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

view of the provisions of the more recent acts Of
Congress requiring the Secretary OF War to
aintain Q supervision over he location and
construction Of bridges crossing navigable wa
terests OF navigation shall be protected, feel
II my duty to invite the attention Of Congress to
this subject. and to suggest such general legis-
lstion as may be deemed necessary for the pre-
seryation Of the great natural channels of COM
merce.
In this connection have respectfully to rec
ommend that the act authorizing the construc-
lion OF bridge across the Arkansas River at
Little Rock, Arkansas, approved May 81, 1872,
be repealed, for the reason that bridge con-
structed in compliance with its terms would
materially obstruct and impair the navigation
OF the river. A previous act OF Congress that
OF July 1, 1901 contains all the provisions for
bridging this river at Little Rock essential to
the preservation of the channel.
The survey of the lakes has been continued
with success during the season. The survey of
Lake Michigan has been pushed forward nearly
TO completion, and that OF the Saint Lawrence
River has been extended nearly to Lake Onta-
rio. Other portions of the survey are in salts
factory progress; new surveys of special locsli-
ties have been made, the longitude of important
points determined by telegraph; assistance to
the geographical and geological survey of ada
cent States rendered; Ind meteorological and
lake-surface observations continued through the
The main field of operations the geological
exploration near the fOrtieth parallel, between
the Sierra Nevada and eastern slope of the
Der last, and the maps and results are being
prepared for publication at an early day.
Special examinations, giving important results,
have been made of noted geological structures
ana OF the evidences of glacial action in the
Sierras
The geographical and geological surveys aud
explorations west of the one hundredth me-
ridian in Nevada, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico.
and Arizona, have been prosecuted with great
vigor and success. The field labors ter minated
in December, after which the work of prepare
ha mn and nNClr Enw
ton was continued in the office in this city. The
field operations of the present season, en-
bracing, in addition to the usual observa tions
in the various branches of the survey, the cree
ton of field astronomical observatory at
Ogden, Utah, and the determination of an
astronomical base, commenced June /, with an
efficient organization.
The officers of the Corps of Engineers on de-
taehed duty at the headquarters of general
officers commanding military divisions and de-
partments have rendered valuable services in
preparing such maps and sketches and making
such surveys and "Reminiscences as were re-
quired by their commanding officers. Besides
these regular duties, several special reconnois-
sances have been made, yielding important
information. Among these the reconnaissance
OF the lava-beds and surrounding country, the
scene of operations against the Modoc Indians;
the survey of the Yellowstone River, as far as
practicable the reconnaissance of the head
waters of the Rio Grande and Southwestern
Colorado and the reconnaissance to discover
an approach to the Yellowstone Lake Basin
W.
and shorter route to the National Yellowstone
Park and the mining regions of Montana,
together with the result of astronomical obser-
vations to determine the positions of important
points, are particularly referred to In the report
of the Chief of Engineers.
The commission appointed by the President,
in accordance with the act approved March 3,
1873, to examine and report on a system of irri-
cation in the San joaquin, Tulare and Sacra-
mento Valleys, California, met and organized
In San Francisco in May, and proceeded at
once to examine the valleys in question and the
streams emptyiDg into them. By the end of
June they had made satisfactory progress. They
are still engaged in this labor, and in the col
lection OF Information to enable them to render
full report upon the subject of investigation
A complete set ofthe published maps and re-
ports OF the Engineer Department, together
with sets of Photographic views of remarkable
natural features of the western country, and
models or important engineer work of river and
harbor improvement, and Of armament were
prepared and forwarded through the commits
sioner appointed by the President to represent
the United States at the Vienna Exhibition,
with authority to present them, at the close of
the exhibition, to the engineer department of
the Austrian army.
The estimates of the Chief of Engineers are
submitted separately, as presented by that Off
GER, viz:
EoItca ions and other works of defense 1896 900
Public buildings and gre unds and Wash
fDgton Ills Os6
eineer depot at Wiiiet Point, N. Y. 02.sS
Improvement OF rivers End harbors..... 15,4 $40
Total ......... p, 43S $50
No steps have been taken BY me to carry out
the provisions of the act of March s. 1873, au-
thoriZing the survey, plat, and sale of the GEM
etery grounds upon Fort GratiOt military reser-
walton in Michigan, as the for NAL preliminary
action OF the city authorities of Port Huron has
not yet been completed.
The report OF the Chief of Ordnance calls at
tention to the many potent arguments so often
presented in favor of the repeal of the law pro-
bibiting promotions in the corps which lie rep
resents. He refers to the hardship aud humifi-
alton to which officers of merit and long service
have been subjected since the passage of that
law, by being deprived OF their deserved promo
ton, the only reward held out in their profess
sion for years Of duty well performed. Their
claims TO promotion appeal strongly to the at
A board Of experienced officers. of which
Gen. A II: Terry was president, was convened
in September. 1872, for the selection of breech-
loading system for the musket and carbines of
OF all the systems presented the board selected
the Springfield breech- loading system as the
one, OF all those brought before it, which is best
service.
The report of the board was approved, and
the Springfield system OF breech loader will
henceforth be used for the muskets and car
bines of the Army. At the same time the cali
Der OF all small arms for the service-rifes,
carbines, and revolvers-has been fixed at As
of an inch. 1t Is now question Of grave i'm
system shall not be made at once in sufficient
quantities for reserve supply In case of war,
and to this end an appropriation of $500, 900 has
been asked for the next fiscal year for the man
ufacture, together with the materials now on
hand, Of about 200 arms.
The annual appropriation Of 5000 900 for arm
ing and equipping the militia, an amount fixed
by Congress during the early part of the CEN
fury, is now found inadequate, by reason of the
great increase Of population, to supply the
wants Of the whole body of the militia, and 1t is
therefore recommended that the appropriation
for that purpose be increased in manner pro-
portioned to the increase of the population since
the passage Of the act of 1903, providing for the
distribution of arms to the militia of the
country.
feel great hesitation in recommending in
creased appropriations at this time, but deem
it my duty to say that the armament of our sea-
coast defenses, which involves the question of
the defense OF our principal sea board cities
from attack, ia case of war with a naval power ,
is a subject demanding the earnest attention of
Congress. The principal cities on our coast
are In very defenseless state, and the tedious
and costly work Of preparation cannot be COM
menced on the breaking out Of a war, with the
hope of accomplishing any adequate result.
The work must be done in time Of peace, with
out waiting for an uncertain period in search
after perfection in gun constructions. The i'm
portance OF this subject increases with the earn
est and continued effOrts the RI of all N