Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1872-12-10
convertible into gold at par.
WAR xTupgT

June 80, 1879, TO be s35 .87Q, os7 20.
showing a reduction in favor, of the
last fiscal year of s427, ss4.e2.
| The estimates for military appro.
lpriations for the next fiscal year end.
ing June, so, 1873, are SSS, sol, S7s.
The estimates of the chief engineers
are submitted separately, for fortified.
tons, river and harbor improvements,
for public buildings and grounds, and
for the Washington acqueduct.
| The affairs of the Freedmen's Blu.
reau have all been transferred to the
War Department, and regulations
have been put into execution for the
SPEEDY payment Of bounty pay &c,
due colored soldiers, properly coming
under that Bureau
All war accounts for money and
property prior TO 1871 have been ex-
amined and transmitted to the treas.
ry for final settlement.
During the fiscal year there has
been paid for transportation on rail
roads $l,S00.OoO, of which $s0,s57
was over the Pacific railroads. There
has been paid for transportation by
water, $62,537 $50, and by stage 50,
S97, 7s4; for the purchase of trans.
portation wagons, the hire of team.
sters, ~, &c, SO, 246, 500.64. About
S3l 100000 have been collected from
Southern railroads during the year,
leaving about $4,000, 900 still due.
The Quarter master has examined
and transmitted to the accounting
officers for settlement $36,7l7,272 OF
claims by loyal citizens for quarter
masters stores taken during the war:
subsisting sufferers to the amount of
SS,6o4,8l2 have been issued TO the
| Indians.
The annual average mean strength
of the army was 242570 white and
2,494 colored soldiers. The total
deaths for the year reported were
1897 white and 81 colored.
The distribution of the medical and
surgical history of the war is vet 10
be ordered by Congress. There rests
an absolute necessity for a medical
corps Of the full number established
by act of Congress of July 2sth, 1866,
there being now fifty nine vacancies,
while the number of successful can
dldates rarely exceeds eight or ten
in any one year.
RIVER AND hARBOR IMPROVEMENTS.
have been carried on with energy
and economy; though many are only
partially completed, the results have
saved to commerce many times the
amount expended.
| The increase of commerce, with
greater depth Of channels, greater
security in navigation, and the saving
of time, adds much to the wealth Of
the country, and increases the re-
sources of the government. The
bridge across the Mississippi river at
Rock Island has been completed, and
the proper sites haye been determin-
ed upon tor other bridges.
| The able and exhaustive epott
made by the commission appointed
to investigate the Sutro tunnel, has
been transmitted to Congress.
SIGNAL SERVICE
The observations and reports of
the signal Office have been continued.
Stations have been mainly at each of
the principal lakes, seaport and river
cities. Ten additional stations have
been established in the United States
and arrangements have been made
for the exchange of reports with Can.
ada, and similar exchange Of OBJ
servations is contemplated with the
West Indies.
MILITARY RECOMMENDATIONS.
The favorable attention of Con.
grees is invoked to the following re.
commentator Of the Secretary of
War; A discontinuance of the APP
pointment of extra Lientenants TO
service as Adiutants and Quarter
masters; the adoption of code pro.
viding specific penalties for well de-
fined offenses; also that the inequal-
| ity of sentences adjudged by court
martial; the consolidation Of az counts
under which expenditures are made,
as a measure of economy; reappro-
priatIon of the money for the construc-
ton OF depot at San Antoneo, the
title to the site being now perfected;
special act placing the cemetery at
the city Of Mexico on the same basis
rs other state cemeteries; giving au-
thority to purchase sites for military
posts in Texas; the appointment Of
| oorOantu crnr, mo-, ooO,n,;a.;oond "a,
GERS as measure for securing the
better care and protection of supplies;
an appropriation for the catalogues
and tables Of anatomical section of
the army measure; re appropriation
of the amount tor the manufacture of
breech loading arms, should the Sc
lection be so delayed by the board of
officers as to leave the former APP
preparation unexpended at the close
of fiscal year; the sale of such arsenals
east ofthe Mississippi as can be spar.
ed, and the proceeds applied to the
establishment of one large arsenal of
construction and repair upon the
Atlantic coast; the purchase of snit-
able site for approving and exper.
mental ground for heavy ordnance;
the abrogation Of laws which deprive
inventors in the United States service
from deriving any benefit from their
invention; the repeal of the law pro.
hibiting promotions in the staff corps;
a continuance of the work upon the
coast defences; the repeal OF the 18th
s. ction of the act of July 49, 1866,
taking from engineer soldiers the per
diem granted to other troops; limi.
tation of the time for presentation of
subsistence and supplies nnder act Of
July 4th, 1864; and modification in
the mode of the selection Of cadets
for the military academy, in order to
enhance the usefulness of that insti--
tuition, which is impaired by reason
OF the large amount of time necesari-
ly expended in giving new cadets a
thorough knowledge Of the mere ele-
mentarv branches of learuino. which