The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1872-12-11


81 About $40. 900 have been col
lected from southern railroads during
the year, having about si,0O0, 900
: still due.
The Quartermaster has examined
and transmitted to the accounting
officers. for settlement s36T.lT2 y Of
claims BY loyal citizens for Quarter
maSers' stories taken during the war.
Subsistence and supplies 30 the
amount of SSS.Ois u have been H.
sued % the Indian The annual
average main strength Of the army
was 24,l0I white, and 2.494 colored
soldiers. The total deaths for the
year reported were thirty-six white
and ifty-four eoiored The distri-
; button Of the medical and
surgical history Of the war IS yet 70
be ordered by Congress.
Il There exists an absolute necessity
for medical corps Of the full number
established BY act of Congress Of
july 2sth, 1866, there being now
fifty-nine vacancies, and the number
Of successful candidates rarely ex-
ceeds eight or ten in any one year.
RIVER AND HAEBOR INPRoyENES
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 chan
nels, greater security in navigation
and the saving Of time, adds millions
to the wealth Of the country and in
creases the resources Of the Govern
ment The bridge across the Mis-
s;ssippi River at Rock Island has been
completed, and the proper site has
been determined upon for the bridge
at Lacrosse
The able and exhaustive report
made by the Commission appointed
10 investigate the Sutra tunnel has
been submitted to Congress.
The observations and reports Of
the Signal Office have been continued
Stations have been maintained at
each of the principal lake, seaport
and river cities. Ten additional
stations have been established in the
United States, and arrangements
have been made for an exchange Of
reports with Canada, and a similar
exchange of observation is cOntem-
plated with the West India Islands.
RECOMMENDATION OF THE SECRETARY
OF WAR.
The favorable attention Of Con-
gress is invited to the following rec
concentrations Of tile Secretary Of
War: A discontinuanee of the APP
pOintment of extra lieutenants to
serve as Adjutants and Quartermas-
ters; the adoption OF code provid-
ing specific penalties for well-defined
offences, so that the inequality Of
sentences adjudged by court-martial
may be adjusted; the consolidation
of accounts under which expenditures
are made as = measure Of economy;
the construction Of depot at San
Antonio, the title 10 the site being
now completed; special act placing
the cemetery at the City Of Mexico
on the same basis as other national
cemeteries; authority to purchase
sites for military posts in Texas; the
appointment of eommissary sergeants
from non-commissioned officers rs I
measure for securing the better care
and protection of supplies; an apprO-
priation for the publication of the
catalogue and tables Of the anatOmi-
cal section of the army medical mu-
scum; a reappropriation of the
amount for the manuf cture of breech
loading arms, should the selection be.
so delayed by the board of officers as
to leave the former appropriation un-
expended at the close Of the fiscal
year the sale of such arsenals east
of the Mississippi as can be spared,
and the proceeds applied to the es-
tablishment of one large arsenal of
construction and depot, upon the At
lantic coast, and purchase of a suita-
ble site for proving and experiment
tai ground for heavy ordnance, the
adoption of laws which deprive in
ventors in the United States service
from deriving any benefit from their
inventions; the repeal of the law pro-
hibiting promotions in the staff; 4
continuance Of the work upon the
coast defenses; the repeal Of the sew
enth section of July Is, 1866, taking
from the engineers and soldiers the
per deim granted to the other troops;
= limitation Of time for the presenta-
tiOn Of the old war claims for sub
sistence and supplies under the act
of July 4th, 1854, and modification
in the mode of the reelection of cadets
for the Military Academy, in order
to enhance the usefulness of the
Academy, which is inspired by rea-
son of the large amount of time nee
essarily expended in giving new ca
diets thorough knowledge Of the
more elementary branches Of learn
ing, which they should acquire before
entering the academy; also, an ap-
preparation for a philosophical ap-
paratus, and an increase in the num-
bers and pay of the Military Aeade-
my Band.
CHEAP TRANSPORTATION TO THE SEA-
BOARD
The attention of Congress will be
called during the present session to
various enterprises for the more GER
tain and cheaper transportation Of
the constantly increasing surplus of
tue Western and Southern products
to the Atlantic seabOard. The sub
iect is one that will force itself on
the legislative branch of the Govern
ment sooner or later, and suggest
therefore that immediate steps be
taken to gain all available informa-
ton to insure equal and just legisla-
ton. A route to connect the
Valley with the Atlantic,
at Charleston, South Carolina, and
Georgia, BY water, by the
way of the Ohio and Tennessee riv-
ers. and canals and slackwater navi-
uafiOn tn the Savannah and 0puui-