The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1872-12-20
Annual Reports # the Secretary
0fWar and Secretary Of
the Treasury.
The Report OF the Comptroller OF the
Currency.
Postal Telegraphy - Views OF the
Postmaster General.
THE ARMY.
Summary Of the Report Of Secretary Bel.
KNAPP.

KNAPP.
The report CT the Secretary of War shows
that the expenditures of that department for
the fiscal year ending June so. 1872, were
s35,3'2, 1920 being reduction OF 94z7,-
o3f.62 on the previous year.
The total estimate for military appropria-
tons for the fiscal year ending June 80, 1874,
Is s33. S0l ,37S.7S.
The estimates of the Chief Engineer are
submitted separately, as presented by that
officer, namely:
Notifications and other works of
defonbo. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 3,IZ5,UOO
River and harbor improvements. 1902, 500
Public buildings aud grounds and
Washington squeduct .......... Gl2,024
Total. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. SIG, G39, S24
About one-sixth of the army is stutioned
in the Southern States. The Secretary states
that " 1t Id hoped that an improved condition
of affans IN that section NAV permit the
withdrawal, at an early day, of portion of
the forces"
The expenditures for the service of the
Quartermaster's Department during the year
have been Sl2, 517 ,G3l.37.
The number of artillery horses purchased
during the year il estimated at 3,277 mules,
2O9; number OF horses i'll service, 9,720 {;
mules. S,758.
The expenditures for clothing du:ing the
year were 1907, $40 SO for railroad transprta-
tion, III 300, 600; wagon transportation, ST.
100, 600; water transportation, sC26, 1882 |;
stage transportation, S48, 975 "a.
Under the act Of Congress providing for
the relief of loyal citizens III certain loyal dis
trcts OF the South the Quartermaster GEN
eral has examined and transmitted to the ac-
counting officers for settlement 665 claims for
Quartermasters stores taken during the war,
amounting as allowed, to 1867, 102.72; 274
others, amounting to 1896, l00.75, have been
rejected. There are still 1851 Of these
claims on iile amounting i'll the aggregate to
$685., 006.56.
The "A National Cemeteries contain the ro-
mains of BIZ, 1862 deceased soldiers. Fifty
eight of these cemeteries have been perma-
nently Enclosed.
Subsistence stores to the amount Of 9192
lSG.ll have been issued TO the Indian tribes Of
the West.
The monthly army reports of sick and
wounded during the year represent an annual
mean strength of "a l0l white and 2, 494 col
ored soldiers. The total number of deaths
during the year was 367 white aud 81 colored
soldiers.
The Rock Island bridge has been completed,
aud will be immediately opened for railroad
and wagon use.
In conformity to the two acts of Congress,
passed last spring, relating To the bridging OF
the Mississippi! river. the proper site for the
bridge at La Crosse, Wis, has been deter
mined.
A satisfactory state of proficiency in discip-
line and study at the West Point Military
Academy is reported. The number of failures
10 master the academic course, including
original reflections, WAS 81 the number Of ad-
missions, 30; the total number of cadets now
at the academy Is 240. There are 50 vacan-
cles, caused by failures upon preliminary eY-
| amlnations, disc barge OF cadets for deficiency,
and the failure of Congressional representa-
tlves TO select suitable candidates for the past
September examination. The standard of
proficiency III the corps of cadets has much
improved, but great obstruction to the use-
fulness which the academy might otherwise
attain IN fitting scientific aud highly educated
young men for the public service is expert
enced because OF the large amount OF time
necessarily expended in giving new cadets a
thorough knowledge of the mere elementary
branches OF learning, which they should have
acquired before entering the academy. Under
the present system large percentage of the
candidates who seek admission to the academy
fail IN their preliminary examination. or are
| found incapable of mastering the academic
course during the first year. Many Of those
| who so to West Point with the prestige of
| high scholarship, obtained elsewhere, fail, I'M
| der examination. in the very rudments of an
/ education. That such failure cannot be
| charged TO too severe examination Is shown
! by the fact that the qualifications demanded
| OF candidates are less than those estabhs shed
! by perhaps majority of the higher scho as
| tic institutions OF the country and the ex-
amlnatlons are not conducted more rigidly
! than Is absolutely necessary. A considerable
! mobilization of the existing mode of selection
OF cadets seems to be demanded, as the OILY
effectual remedy for this evil.