith, aud attention call
90 to his recommendation that early
measures may be inauguIated, whereby
our boundary may be authoritatively
determined. In addition TO this, several
new posts have been commenced and
extensive repairs at Older stations been
made, there being under the control OF
The Quartermaster's Department nearly 5,
900 buildings Of various kinds. 4
Under the decision of the Attornty
| General the, current appropriations arr
not applicable to the settlement of claims
for Quartermaster' 8 and other Stores under
the law of July 4, 1864 AS the law
still remains IN fore requiring lie Quar-
ermaster and Commissary Generals to
examine such claims, aud if just, report
them 0, the Auditor for settlement,it mn Y
pt deemed necessary TO make an appro-
prlation to meet them.
The cords of the department shoa
ne burial, in tue national AMI other Gem
teries, of 333, 900 persons In adtitlon
t. those buried IN the 70 national Gem
etcrles, there are very many soldiers IN
erred IN private cemeteries, near hos
pitfalls ia W hich they died Measures are
III rapid progress for carrying ont the
Jaw which requires the cemeteries to bt
properly enclosed. Undtr the act 81
Congress close and careful inspection
nave been thoroughly made by .
field officer of the army, and many Timely
Suggestions as to changes and improve
lnents carried out. They are being dec
rated, in accordance with law OF the
last Cong ess with trees and shrubs, and,
fustead OF being left unattended, are cared
for with the consideration which the
memory of the nations dead demands,
full statements Of the condition of the
cemeteries. accompany the report Of the
QuarterGaster General.
During the year the Subsistence De
partIAent has been enabled, in an in.
creased degree, to purchase suppl near
tie points where they are required for
consumption by the troops, obtaining
Them at d much less expense for trans
portation. Increased agricultural and
commercial progress in the States and
Territories west of the Missouri River,
and the completion OF the lines of railroad
to Denver, have enabled the Department
to obtain therein many. of the supplies
for those sections, and II is evident that
the transportation now necessary from
ocean to ocean viii soon cease. During
The year 1669-'70 large quantities Of