The New York herald., 1870-12-10

sucn supcrnunerary oucerS with due regard 10
rank and fitness those remaining supernumcrary
alter July l. 1871 to be mastered out with one year
pay.
recommend the adoption or this course. 1t WIN
60 far toward preventing the injusice which II Is so
difficult To avoid and Will, 10 great extent, DIS
pense with the ne e'essity for forcing from the SER
vice, with seeming ingrantnde many gallant men.
During the past year hity-c.gnt cadets oi the Mill
tary Acadepy naye been graduated and appSinie ed
second ieutenants In he army sev nteen nave heen
discharged for marked deficiency IN c0nduct or
studies SIX have resigned one mas deserted and four
have diel. New cadets To the number or sAty-nve
have been admitted, and the corps al presen mum
oers rs members, divided. ior purposes OF study
ana scientific instruction. lnao iodr c'asses anu
line mo battalion onicered IRON among tnem-
selves.
Office be supplied To the army, equal la pro-
lessional atainments TO the requirements OF any
military organization upon officers Of their grade.
Gratifying reports Of the welfare and progress the
Academy are presented ooth by The Inspector and
the Board OF Vistor
OF the Corps OF Engineers, IN connection vita the
internal amt foreign commerce OF The country, ana
ns Of as eS W w an m
polntmens and promotions IN the corps and thus
restore 10 tue cadets an incentive To eXert.oh OF
winch tley have lately been deprived.
The estimates for increasing the supply OF water,
opening aud repairing roads, improving the drill
ground and for tne new oilce building are particu-
Larry recommended.
Apersona v,slt 10 West Ponf In June last Afforded
satisfactory evidence oil the hi4h stare OF dlsciplne
ana the comprehensive Judgment wnlcn character
lies the management o the Academy. thorough
Inspection disciOsed d some defects and exhibited
some matters or detail IN which changes wcie desi-
raDlc. but Its well earned character as military
school Is fully sustained. Ihe act oil Congress
respect 10 retirement from active service on the
same footing as officers OF the army Is regarded as
just proyision. giving those gentlemen whose lives
have been spent In the daily performance OF arduous
duties, an opportunity Ior rest wiGn liberal pay,
wDsn the efficiency OF the corps requires their re-
tlfemcnt.
But ntle progress has been made by The railway
companies In set ling Lne debts contracted ny them
close OF the by The purchase Of the mate.
rial oil the military railroads. the total debt
mainlning due and unpaid on June 80, 1870, was
s6,yla. 100 81, principally owing from southwestern
companies. Ihelr payments during the year
amounted to the sum OF 3365.S2I 45, but owing TO
the amount OF interest the eare reduction was only
S5S,llS "a. Acuon py Congress In Their relief has
been sought iy some of the roads, wae suits have
In some cases been Instituted against those de-
iauiting.
road has saved the government much money, but,
before stated, with The opening TO settlements Of
The wilder portions OF the country, army posts arc
pushed IrGner and further into the wilderness, and
as the staons are extended the eXpyns. OF trans
portatlon are and VIII remain very great.
AS the Quarterinaster's Department depended on
the balances OF Old appropriations no appropria-
tons Tor clothing ana cqupagc Was last year asked
the act OF Congress oil July II, lSI0 destroicd this
resource, and there are no means on hand for the
purchase OF tents anu clothing. he stecR of some
OIL the essential articles ~ exhausted anu purchases
must be made As to the purchase Of horses Tor
cavalry and artillers the result was the same. rne
balances Supposed 10 Dc avulsaDle were cur OIL by
the same law, ANA hence IL Is -tiy no. ,ed tnat
the additional appropriations asked Tor botn these
obJecls or the present hsea year, well as those
tor Tue next nscal year, hiay be appropriated with.
out deduction.
BY tue ACT OF Congress Of March ., 1861, the sum
OF $4,000 was appropriated Tor the construction of
o new post in the valley OF the Ked RIVER OF tue
North, ana $1,000 Tor surveys To be made In connec-
toa tnercwnn. During tnc Jear troops nave been
located al The point selected, aud tile construction
.. tne post known rs Fort Peulbna Proceeded with.
ihe Importance Of this pest y tuly set iorsh III the
report or General Haacock, which Is present here
wltn, and attention called 10 ls recommendation
that early measures he inaugurateu, waercDy our
boundary may be autaoIIaLl. ely uetermtned In
addition 10 tnS several new post5 nave ucet conf
ncaCed and extensive repairs at Older stations Deen
made there being under The contro. oi the quarter
masters department nealy 5,0oJ buildings VI va.
rious kinds.
