The Rock Island daily Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1872-1873, 1872-12-03

port made by the commission appointed
to investigate the Sutro tunnel has been
transmitted to Congress. The observa
tions and report 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 the exchange of reports
with Canada, and similar exchange of
observations is contemplated with the
West India Islands.
ARMY REQUIREMENTS.
The favorable attention of Congress is
invited to the fol owing recommendations
of the Secretary of War: A discontinu-
ance of the appointment of extra Lleuten-
ants to serve as Adjutants aud Quarter
masters; the adoption of code providing
a specific penalty for well defined offenses
so that the inequality Of sentences al iu1g-
ed by court martial may be ad djuSted; the
consolidation of accounts under which ex-
penditures are made as measure of
economy; re appropriation of the mon
ey for the construction of a depot at San
Antonio, the title to the site being now
perfected; a special act placing the
cemetery at the city of Mexico en- the
same basis as other national cemeteries;
authority to purchase sites for military
posts in Texas; the appointment of COM
mssary serrgeants from non commission
ed officers as q measure for securing the
better care and protection of supplies an
appropriation OF the catalogue and tables
of the anatomical section of the army
medical Museum; transportation OF
the amoant for the manufacture of breech
loading arms should the selection be SO
delayed by the board of off GERS as to
| leave the for mcr appropriation uneX-
pended al the close of the f h.cAl year the
sale of such arsenaIs east Of the Mssls-
slppi as can be spared and the proceeds
applied to the establishment of one large
arsenal OF construction and repair upon
| the Atlantic coast, and the purchase of
suitable sits for approving aud expert
mental ground for heavy ordnance the
abrogation of laws which deprive inven-
/ tors 10 the United States service from
/ deriving any benefit from their invention;
/ the repeal of the law prohibiting promo
/ tions in the staff corps; continuance of
the work upon the coast defences the
repeal of the 7th section of the act of
/ July 18th, 1866 taking from engineer
soldiers the per diem granted to other
/ troops Limitation of time for the pres
entation of subsistence supplies claims
under the act of July 4th, 1864 and a
modification in the mode of the selection
/ of cadets for the military academy IN or
der to enhance the usefulness of the acad-
eIny which is impaired by rea on Of the
/ large amount OF time necessarily eXpeni
{ ed in giving new cadets tn trough
( knowledge OF the mere elementary
branches of learning which they should
acquire before entering the academy
also an Appropriation for philosophical
apparatus and an increase IN the nu 4lbers
and the pay of the military academy.
INTER TRANSPORTATION.
The attention of Congress will be called
during its present session to various en-
Ierprises for the more certain and cheaper
transportation OF the constantly inereas-
ing surplus of the western aud southern
products to the Atlantic seaboard. The
subject is one that will force itself upon
the legislative branch of the government
sooner or later. and suggest therefore
that immediate steps BIZ taken to gain all
available inlorma-io and insure equit-
able and last legislation. A route to
connect the MIsSi slppl Valley with the
Atlantic at Charleston, ;. C., aud Sa-
vannah TIA, by water, by way OF the
Ohio and Tennessee rivers AMI canals and
slack water navigation TO the Savannah
and Oemulgee rivers has bsen surveyed
and report made by an accomplished
engineer officer of the army. Second
and third new routes will be proposed
tor the consideration OF Congress. namely:
by an extension of the kanawh4 and
James river canal 10 the Ohio and by the
extension of the Chesapeake aud Ohio
canal. sm net prepared to recommend
government aid to these or other enter
prises until it Is clearly shown that they
are not only of national interest bu- that
when completed they will be Of value
commensurate with their cost. That
production increases more rapidly than
the means OF transportation IN our coun-
try has been demonstrated by past ex
perience that the unprecedented growth
in population and the projects of the
who country will require addluo1al IA
cihties and cheaper means for the more
bulky articles OF commerce to reach tide
water aud market will be demand
ed in the near future Is equally
demonstrate. | would therefore suy-
gest either committee or commission tC
be authorized to consider this wholt
question and to report TO Congress a
some future dag for ltS better g1Idanct
IN legiSlatlng 90 the important subject
The railroads of the country have beer
rapidly extended during the hast few
years to meet the growing demand oi
producers and reflect much credit upoI
the capitalists and managers engaged II
their construction. In addition t. thes'
/ project 20 facilitate commerce by tht
building OF ship canal around Nlagar;
Falls on the United States side which hs
been agltated for many years will nI
doubt be called to your attention thl
session Looking TO the great future O
|, the country and the increasing demand
OF commerce it might be welt while ol
this subject not only to have examine
and report upon the various practicable
routes for connecting the Mississippi wit
: tide water on the Atlantic but the teasi
: bilitv ef al almost conunuaus Ian
locked navlgafion from Maine to tn
Cult of Mexico Such a route along ou
soast would be Of great value at ali time
and of Iuestimshle value in case of fol
elgn war. nature nd- bTONi16Q Lu
greater part of this route and the obsta
eles to be overcome are easily within tn
/ skill of the engineer, | have not allu lie
{ to this subject with the view of havin
any further expenditure of public none
/, at this time than may be Necessary t
! procure and place all the necessar
i information before Congress 10 an autheT
tic form to enable it hereafter if deeme
n practicable aad worthy to legislate c
S the subject without delay.
: NAVY DEPARTMENT.
:. The report of the Secretary of II
! navy herewith accompanying explain
!. fully the condition of this branch Of II
q public service, It's wants and deiclencie
; expenses Incurred during the past yei
: and appropriations for the same.
also gives complete history of the Sc
4 vices of the navy for the past year
n addition - its regular services. 1t
Il evident that unless steps are taken
n preserve our navy that in very few yea
n the United States will be the weake
: nation upon the ocean Of all the gre
mowers. With an energetic pFogre Ssi'