, 1872-12-03

have been established in the United States, and
arrangements have been made for an exchange
OF reports with Canada, and similar exchange
Of observations is contemplated with the West
India Islands,
The favorable attention Of Congress- is invited
to the following
RECOMMENDATIONS
OF the Secretary OF War: 4 discontlnuance OF
the appointment Of extra Lieutenants to serve
as Adjutants and Quartermasters; the adoption
for weeheG eHaS PdS0E ouces specific So thp sn ths
irregularity of sentences adjudged BY court
martial may be adjusted; the consolidation OF
accounts under which expenditures are made, as
2 measure Of economy; reappropriation OF
the money for the construction Of depot at
fected; special act placing the cemetery at the
city Of Mexico on the same basis as other
national cemeteries; authority to purchase sites
1or military posts in Texas; the appointment Of
cMofn1nlssary M sergants from non-conamissioacd
ofhcers,. as q measure for securing the better
care and protection Of supplies an appropria-
1loh Tor the catalogues and tables Of the anatomi
cal section OF the army medical museum:
reapproprlation Of the amount for the manufac-
tnre OF breech-loading arms, should the se1ec-
tlon be SO delayed by the Board Of Officers to
leave the former appropriations unexpended at
the close Of the fiscal year; the sale of such
areenals east Of the Mississippi as can be spared,
and the proceeds applied to the establishment OF
one large a. arsenal Of construction and repair
upon the Atlantic coast, and the purchase Of
suitable site for proving and experimental
ground for heavy ordnance; the obrogation OF
the laws which deprive inventors in the United
States service from deriving any bene-
tt from their F.. invention: the repeal Of y
the law prohibiting promotions in the staff
corps; q continuance Of the work upon the coast
defences; the repeal Of tho seventh section of
the act Of July IS, 1865, taking from engineer
aoldiors the per diem granted to other troops 8
Limitation of time for the presentation Of sub
sistence supplies under act Of July 4, 1854,
and modification in the mode Of the selection
Of cadets for the Military Academy in order to
enhance the usefulness Of the academy, which is
impaired BY reason Of the large amount of time
necessarily expended in giving new cadets a
branches of learning, which they should acquire
before entering the Academy; also an appropria-
tion for philosophical apparatus and m increase
in the number and the pay Of the Military Aca-
deny Band.
CHEAPER TRANSPORTATION.
The attention OF Congress vii be called, dur
ing 1ts present session, to various enterprises
OF the constantly increasing surplus Of the
Western aud Southern products to the Atlantic
sea border, The subject is one that will force
itself upon the Legislative branch Of the Govern
ment sooner or later, and suggest, therefore,
that immediate steps be taken to gain all avail
legislation. One route to connect the Mdssis-
slppl valley with the Atlantic at charleston, =.
q, and Savannah, Ca, by water, by the way OF
the Ohio and Tennessee rivers and canals, and
Ocmulgee rivers, has been surveyed and re-
port made by an accomplished engineer
officer Of the army. Second and third
new routes will be proposed for the considers
tion Of Congress, namely, by an extension Of the
Kanawha and James River Canal to the Ohio,
md h<rf In av+n rf +hn GhaEerna-a a pnd
Ohio Canal.
am not prepared to recommend Government
aid to these or other enterprises, until it is clear
II shown that they are not only Of national in
terest, but that when completed they will be OF
value commensurate with their cost. That the
production increases more rapidly than the
means Of transportation in our country has been
demonstrated By past experience. That the un-
precedented growth in the population and pro-
iectB of the whole country will require addi-
tiona1 facilities and cheaper means for the
more bulky articles OF commerce to reach tide
water and market, will be demanded in the
near future, is equally demonstrable: I would,
therefore, suggest Committee or Commission
to be authorized to consider the whole question,
and to report to Congress at some future day
for its better guidance in legislating on the i'm
portant subject.
The railroads OF the country have been rap
idly extended during the last few years to meet
the growing demands OF producers, and reflect
much credit upon tho capitalists and managers
engaged in their construction.
In addition to these, project to facilitate
commerce by the building Of 8 ship canal around
Niagara Falls, Oh the United States side, which
has been agitated for many years, vii, no doubt,
be called to your attention this session. Look
ing to the great future Of the country, the IN
creasing demands OF csmmerce, it might be well,
while On this subject, not only to have examined
and report upon the various practicable routes
for connecting the mississippi with L.. the tide
water on the Atlantic: but the Feasibility OF an
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