New-York tribune., 1871-11-21
TIE VAR UEPdRTWENT.
SYNOPSIS OF TIE ANNUAL REPORT.

SfNOlSlS OF THE ANNUAL KEPORf
The following summary gives the most i'm
portant and interesting facts contained the report
the War Department of its operations during pas
year. First interest this year the essentially
work Of the Signal Orps better known and appreciated
popularity the Weather Bureau" This latter work.
however out Of the military signaling. to which
during and since the the Government has wisely
given great attention. and it Ia for this that it Is
| under the custody Of the War Office
Great progress has been made by tho Signal Office In
lht HHysS8e6Ss Is In operation at Fort whppe va anJ
1t is recommended that the study be made Point
which shall enter into the decision of standing But
the great advance has been in the weather reports
r n" IN r" "rcee = Soy @ so Ths snn q" o" wn
scs and probabilities three times day has been
SnSs been a II" Pnn 5 G the po
blties 60 per cent have been verified Ivy the result and
jng the usefulness of the work But for tho necos
SIT the peTeentaGe Of ScIiitaiion n might have been
are tcicgraphea " Washington, colatcd and the dcduc
tions made furnish I'd te !isa Press at at r a. m
posed to extend the cynchrcna SYSTEM ~ ssrklng the
sia, or thS ssiidwioh Islands and matey to dSveop
an international system ShiSh sIa secure reports Of
Islands and the of South America. comnunica.
ton now had direct from the Signal Once at washing
ward to the coast Of China and Japan the one link Of
the Pacific cable hee wanted to grde H world To
accurate propheses of the weather Prof T. b. Maurys
Danger signals are now displayed from 20 ports on
the Atlantic Gulf and Lakes. The rise and fall Of West
so stations throughout the country TO extend the bene
fits Of this system to the agricultural community.
this means to more than pay tho total expenditure for
the weather service.
been Appropriated and dsb,rscd during the year. while
there remain TO be settled 5o;5 money accouuts, and
ents men in the hands Of bonded officers and the necessity
under the present circumstances, Of awarding extra
compensation to acting assistants that the duty may be
sure not to be shirked.
During the year. 1893 horses we're purchased for the
cavalry. ut cost Of siG6Ccs "a tLe average price in
pa1tmen Of the Platte sis5 10: Departments Of the
Missouri s142 90; Department of California $lG2 40.
Transportation or the year has cost sl2S,slG 49, Of
which 3G360 "a was for services over the Pacfc Rail
OF the Southern railroads which were allowed to pur-
full with interest. amounting to t 65,567 o3 Twenty
four still in debt to the United States the amount
War for Qual ltermastcr stores from loyal citi
Sees ses ssSS fos
costing "a On 62s are suspended and on 1895 no
vate and post cemeteries. The number OF graves IL
lore reported have been discovered and the REMAINS
have been transferred to national cemeteries.
The . army be varied according TO varied hyrcno
ally well supplied during the year.
beef mado in II different States and
Territories The lowest WAS In Texas Al
Der pound, and the highest in Delaware, l8 ceuts per
pound The average contract price per pound for
whole country % cents The cost price OF
Iations for tho whole country 10 5G cents each he
ing decrease from last year OF TO0 cents These
Ignrcs valuable in connection with the general cost
OF ltvn.. '-'-'
The Chief of Ordnance reports TO the arsenals ETC.
and suggest that the armament of the state troops
should be the that VI the National forcesSwh
breec loading small arms He requests legisla
tun the HIDipCt OF armin0
OF the United States reports that heavy caun0n for
coast decnses much wanted. and that castrOn
ia not believed to be suitable for hehvy rI1cd guns
The Paymaster- General has dsburSed tl5
the army uncudIng West POint), and o. to vol
for back pay and bOuntes. The army has been
fully paid.
The health Of the army by the report OF tho Surgeon
General has not been good last year. the deatrate
being II per 1000 the proportion Of deaths from all
to treated death TO l22 69ls
persons have been furnished with artificial limbs or
oO Ie7O and 1881 under previous acts. The surgical
records include 1913 eases and the Medical Museum
numbers 501S specimens Part l. OF the Medical
and Surgical History OF the War is completion,
and will be before Congress during Its coming
sion There vacancies IN the medical service,
and IL recommended for the good Of the service that
restrictions on appointments be now removed ."
Gen. Howard concludes his report ON the Freedmen's
Bureau by recommendation that 10 be discontinued, tho
Washington Hospital being placed under charge Of the
Territorial Government The reports throughout show
--------- ---------