The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1873-12-12
Report Of the secretar, Of War.

poses for the year ending June 80, 1874, were
ga, s26.3lS. Estimates for the year ending
June 30 1870. arr S3f.ii0,l22; excess over
current year being s5sf,3A. The appropria-
tionsior millar1 purposcsior the year ending
June 30, 1874, We've S32.sli1ll. In addition
10 the usual estimates. already made, the fol-
lowing are submitted for such action a. Con-
gress ma, decn proper 10 take; Armament
for forts, I'll ,ii9.JO; estimates for engineer
ing purposes. <3O.4j3.si.
lie recommends thar better facilities TO oh
tain field musicians be afforded 10y the passage
Of nm act authorizing the enlistment of boys
not under twelve years Of age, with the con-
sent Of their parents or guardians The See
rotary says his orders directing officers. active
or retired. 10 refrain from visiting Washing
ton during the session of Congress. with
view % influence legislation, Will be strictly
enforced in 30 far "a he has power. lie also
says further legislation j. necessary To- define
the scope of the provision otthe uci regulating
the pay Of officers, cOmmutatiOn, etc. The
Secretary recommends that the allowance Of
$40 per month be made 10 Licutcnant~ OF the
line detailed to act Assistant Quarter
masters.
OF my railroads which purchased material
from the department AT the close of the war
o. the amount OF Ss.JOO,OO0, twenty of them
have paid in full. The remaining twenty still
are indebted about Si.TOO.O0o. lie recon-
mend> the passage Of a law which will enable
the Department 10 collect from the POST
office Department the postal earnings Of sew
eral of the delinquent railroads. He also
recommends an appropriation 10 continue eN-
perimentS of the artcSian well at Fort ID. \.
Russell, believing that series Of flowing
wells 10 the~ people of Colorado. wyoming
Dakota and Montana will be Of Importance in
the development of their material resources.
lie also recommends that an act be passed au-
ihorizing the issue Of tobacco n part of the
rations OF enlisted men. and that a medical
corps Ice opened 10 appointment and promo
ton: that there be nm increase Of payma>tcr>
from forty-fou 10 iifty-two, and that new APP
pointmcnis and promotions be allowed.
Works on the sea-cOa~t defrn-cs and forth
fcation> have been adv ancod with the rapidity
consistent with economy and efficiency. and
the works for our principal harb0rs now con-
tain quite number Of platforms ready for
their armament Of guns OF the largest
calbrc. Ilarbor defenses in the course Of
construction are recommended 10 be forced 10
completion.
Tho Secretary calls the attention Of Con-
gre>> 10 the bridging of navigablc waters OF
the | nited States. and suggests such general
legislation n may be necessary for the prcscr-
Walton OF the channels of commerce. He rec
cOmends the repeal of the law authorizing the
construction Of bridge across the Arkansas
River at Little Rock. for the reason that the
bridge. constructed according 10 it, terms.
would materially ob~truct navigation.
with success during the season.
The Springfield system OF breech-loader~
viii be hencefOrth used for muskets and car
binc> in the army, and AN appropriation 81
$500 900 j. asked for, 10 manufacture about
$1,000 arms Of the accepted system for q re-
serve supply in case Of war. II l. recon-
mended that the appropriation for the arming
and equipping of the militia be- increased in
proportion 10 the increase of population since
the passage Of the act of ls'ls.
Cities on the sea coast. II j. stated are in "A
very defensecss condition. and the Secretary
calls the earnest attention Of Congress to the
fact. suggesting that 81 100000. the estimate
of the Chief Of Ordnance. be appropriated 10
put them in a state Of defense. and SAYS this
sum will only provide deien>es for one-siXth
the complement Of guns required for different
The purchase Of proving
ground for experiments in heavy gun> j. all
yised: also. the appropriation Of 500 for
the manufacture and trial oftwelye-inch cast
iron rificd cannon.
\ large powder depot il recommended. IL
should be established i'm some region where
neither private nor public interests would be-
endangered. and away from the influence Of
salt air. and for the purchase Of the site and
of magazines 100000 should
be appropriated. In the same connection,
that the smaller arsenalS be sold and larger
arsenal- be built from the proceeds of these
sales.
The Secretary concludes BY recommending
that legislation should be renewed giving the
Secretary Of War authority to appoint COM
petent person to arrange andprepare for publi-
ton an official document relating to the rebel
lion. ard the operations Of the army during
the war.
GEN. sHRRMAN's REPORT.
Gen. sherman. in his report to the -ecreta-
~ Of War. SAYS the number Of enlisted men
is ~ less than the 10000 limited by law I'm
active regiments. The number Of men sick
and on necessary duty about posts viii fully
equal - per cent. 80 that the actual strength
for military service does not exceed 1862
men. In order that the regular army should
fulfill it, arluous duties on the frontier. n
also - form model ON which 10 shape the
volunteers and the militia force Of the United
States. earnestly recommend that Congress
be asked to fix the limit of the enlisted force
al such figure n will give 10000 for rcgi-
mcnt- Of the line. and 10 provide specifically
for "A non-sombatant detachment. such a. an
engineer battalion, ordnance department.
West Point dctachmentS. signal department. |
ordnance and commIs~ary <ergcantS. IN the
same manner ~ has been done for hospital
stewards. Artillery regiments have AN or
ganiZaii0n different from the infantry. viz. :
Twelve batteries % regiment, but Of these |
only one i equipped and instructed a. bat |
tery Of artillery, the other eleven companies |
Of each regiment being armed with muskets |
and instructed n infantry
Rcgimcnial commits stoned officers on duty |
or belonging 10 the several departments and |
divisions number in the aggregate 1852
present for duty, .3.A; absent ON leave or
detached, 29>. The foregoing does not i'm
cludc thirty-one Second Lieutenants recently /
from civil life. and under orders 10 /
Join their regiments.
Military divisions embrace the whole area
of the United States. and their reports for /
varied 10 the Secretary Of War include acts |
Df all the regular army. No part Of the army, |
Gen. sherman savs. j. under his immediate
control, and existing army regulations dcyolyc /
on the Secretary Of War the actual COM |
nand If a military peace establishment AMI /
All responsibility thereof. that he forbear~ I
any further e,nmner,lation i'm hi report.