Under the decision of the Attorney General tho
current appropriations are not appcage 10 lne SET
tleucAt ol claims lor quarernasLer's and OH. +
Stores. under the law Oh July 4, loJl. AS ne Jaw
sui re,nans III force requiring the quarerm ister
and cuilniissary generals 10 eXanne sucL clai ms,
ana, Just, reporD item 10 the Auditor Tor settle.
meat, IL may DC deemed necessary Lo make an ap.
| ptopriatlun 10 meet tn.in
The records OF the department show the burial, In
the national and other mcterles, oi 35i,ovo per-
three national cemeteries. Inerc are very many
sod.ers INFERRED III prvate Cemeteries near nospi
talS IN whicn they died. Measures are III rapid pro
giess cr carrying out the law whcn requires tnt
Ccnietcres TO be properly enclosed. Under me ACT
OF congress close ana uselui Inspections have been
thoroughly made by u heiu oAcer "a The ariny and
| many timely sugyestio Us to changes ana I'M
provements carried out. They are bellg decorated,
IN accordance with law OF the last CouSic css WIN
uees and Shrubs, and instead oi beng let nnat-
tended are cared for with the consideration which
/ the memory oil the nations dead demands Full
statements OF the condition OF these cemeteries ac-
/ company The report Line Quartermaster General.
During line year the subsistence Department has
b. en- enacted IN an Increased degree to purchase
supplies near the points wnere they are required Tor
| consumption by lne troops, obtaining them at a
mdch less expense ior Tdnsportation Increased
agricultural and commercial progress In the stat
and Territories west OF the Missouri river and the
/ completion OF the lines OF railroad 10 Denver have
| enabled the deEartment 10 OBTAIN Tue EN- many
| OF the suppl es lor those secMons, and 1t is
evident that the trans pofaton now necessary from
| ocean TO Cc5an win sCOa cease. Durilg tue year
! Is 9'lo Large quantities OF supplies were furnshed
/ for ine Indian Department Tor Indians OH reserva-
ions on the upper MissOri river and IN ne In iian
Territory. The expenses thereby incurred, ain cunt
ing 10 S6)U,0Je are 10 be refunded and bills here
ior are being prepared lor presentation TO tile In
| dian Department.
| IN. Sums appropriated by Congress at its last
session Ior temporary relief oil the poor and dstute
| In the District OF COlumoa were expended Ii the
pIfcasc OF iood, lue and clothing. Th,se supplies
were distributed only OH the tecoGImea atIon o! the
washington ASSOCIATION for the Improvement OF the
/ Condition Of the oor, the National Freedmen
Reilef ASSOCIATION, or The Industrial Home sch o
| IN such quantities as were necessary 20 prevent
actual suffering. Efforts were Dlaae to induce those
seeking 70 procure labor, ana when secured al
distance Ihcy were ratloned TO their dcSt nat on
| In All cases the supplies were purchased IRON tue
| lowest bidder. or at the cheapest marAet price.
The nnnber OF rations ISSUED was 557, 7j, Ut cos,
| OF S20,3cS. Coal, wood and COKE wcte ISSUED
/
| Tie total sum disbarsed was z5,u77, leaving Q
balance Oi S4922 stiil on hand.
The number Of commissioned medical officers for
| duty with the troops OH June so, 1870, VAS 141
There were III military posts besides many Getach
ments, each requiring the servic OF IN deal on
| Ger. Hence CONTRACT surgeons were employed, the
number Oh regular medical oncers being made iuate
| Economy would pc subserved bv hii:ng the vacan
| ces IN the mealcal starf ami increased efficiency
| gained III this branch OF the service. The emp. .oy
ment or contract surg sons must contln should the
! existing law be unrcpeIled.
During the past year the army has been paid with
regularity aud prenptness. Tne prcscnC Number OF
paymajter5 Is hity-siX, tue number authorized by
law OIL July Is, lo55, Is Sixty Gut no vacancies can
ue lled necessity Tor Lie e.nDiol lmeal Of nu IL
ber seemingly OUT OF proportlon to the force to be
! paid Is created ny the existence or SO nany military
posts and The dstibc ton OF regiments over so great
1 an extent OF country. While the reduction ul the
| army dnnnsneS the NUMBER ol men 70 be paid 1
numDer or stations contIlualy increases ani de-
mans the constant service vi those III Tor duty tc
keep up the payments, and In this connection IL ma
be remarked tnat this distribution OF posts vas
Drealtns oil cOuutr, accounts for At lrepondcra ICE
OF the St.u CORPS In our q n