Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-12-01

di .tribution OF the first part Of the Medical and
Surgical History Of the War, viz:
Sent TO Congressional committees As specimen II
Sen Rep, esentaii. .. 800
Sent L'6rsry q Congress .......-.......-. 50
To be issued BY Surgeon Gsneral's Office. ....i SIS
Total number Of copies printed. ..-....5 600
Tie second part OF the work is now going
through the press as rapidly as possible.
The recommendation made in former years Is
anatomical section of the Army Medical Mu-
scum be published in a style similar to Morton's
Crania Americana. A bill for this purpose
session, but failed to become law.
am compelled to repeat the statement made
in previous reports that very serious and in
cressing injury has resulted to the service from
the continued prohibition of appointments and
promotions in the Medical Corps. Thoroughly
educated medical men. in selecting the Army
as an occupation, are actuated by the reasona-
BILE prospect of promotion, but to render 1t i'm
possible for them ever to advance In rank is to
deter many desirable men from becoming can
didates. call attention most earnestly TO the
statement OF the Surgeon General as to the
pressing necessity for such legislation as will
secure to our officers and soldiers the efficient
attendance in wounds and sickness which the
Government should provide, and which will
make position in the Medical Corps of the
Army now, as formerly, an object of ambition
to the best educated and best qualified young
men in the profession. There are now "a va
cancies in that corps, viz: 2 assistant medical
purveyors, surgeons, &c assistant surgeons,
and medical store keeper. In my Judgment
it is absolutely necessary for the welfare of the
service that the corps be opened to appoint
ment and promotion.
The Paymaster-G General strongly urges the
necessity of providing by legislation for an in
much reduced by the operation of the
act of March 8, 1863, PROHIBITING new
spI continents and promotions in certain staff
corps and departments. The number
nf nav ms Gf auth zR1 nv
ganiZation act Of July %, 1850, was sixty.
There are now but forty-four in service. The
Paymaster- General recommends that the num-
Der be fixed by law at ffty-two. and that the
sixth section of the act of March B, 1869, be re-
pealed, and promotions and new appointments
be allowed.
greater period than thirty days be alio we'd to an
Off Ger on leave of absence without reduction of
pay. Thirty days barely suffices to enable an
officer to travel from ana to his remote station
in the West.
1t is apparent that the act approved May IS,
1872, concerning the pay of enlisted men and
establishing system of deposits, has proved
of much benefit to the soldier. The number of
assertions has not been reduced to as great an
extent as had been hoped, but still that number
was five hundred less than in the year ending
j June so, 1871. 1t would be difficult to devise
legislation better calculated to encourage re-
enlistment, reward faithful service, and dimin-
ish desertien, and it is believed its ultimate
effect will be to heighten the tone OF the whole
Ii appears from the report of the Paymaster
General that the average amount of deposits
per company made by enlisted men during the
amounts Of deposits per company were made in
the Departments Of Arizona and Columbia. In
these departments there was the greatest
amount OF field operations. 1t may be safely
inferred, then, that more deposits will be made
by the enlisted men in time of war than n time
of peace; and this leads to the conclusion that
had a wise system of deposits been in operation
Government would have had the handling of
many millions of dollars for several years. Dur
ing the last years of the war there were about
IA 900 companies of troops employed, which
would give, at the rate of 81 500 deposited by
each company, S2l ,000, 900 per annum.
The Corps Of Engineers has been actively
engaged upon the defensive works of our coasts;
upon river and harbor improvements, and the
survey for them, and for the protection of the
navigable waters OF the United States against
whether from bridges or other
survey OF the lakes; upon surveys for the de-
fenses of the coasts; upon military SURVEYS and
reconnoissances in the interior; upon geograph-
lcal and geological explorations; upon public
buildings and grounds in the District of Column
bia; upon the construction of lighthouses, and
upon the demarkation of the boundary between
the United States and Great Britain.
The works projected and approved for the
modification and Strengthening of our sea- coast
defeDses and Notifications have been advanced
with rapidlty consistent with economy and
bors now contain quite number of platforms
ready for their ornaments of guns of the largest
calibers. Heavy guns mounted in covered po-
sitions along the shores of the inlets to our har-
bors, must always be the basis OF any success
full defense, and the works projected ard in
course of co Instruction should be prosecuted TO
and be suitably armed.
The Battalion of Engineers numbers 3n8 en-
listed men, and is stationed at the Military
A academy for instruction of cadets, and at VIII
letts Point, New IerK Harbor, where it forms
he gel nn nj fnr IN daft NJ ban yxo.
our harbors, and the guards and workmen for
the care and distribution of engineer euuip-
ments. During the past summer a number of
have served with ad vantage in the
and geOdetic explorations. The
asked for the engineer depot and
post are recommended to Congress, and the
TOT one chief musician and
two principal musicians for the battalion APP
proved.
With the small appropriations granted for
trials with torpedoes, the Investigations upon
this subject have been continued, to the bene-
lit of our system of submarine mines. This ac
cessOry for the defence of our harbor in recent
years has developed into one Of great import
ance among the maritime powers, and to inves-
tigate the recent electrical methods and systems
Of torpedoes, as well as to procure certain ma
terials, two officers of engineers were sent during
tie summer to Europe. The results of their
mission are the collection Of valuable informa-
ton on this subject, and saving of expenditure
to the government.
The river and harbor improvements mem
toned In my last annual report have been con-
tinued, and the works and SURVEYS Connected
Herewith have been carried on during the past
year with vigor. Detailed Information in re-
gard to each specific improvement, and the re-
suits of surveys directed to be made by the
river and hSrbor appropriation acts, NAV be
found in the report of the Chief of Engineers.
The improvement of our rivers and harbors
consists, chiefly, in giving increased width and
depth to existing channel-ways and basins, and
protecting them, or in creating new channels
and basins and giving them protective works.
The operations to this end comprise the removal
Of distractions of various kinds such as rock in
place and powders, bars of clay, sometime
indurated; OF gravel, sand, and other alluyial
matter; of RATS, often extending from the sur.
face Of the river nearly to the bottom, formed
by masses of drifting trees, or the accumulation
of slabs, edgings, and sawdust; of timber and
other constructions placed in channel-ways to
obstruct or close them the construction of
bikes, dams, wing dams, and revetments, and
the building of canals, break waters, and piers,
all tending to promote the general interests of
commerce and navigation, by furnishing in
creased facilities of communica alton and giving
greater security to trade.
The condition Of the public works and grounds
of Washington, and the progress made In their
repair, and Improvement, are
very creditable to the officer in charge The
improvements exhibit good taste, with much
economy of expenditure. Many vacant and
81 ho n