National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1872-12-03

The geological exploration between tlo ~.
ezra Nevada and eastern slope Of inc hOcy
mountains will probably be compiotcsa " u.o
close NJ the present seasOn for hold opoit-
tiOns. Tho results II this work arc o. INC
very highest value N the departments OF &C.
OlOgy, topography, and mining engineering
The exploration In Nevada, Utah, and Arinoha
was continued until December Of last year,
when a preliminary report Of tile results
aUOrding valuable information for mining, ah
well ~ iur military operations, and TO imuii-
grants, was submitted to Congress aud pub
lisicd, The luld-wUrk, which, In addition 20
the usual subjects Of observation comprises
the careful determination Of an astronomical
base, was resumed this summer ~ soon a. the
appropriation wac available.
In addition to these special wOfks ut cN-
plOtatlon the officer ui CngiucUrs Gefving on
the STAFF Of the generals commanding diYis-
Ions aud departments have made important
reconnaissance such ~ that Of tho Upper
Yellowstone river aud that Of tho Cintah
mountains, and have made many Contfibu-
lions to the topography N the Territories Of
tho United States.
In compliance with the act approved March
49, 1872, authorizing the survey and marking
Uf the boundary between the territory Of the
United States aud the possessions oi Great
Britain frum the Lake ut tho Wood to the
summit Of the Rocky mountains, four officers
NJ engineers were detailed Tor that purpUsc
and ordered tn report to the Secretary NJ
state for duty. The survey Il now In prog
ross.
The duties Of the Signal Office In Obserya-
tons and reports for the benefit Of commerce
and agriculture have been continued through
out the year with gratifying success. Stations
have been maintained at each Of the principal
lake, seaport, and river cities. Tho display
Of bulletin reports, Of reports at the river
stations, giving the rise and fall Of tho prin-
cipal rivers, Of tho large wcathcr-maps show
RhumtTiUfF hFlH
changes at the different reports; and, hnally,
at designated stations, the exhibition Of day
or night signals, on occasions Of supposed
especial dagger, has been regularly made.
Since the date Of the last annual report ten
additional stations have been established
within the United States.
A comparison " the tri-dally forecasts, or
probabilities as they have been styled, with
the meteOrlc condition aftcrward reported,
and, 80 far Us known, has given an average
Of 90 per cent Rs verified up to November !,
1871, Since that date, to the present time,
October /, 1871 the average Of Notifications
has been 20 $40 per cent
The difficulty Of telegraphic communication
with the stations was greatest, and was most
seriously felt, during the months Of July and
August. II then not unfrequcntly happened
that the most Important aud widespread Of
the press probabilities" I. g, those drawn at
midnight from the midnight reports, vert
made In the absence Of any current telc-
graphic information at that hour due from
the observers west or south Of the Allogha-
MES. II Is gu this section on which the Office
Is most dependent for the intelligence which
suggests the mcteOric changes impending In
the Eastern. Middle and Southern States, aud
upon the lakes.
The practical results Of this branch Of the
service, with all its errors and lmpoTfections,
can be summed up, II Is believed, In the state
ment that since the Inauguration Of its dutics
"a NN aud rFnttnupr1a att haa NEa
the territory Of the United States, or ragged
along the length nf Its lakes, its gulf or sea-
coast shores, o. In their course such storms
have sometimes done, without fair and gen
cral premonitlOn given at the great majority
of the points endangered To any who cared
to seek or heed them.
Since the date of the last annual report,
arrangements were made with the Chief Of
| the Dominion Meteorological Bureau'Of Cana
da for an exchange Of reports with his office
| as rapidly a. the system may extend In the
Dominion. Arrangements Of similar de-
scription are contemplated for the exchange
Of observations by telegraph with various
points In the West India Islands. These ar
rangeinents will be carried into effect, II pos
sibe, before the opening Of the stormy spring
| season.
