New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-12-01
important points arc particularly referred to In the re-
| Chief of EugioAerS ~

complete set Of the published maps and reports OF
the Engineer Department together win sets OF PnII
western country and models Of important engineer
woIE OF ver aud harbof tbrong The
missioner appointed by the President to represent te
TO present them, at the close OF the exhlDon 10 INC
engineer department Of the Austrian army
The estimates Of the Chief OF Engineers are
| separately, as presented by that officer, VIZ;
Porications and other works OF d9 W S'S'co"
Pubic buildings and grounds and WASH o..
lngton aqueduct. li S,ooo
| Engineer depot M Wiiet,s Point n. Y. 2O,s00
ONCE e1nenses "i''' - 1920
Improvement Of rivers and harbors..... n4e4,64o
rota, 80 4ss,s6s
No steps have been taken by me to carry out the
provisions Act Of March s. 1873, authorizing the
survey, plat, and sale Of the cemetery grounds upon
the Fort Gratiot Military Reservation In Michigan
az the formal preliminary action OF sh1 Guy
| Of Port Huron has not yet been compieteu'
ORDNANCE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OF ARMAMENT
The report OF the Chief Ordnance calls attention 10
the many potent arguments often presented In FAVOR
OF law prohibiting promotions in the corps which he
represents He refers TO the hardship and humiliation
to which officers OF merit and long service nave ossn
subjected since the passage OF that law by oeing de
prived of their deserved promoton the only reward
held out IN their profession for years OF duty wen per
| formed Their claims to promotion appeal strongly 70
A board of experienced officers. of which Gen. A. H.
Terry was President, was convened Ia @ @ Hs
for the selection Of Drcechloading system or tue mus
kets and oarDlnes OF the military service hteI an
selected tho Springfield 6rcecnloading system as the
Of al those brought before IL which ons
military service. The report Of the board
was approved, and the Springfield system OF
and he the same time The caiIber
Of all smaarns for the seryicehes, carbines ana re-
question OF grave Importance whether Of the
accepted system shall not be made at once IN sucent
tins end an appropriation Of $4,000 been asked
the next fiscal year for the manulactuTe together "iIh
| the materials now on hand, of about $4,000 arms
The annual appropriation OF t2OO0JO for armng and
equippng he mitiaan amount hxed by Congress durng
the early part OF the century 10 now round lnadequ
BY reason OF te great increase o. ta and
therefore recommended that the appropriation Tor that
purpose be Increased 10 manner proporloned 70 the
increase OF the population since the passage OF the ACT
Of 1908 providing for the distribution OF arms TO the
militia of the country. ,-..., -.
preparation at this time but deem i my du.y TO say
that the armament OF seacoast defenses, when In
Soara e hI % e sae Of war with
power is a subject demanding The earnest attention OF
deienseess state aud the tedious and costly work OF
preparation cannot be commenced on the breaking olt
OF a 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 per
| subject increases with the earnest and continued
| efforts on the part of all nations TO supply
their forts with the most improved armament, anu
| should war fluid this country without proper defense
against roncads and their great guns the responsibility
cannot rest on this Department. as the Importance OF
the subject has been brought to the attention OF Con
be e o for Of ns next ca Year for tho
purchase OF smoothbore guns and carriages which
sum will provide for onesxth only, of the guns and
carriages will required for Notifications which
will be ready by the J0th OF june 1874 THIS amount is
not embraced the regular estimates Of appropriations
for the army heretofore alluded to- but il s subject
| or great Importance, and the question OF THESE ap
| preparations is respectfully submitted.
| HEAVY GUSs-ARsESALs
The heavy red guns selected for fabrication and test
under the act approved June 1872 in process
OF manuacur aud will be completed during the Win
Valuable information aud experience are 70 be
gathered the trial of these guns the result most nrob
ably leading the early Adoption OF effective rie OF
suitable caber for the service and m this
Would recommend the purchase OF suitable proving
ground for the proper trial OF these experimental heavy
| guns -, , A. .-,,, .o..
attained In the manufacture OF guupowder In the past
year induces recommendation that an appropriation
OF $4,000 he granted 10 be applied III the fabrication and
trial of Pinch castiron rhed cannon. that the capab
ties Of the metal for rife constructions OF large caiber
may be put the fullest test. the hope that its prac
teal utilization for TINS purpose may be conclusVey as
The powder in the hands of the Department is.
count OF the want OF proper toragero0m concentrated
I'm arre part in the magazines Of our seacoast fortified
tons where under the searching influences OF the salt
air II Is rapidly undergoing deeroration For ia bet
ished i'm acme region where neither public nor private
interests would be endangered by ITS proximity ana an
appropriation OF 100000 is recommended for the pur
| chase Of suitable site and the commencement oil
The abolition OF some OF the smaller arsenals and the
application Of the proceeds Of their sale TO the erection
OF large arsenal OF construction on the Atlantic coast
is again urged on strong economical grounds and 1t Is
recommended that law be passed authorizing the sec
| rotary OF War to make sale or any OF the smaller
arsenals times would be most advantageous
to the Government, and apply the proceeds sug
d. The sale OF Kennebec Arsenal Detroit Arsenal
Pkesvle Arsenal, and the small lot tract at sag
HarDor Long Island, now no longer needed for public
June TO- is72 the Secretary OF war was directed
| 10 se the Mount Vernon Arsenal Alabama pursuant to
| public domain. Subsequent 10 such recommendation
the exigences OF the service required that the property
military purposes and the period when such necessity
shall exist is very indefinite. Under these cir
1872 as relates the sale OF this property is
mended That portion OF tue act which directs the
sale OF the ApaachcOla arsenal should, In my opinion
be repealed FOR the That the property was granted
to the state Of Florida In 1870, by the aet APP
proved Dec OF that ye under the name OF the Cuat-
The Dep,rtment feels much embarrassment arising
from conflicting claims founded on alleged infringe
ments OF patent rights in the construction or Dreec-
loading guns at the national arm0 PG SH, OF oc tn
duties, seriously annoyed by private actions ror
patents which have nfnged the productions Of
the Government armoTy, aud some legislation seems To
be required - order 10 Department 10 dispose
The th section Of the act Of July H. 1870 which pro-
vdes THAT ali balances OF appropriations contained IN
the annual appropriation bills and made speclhcay Tor
the service OF any fiscal year, and remaining nneh.
at the expiration OF sTea nca year Sna my
CURED during year. the fulment OF contracts
properly made within year. and such balances not
needed for the purposes shall be carried to the
plus fund: Provided. That this section snail not apply
TO the appropriations known permanent or indefinite
appropriations" Is injurious to the interests Of tue Gov
eminent where permanent buildings are TO be erected
and appropriations for this should be allowed to
run for three years instead OF one now limited by
that IL 10 recommended that the act be modified
| accordingly.
| THE SIGNAL SERVICE.
Systematic and continuous instruction OF the army
military signaling and telegraphy has continued during
the past year the school Of and practice
at Fort whipple Va. ana the Department OF the Mis-
souri, and the special attention OF Of the most
powerful foreign Governments has been directed to
these branches of military science and they have
pains procure the minute details OF our equipment
and apparatus. Recruiting for the sigualservice has
nent being maintained by special examination OF those
enlisted After aud enlistment the are at