New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-12-01

ton Of the act Of March prohibiting new appoint
menis. The number Of paymssters authorized by the
Army organization act OF July u.s. 1906 was CO. dhe no
that the number be Iea by law s az 81 ana
peaed. and promotions and new appointments Do al
lowed.
Experience has shown that It is just that greater
absence without reduction Of pay Thirty Gays barely
sufces enable officer TO travel from ana 10 MS re-
mote station In the West
THE SYSTEM DEPOSITS.
II apparent that the act approved May lo 1871 con-
corning the pay OF enlisted and establishing sys-
OF deposits has proved OF much benefit to the SOL
der The number deserions been reduced to as
great extent had been hoped but still that number
was 500 less than in the year ending June &c. ISL IL
would be difficult 10 devise legislation better calculated
TO encourage Refreshments reward faithful service aug
diminish deserton and IL is believed it's ultimate effect
the army II appears from the report OF me
pany by enlisted during the past nseal year
was sIs2 &C. The largest amounts OF deposits per COM
P EonS and Columbia In these Departments there
the greatest amount OF field operations. IL may se
by the enlisted men IN time of war than in time Of
peace and this leads TO the conclusion that had WISE
army during the rebellion the Government would have
had the handling OF many millions OF dollars Iof sey
about 1900 companies of troops employed which woud
give the rate Of $500 deposited py eaeh company
vi, 100000 per annum.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
Tho Corpsaof Engineers has been actively engaged
upon the defensive works Of coasts upon river ana
harbor improvements, and the surveys for them, ana
for the protection OF the navigable waters OF Tue
United States against deterioration, whether Hoh
bridging or other eauses upon the ge0detlc and hydro
graphite OF the lakes; upon surveys Tor the ue
lenses OF the coasts upon military surveys nlu
noissances in the interiors upon geograpncal ana
geological explorations; upon public buildings ana
grounds in the District OF Columbia upon tue consuc
ton of lighthouses and upon the demarkation OF tho
between
The works projected and approved Tor the lnodnca,
ton and gtheDing Of our seacoast deenses and
Notifications have advanced with rapidly con-
sistent with economy and efficiency ana te Work ioI
our principal harbOrs now contain quite number OF
platforms ready for their armaments OF guns OF the
largest callbers Heavy guns mounted IN covered posi-
TONS along the shores OF the inles TO our harDors
always basis any successful defense aud the
works projected and Ia course OF construction should DC
prosecuted completion and be suitably armed
The Battalion Of Engineers numbers JU5 enlisted men,
and stationed at the Military Academy for instruction
OF cadets, and at Willets Point Ne"-loIk haspV
where II forms the school OF torpedo deielso OF lne
for the care and distribution OF engineer equlpmens,
During the past Summer number Of detachments nave
explorations The appropriations asked Tor tne engheer
depot and post are recommended to Congress ana the
Recommendation for one chief musician ana Two prln-
cipal musicians for the battalion approved.
ToRPEDoEs-PUBLIC WORKS
With the small appropriations granted for trials with
torpedoes the Investigations upon this subject have
been continued the benefit OF system OF subma-
rine mnes. This accessory for the defense OF our har-
importance the maritime powers and TO nyesti-
gate the recent electrical methods and systems OF orpe
does well as TO procure certain materials TWO oneerS
OF engineers were sent during the Summer to Europe
The results OF their mission are the collection OF valuable
information on this subject and saving OF expenditure
TO the Government.
The river aud harbor improvements mentioned in my
last annual report have been continued and the works
and connected herewith have been carried on
during the past year with vgor. Detailed Information
IN regard 10 each specific M ea r1e D TeI Ha
Dor Appropriation acts may be found III the report OF
The Improvement of our rivers and harbors consists
chiefly in giving Increased width and depta TO existing
creating new channels and basins aud giving
them protective works. The operations 10 lnls
various kinds. such as rock in place anu powIoers,
bars Of clay, sometimes induratedi OF gravel SAND ana
other aluyla matter; OF RATS, often extending from
the surface of the nearly the boston, formed by
OF drifting trees, or the latOh Oh saDs
edgings and sawdust of timber and other constIuc-
lions placed in channeways 10 oosruct OF close tei
the construction OF dikes, dams wing ana Ieye
PIERS all tending 10 promote the general interests OF
es of @ and giving greater
trade. - , j,
Washington and the progress made in their construc-
lop repair, and improvement, are very cfeuaOle 70
the oioer IN charge. The improvements exhibit good
taste wi n much economy of expenditure. Many va
cant and unmproyed reservations nave become athel-
i've places of public resort, at little expense.
IMPROVEMENT RIVERS AND HARDoRs.
In accordance with the proviso attached to the sppro
uraon for the Improvement OF the channel OF the Del
aware River the Horseshoe Shoals board OIL
engineers convened; and In view OF their report
upon the feasibility and expense OF the plan proposed
for the prevention removal OF the obstruction IT has
plan until after the method adopted by the local author
itles is fully tested and IT Is found that inc means
channel daring the Winter months.
Section OF the River aud Harbor act OF March 1873
directed that report be made upon, the lracticaby
of bridging the channel between Lake Huron and Lake
Ere without material injury to the interests OF navga-
Tho nFuhA q
navigating that channel The subject has been com
mted to board OF experienced engineer ofiieers VINO
will be received during the early part OF the session Oh
me removal of the wreck in the channel-way of
Sandy Hook required by the act OF January g. $50 was
pleted March leaving clear depth OF 25t feet at
Under authority granted by the act approved Jan
uary 70, 1873 contract closed for the construction
OF iron hull for lghtdraft enagboat for use on
the Mississippi, Missouri and Arkansas Rivers ana u -
expected that the boat will be ready Tor service during
The Lake Ontario Shore Railroad Company sub
mtted project for bridge across the Genesee RIVER
and IN accordance with the provisions OF the second
OF the act authorizing its construction approved
March g. 1873, certain notifications In the plan were
required and of these President Of the railroad
company has been nouaed. la carrying out inc
provisions OF recent acts OF Congress authorizing
the construction OF bridges my attention has been caed
the fact that certain bridges have been ou andtha
one is now being constructed nayabe waters Of
the United States without any authority OF law and
further that certain parties claim the right 20 proge
and that one OF those parties Is now constructing a
bridge under authority claimed 70 be derived from acts
granting right OF for railroads through pubic ands
and granting lands aid in the construction OF road
Wy State authority In view Of the provisions Of
the more recent acts Of Congress requiring the Secretary
OF War TO maintain supervision over the location aud
construction Of bridges crossing naygable waters OF the
United States In order that the interests on NAVIGATION
shall protected. feel my duty to invite tue atten
ton this subject and TO suggest such gen
eral lie gisation as NAV deemed necessary the
OF the great natural channels OF commerce
In this connection have respectfully TO recommend
that the act authorizing the construction OF bridge
across the Arkansas River at Little Rock, Arkansas
proved May 81, 1874 be repealed Tor he reason .hat
bridge constructed In compliance with It's terms would
materially obstruct and impair the navigation OF the
river pre- vious act OF Congress THAT OF July 1870
contains all provisions for bridging this river at Lit
lie Rock essential the preservation OF the channei
The survey OF the lakes has been continued with sue
cess during the season. The survey OF Lake Michigan
To efinnR