Since January 1, 1872, statements Of the
/ changes In the depths Of water In the princi-
pal Western rivers, being in direct relation to
the meteOrlc changes, have been reported
/ daily from all stations established upon those
rivers. These reports are carefully prepared,
| and have been received with a marked degree
Of interest. II Is hoped that as the number Of
stations Increases and communication with
the proper authorities Is organized. a portion
Of the great problem Of the protection Of the
| river commerce from Ice aud frcshcts and OF
the lower river lcvccs from broakage and
overflow, with the consequent disasters, will
| be solved.
| IfnJar a., o,, a,,,.,,,A T,,. IN to-l al,
service before technically limited TO the
lakes and sea coasts was extended throughout
the interior, and many of the agriculture
societies In the country have been requested
TO appoint a permanent committee to cOufcl
with the chief signal officer, and 10 take II
conjunction with him such steps, or 10 rec
Ommond such action, as might be deemed dc
sirable to accomplish the objects Of that act
In addition to the above committees Tefcrrct
To thirty-cight 1857 boards uf trade au,
chambers Of commerce have standing me
, THEOLOGICAL committees, which are IN dircC
communication with the chief signal Of
, fcer.
/, A personal visit Ia West Point On lnspcC
i | ton Of the operations Of the academy Il
/ | June last, and the report Of the Board q
| Visitors, whose Investigations were YER
: thorough disclosed q satisfactory state u
. proficiency In discipline and study. Since IN
|, | last annual report there has been no brcaC
Of discipline or IMPROPERLY on the part q
A cadets calliHg for the exercise Of high
= or authority than that Of the Superintendent
and academic staa.
7 The number Of failures TO master the acadt
y mic course, including original reflections
y were 81 the number Of admissions %; II
: total number Of cadets now at the academy
~ 80. There arc SO vacancies, caused by fai
a ures upon preliminary examinations, d.
" charge of cadets for deficiency, and III
: failure Of Congressional Representatives
1 - i 4 a.. q.
~ | tembcr examination, The standard OF pr
~ hciency In the cops Of cadets has much IN
~ proved, but great obstruction to the usetu
a ness which the academy might otherwise a
tain In fitting scientific and highly educate
young men Tor tho public service Is exp
~ rienced because Of the large amount of tin
=, necessarily expended In giving new cadets
u thorough knowledge Of the mere elemental
- branches Of learning, which they should ha
= acquired before entering the academy. U
~ | der the present system large percentage
the candidates who seek admission TO {
nc academy fail In their preliminary examiu
u ton, or arc found Incapable Of mastering I
US academic course during the first year.
~ Many Of those who go to West Point vi
VIC the prestige Of high scholarship, obtained ell
where, fall, under examination, In the vC
ny rudlments Of an education. That such tailT
* cannot be charged TO too severe eXamiI
I've | tIon Is shown by the fact that the qualiiI
TO those established by perhaps majority Of I
ve- higher scholastic Institutions Of the count
EN- aud the examinations are not conducted nj
to rigldly than Is absolutely necessary. q
the siderable modification Of the existing mode
ase selection OF cadets seems 10 be demanded,
els, the only efiectua remedy for this evil and
the this connection attention Ia invited 10 tho
an port Of the superintendent OF the acadeu
In which furnishes some interesting data on
mt subject of admission.
I'M The department OF philosophy Is very
bo tltuto of necessary apparatus Tor instruct
Frs, but II Ia hoped Congress will supply this
cps pOrtant want through liberal appropriate
Ner The subject Of the revision Of the acadel
ldl- regulations now under consideration,
Bile many changes which experience has shown
! OF be advisable will be made.
lch Legislation by Congress Is also needed
able aid OF the military academy band, which
now the only one provided for by law,
une the pay Of which experience has shown to
for wholly insufficient Attention Is invited
ippl the recommendation Of the superintend
erty for the Increase Of It's numbers and pay.
, Of 1t Is u matter Of great satisfaction that
nsn appropriation liberal IN amount has l.
as made ,by Congress for the erection of II
the proof building, u portion Of which Is for
rch use of the War Department. The neces