The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1872-12-13
THE WAR DEPARTMENT.


War Department for the fsca! year
ending June 30, 1871, to be 1886, 1885,
991 81, and for the fiscal year ending
June 80, 1872, to be s35, ,372 ,157. 20.
showing q reduction in taver of the
last fiscal year of 1927 1874 81.
The estimates for military appor-
tionments for the next fiscal year
ending June 80, 1873, are s33 ,S01 :
37S rs. The estimates of the Chief
of Engineers are submitted separate
ly for Notifications, for river and
harbor improvements, for public
buildings and grounds, and for the
Washington aqueduct.
The affairs of the Freedmen's Bu-
reau have all been transferred to the
War Department, and regulations
will be put into execution for the
speedy payment Of bounty and pay
due to colored soldiers properly
coming under that bureau.
All warrants for money and prop
erty issued prior to 1871, have been
examined and transmitted to the
Treasury for final settlement. Dur
ing the fiscal year there has bee,
pad for transportation on railroads
81 ,30O, ,00D, OF which ssU0,s57 was
over the Pacific railroad. For trans-
portation by water, s626 ,373 50, and
by stage 1915 81, and for the
purchase of transportation. animals
and wagons, hire of teamsters, etc,
1924, ,065 IA. About s3,7D5 have
been collected from Southern rail-
roads during the year, leaving about
81 900 ,00U still due.
The Quartermaster has examined
and transmitted to the acting officers
for settlement, 1867, ,172 ~ of claims
by loyal citizens for Quartermaster' g
stores during the war. Subsistence
supplies to the amount Of $500 ,4l2
have been issued to the Indians.
The annual average mean strength
of the army was 9,120 white, and
2.494 colored soldiers. The total
deaths for the year are reported at
3G7 white and 54 colored. The dis
tribution of medical and surgical
instruments has yet to be ordered by
Congress. There exists an absolute
necessity for medical corps Of the
full number established by the act oil
congress, July 2S, 1866, there bein g
now fifty-nine vacancies and the
number of successful candidates
rarely exceed eight or ten In any one
year.
INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS.
River and harbor improvement:
have been carried on with energy
and economy, though many are only
partially completed. The results
have saved TO commerce many time.
the amount expended. The increas.
of commerce with the greater depth o.
channels and greater security il
navigation, and the saving of tims
adds much to the wealth of thu
country and increases the resource:
of the Government. The bridg,
across the Mississippi river at Rocl
Island, has been completed, and ;
proper site has been determine
upon for bridge at La Crosse. Tb,
able and exhaustive report made b,
the com mittee appointed to investi
gate the Sutro Tunnel has been trans
mitted to Congress.
SIGNAL SERVICE.
The observations and reports O
the Signal Office has been continued
Stations have been maintained a
each of the principal lake ports an.
cities, ten additional stations hav
been established in the United States
and arrangements have been mad
for the exchange of report
with Canada, and similar exchang
of observations is contemplate witt
the West India islands.
RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE sEcRETAR,
OF WAR.
The favorable attention Of Congress
is invited to the following recommends
tions of the Secretary of War:
discontinuance of the appointment o
extra men to serve an Adjutants an,
Quartermasters; the adoption of cod
providing specific peuaity for well de
fined offences, that the inequality Q
sentence, adjudged by Courts Martial
may be adjusted; the considerations O
the accounts under which expenditure
are made as measure Of economy;
reappropriation of the money for con
struction OF a depot at San Aptonio, tn
title to the sile now being perfected
special act placing the cemetery at Cit
of Mexico on the same basis as othe
national cemeteries; authority to pur
chase sites for military posts in Texas
appointment of Commissary Sergeant
for non-commissioned officers as
measure for the security and better car,
and protection OF supplies; an appro
priation for catalogues; table of tn
anatomical section of arms and medi
cal museum; an appropriation of suff
eient amount for the manufacture G
breech-loading arms, should the selee
tion be SO formed by the board of off
GERS as to leave the former appropri;
tions expended at the close of the iiscs
year; the sales of such arsenals east q
the Mississippi as can be spared, an
the proceeds applied to the establish
lishmept of one large arsenal of COZ
struction and repair upon the Atlanti
coast, and the purchase of suitabl
site for an approving and experiments
ground for heavy ordnance; the abrog,
ton of laws which deprive inventors i
4 the United States service from derivin
benefits from their inventions; the RI
peal of law prohibiting promotions in tn
staff corps; continuance Of work upo
coast defences; the repeal of th
seventh section of the act cf Jul