Eaton weekly Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1866-1875, 1873-12-11
THE ARMY.

1hE AIGu1.
Annual Report fthe Secretary of War
Expenditures Recommendations for
the Current YeaT-StrenSth and Condi-
ton of the Reguar Army.
The annual report of the Secretary of War
shows that the estimates for military pur-
poses for the year ending June 80, 1874, were
1913, 826. 37S. The estimates for the same pur-
pose for the year ending June 30, 1875, are
S34,4 10, 1872, the excess over the current year
being 1854, pa. The appropriation for mill
tary purposes for the year ending June 80,
1874, were $34, 917, 81,
In addition to the usual estimates already
made, the following are submitted for such
action as Congress may deem proper to take
Armament of forts, 8 ,449, 800 m for
engineering purposes, $40, 459, 1886.
He recommends that better facilities to OBJ
tain field musicians be afforded by the passage
of an act authorizing the enlistment of boys
not under II years of age, with the consent of
their parents or guardians.
The Secretary says his orders directing Off
GERS, active or retired, to refrain from visiting
Washington during sessions of Congress with
a view to influence legislation, will be strictly
enforced, in so far as he has the power. He
also says further legislation is necessary to
define the scope of the provisions of the act
regulating the pay of officers, communication.
etc. The Secretary that an al
lowance of ten dollars per month be made 10
| Iieutenants of the line detailed as Acting
Assistant Quartermasters.
OF the fifty railroads which purchased ma
terlal from the Department at the close of
the war to the amount of 81, 800, 900, thirty
of them paid in full The remaining twenty
are still indebted about 81, 700, 900. He rec
ommends the passage of a law which will en-
able the Department to collect from the Post
office Department the postal earnings of sew
eral of the delinquent railroads.
He also recommends an appropriation to
continue experiments of the artesian well at
Fort D. A. Russell, believing a series of flow
ing wells to the people of Colorado, Wyoming,
Dakota, and Montana, will be of importance
in the development of their material resources.
He also that an act be passed.
authorizing the issue of tobacco as part of the
ratiOns of enlisted men, and that medical corps
be opened to appointment and promotion ;
that there be an increase of Paymasters from
forty-four or fifty-two, and that new appoint
ments and promotions be allowed.
Works on the Sea-cOast defenses and forth
~fcations have been advanced with rapidity
consistent will economy and efficiency, and
the works in four of our harbors now contain
quite a number of platforms ready for their
armament of guns of largest caliber. The
harbor defenses in course of construction are
recommended to be forced to completion.
The Secretary invites the attention of Con-
gress to the bridging of the navigable waters
of the United States, and suggests such gen.
eral legislation as may be necessary for the
preservation of the channels of commerce.
He recommends the repeal of the law author
thoriging the construction of the bridge across
the Arkansas river at Little Rock, for the
reason that a bridge constructed according to
its terms would would materially obstruct
navigation.
The survey of the lakes has been continued
with success during the season.
The Springfield system of breech-loaders
will be henceforth used for muskets and car
bines in the army, aud an appropriation of
$500, 900 is asked for to manufacture about
50, 600 arms of the accepted pattern for a re-
serve supply i'll case of war. 1t is recon-
mended that the appropriation for arming
and equipping the militia be increased in pro-
portion to the increasing population since the
passage of the act. of 1908.
TGfinS on tho Gno-onaGf II ic Gtofnd y IN q
very defenseIess condition, and the Secretary
calls the earnest attention of Congress to the
fact, suggesting that 81, 500, 900, the estimate
of the Chief of Ordnance, be appropriated to
sum will only provide the defenses with one
sixth of the complement of guns required for
the different Notifications.
The purchase of a proving-ground for ex-
perimentsin heavy guns is adUsed; also, an
appropriation of $4,000 for the manufacture
and trial OF 12-rnch cast-iron trimmed can
non.
large powder depot, it is recommended,
should be established in some region where
neither private nor public interests would be
endangered. and away from the influence OF
salt air, and for the purchase of a site and
commencement of magazines 300, 00C
should be appropriated. In the same con-
~nection, 1t is recommended that the smaller
arsenals be sold, and a large arsenal be bull
from the proceeds of these sales.
The Secretary concludes by recommending
that legislation should be renewed, giving the
Secretary of War authority to appoint a com.
petent person to arrange and prepare fol
publication official relating to the
operations of the army during war.
GEN. sHERMAN's REPORT.
Gen. Sherman, in his report to the Score
tary of War, says the number of enlisted men
in the army is 495 less than the 1000 limited
by law. In active regiments the number OF
men sick and on necessary details about
posts will fully equal 25 per cent, SO that the
actual strength for military service does not
pxnaa6 10 fEl mon Tn order that the raOu1aT
army should fulfill its arduous duties on the
frontier, as also to form a model on which to
shape the volunteer and militia force of the
United States, 1 earnestly that
Congress be asked to fix the limit of the en-
listed force at such a figure as will give 80, DOC
for regiments of the hne, and to provide spe-
as Engineer BATTALION, Ordnance Depart
ment, West Point detachment, Signal Depart
ment, Ordnance and Commissary Sergeants,
in the same manner as has been done for Hospi-
talSteWards.
The artillery regiments of the United States
army have an organization different from the
infantry, viz: II batteries to a regiment. Oh
these, only one IS equipped and instructed as
a battery of artillery, the other eleven compa-
MES of each regiment being armed with mus
kets, and Instructed as infantry.
ReGimental commissioned officers on duty
or belonging to the several departments and
divisions number, in the aggregate, 1882.
Present for duty, 1,234. Absent on leave, OF
detached, 298. The foregoing does not in.
clude 81 Second LleutenantS recently appolut-
ed from civil life, and under orders to joir
their regiments.
The military divisions embrace the whole
area of the United States. and their reports
forwarded to the Secretary Ct Wal include the
acts of all the regular army. No part of thu
army, Gen. Sherman says. is under his imme'
date control, and the existing army regula'
tons devolve on tho Secretary of War tht
actual command of the military peace estab-
lishment aud all responsibilities thereof, SO
that he forbears making any further recon-
mendatlons or report.
t.VpsDecfion-