The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1872-12-13

The Quartermaster has examined and
transmitted to the accounting officers
for settlement 1867, ,17272 OF claims by
loyal citizens for quartermaster's stores
taken during the war subsistence sup
plies to the amount OF SS,90l ,Sl2 have
been issued TO Indians. The annual
average mean strength OF the army was
"a, ,10l white, and 2, ,494 colored soldiers.
The total deaths for the year reported
were 1867 white and 81 colOred. The dis.
tribution of the "Medical and Surgical
History of the War" is yet to be ordered
by Congress. There exists an absolute
necessity for medical corps of the full
number established by act of Congress
of July 2S, 1866, there being now fifty.
nine vacancies and the number OF sue
cessful candidates rarely exceeds eight
or ten In any one year. The 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 Of
navigation, and the saving OF time,
adds millions to the wealth Of the coun-
try, and increases the resourcss OF the
Government. The bridge scfosS the
hlfCIS NJ lrSh ioiohh, iho
been completed, and the proper site has
been determined upon for the bridge
at Lacrosse. The able and exhaustive
report unade by the Commission ap-
pointed to investigate the Sutro Tunnel
has been transmitted 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 ss.
tabii.hed IN the United States, and ar
raugements have been made for an ex.
change of reports with Canada, and
similsr exchange of observations Is con.
tempiated with the West India i5and'.
RECOMMENDATIONS.
The favorable attention Of G C,ngress
is invited to the following recommen.
dations of the Secretary Of War: A dis
continuance of the appointment ofextra
lieutenaut5 to serve as adjutants and
the adoption of code
providing specific penalties for we'll
defined offence, 80 that the inequality
ofsentence5 adjudged by courtsmartial
may be adjusted /; the consolidation OF
accounts under which expenditure, are
made, as a measure of economy; = reap.
preparation of the money for the con-
struction of depot at San Antonio, the
title to the site being now perfected; a
special act placing the cemetery at the
City of Mexico on the same basis ~
other national cemeteries authority TO
purchase sites for military posts in
Texas the appointment of mmissary
sergeants from non. commissioned Off
GERS as measure for securing the better
care and protection OF supplies; an ap.
propriation for the publication OF the
catalogue and tables of the anatomical
section of the Army Medical Museum;
a transportation of the amount for ,hs
manufactures of breech loading ANS,
should the selection be so delayed hp ths
Board OF Officers as to leave the former
appropriation uneXpended at the cIn." Of
the fiscal year the sale of such arsedhls
east Of the Mississippi as can be spared,
and the proceeds applied to the eslab
lishment of one large arsenal 0f con-
struction and repair upon the Atlantis
coast, and the purchase of suitable
site for proving and experimental
ground for heavy ordnance; the abr0ga-
tion of laws which deprive inventors in
the United States service from deriving
any benefit from their inventions III.
repeal Of the law prohibiting promo
tiOns in the staff corps (; a continuance
of the work upon the coast defenceS the
repeal of the seventh section Of the acs
of July IS, 1866, taking from the engi-
neer soldiers the per diem granted 10
other troops; limitation 0I time for
presentation of old war claims for sub.
sistence supplies, under act Of Ju,y f..
1864, and modification in the m "a IT
the selection of cadets for the Milittrs
Academy, In order to enhance the use-
fulness of the Academy, which is im-
paired by reason of the large amount II
time necessarily expended in giving
new cadets thorough knowledge of the
more elementary branches Of lesrnlrz
which they should acquire before enit<-
ing the Academy; also an appruiifi<
tion for philosophical apparatus, aud "a
Increase in the Numbers aud pay of the
Military Academy band. The Attentions
of Congress will be called during i,s
present session to various enterpr sea
Tor the more certain and cheaper trap4.
pOI tation OF the constantly increas n (
| surplus of the Western aud Southern
pr Nducts to the Atlantic Seaboard. 'rhe
sui ject Is one that will force itself up -
thu legislative branch Of the Govern
met 20 Jner or later and suggest there
fore, that immediate steps be r,kel
to gain all available informtuon
to insure equable and just leSi,l>
tion. A route to connect the Missis-ippi
Valley with the Atlantic at Charleston
S. c., and Savannah, Ga, by water by
the way Of the Ohio and Tennessee
Rivers, and canals and slack water
navigation to the Savannah and Ocmul
gee Rivers, has besn surveyed II vi
report made by an accomplished .ugi-
neer officer of the army, second hnn
third. New routes will be proposed T i
the consideration Of Congress, nsm'I>
by al extension of the Kanawha IN
James River Canal to the Obi }, aud by
extension Of the Chesapeake aud Ohi'
Canal. l am not prepared to recommen'
Government aid to these or other enter
prises, until it is clearly shown lha
they are not only Of national Interest
but that when completed they will hl
of value commensurate with the!
cost. That production increases NOR
rapidly than the means softransportiiiO'
in our country has been demonstrates
by past experience; that the unprec ID
ented growth in population and pro
ducts of the whole country will require
additional facilities and cheaper one
for the more bulky articles of commerc
to reach tidewater and market will b
demanded in the near future is equal.
demonstrable. / would, therefore, sux
gest either committee or commissi1
to be authorized to consider the Who'll
question and report to Congress at som
future day for It's better guidance |
Legislature on this important suhjec
r The railroads of the country have bee
I. rapidly extended during the last fe,
g years to meet the growing demands {
r producers, and reflect much credit upo
> the capitalists and managers engage
a In their construction. In addition
these a project to facilitate commerc
' by the building of a ship canal aroun
l Niagara Falls ON the United States sid,
Q which has been agitated for many year
will no doubt be called to your atte'
: tion at this session. Looking to the gre
: future growth of the country, and Il
}, increasing demands of commerce,
!, might be well, while on this subject,n n
@ only to have examined ard report,
e upon the various practicable routes
l. connecting the Mississippi with It'd
/ water on the Atlantic, but the feasibll
t ty OF an almost continuous land locke