The New York herald., 1873-11-30

venience to troops crowded into buildings much IN
need OF repair, or cant0ned In tents and huts too
| much exposed to the ncemency OF the weather,
@ tne liabilities have, to = small amount, exceeded
that an allowance Of sio per month be made to
neutonants OF the line detailed as acting assistant
OF the 1itv railroads, which, at the close OF the
| war, under executive orders, purchased from tins
value OF over S75ooooo 80 OF them have paid their
dents % n full. the remaining 20 are still IN our
de1s 70 tne % amount OF the total amount
penses, has thus far been IS, ,1i6,6od
lie recommends the passage OF law which win
enable the department TO collect from the Post Of
flee Department the postal earnings of several Of
these delinquent railroads. The bonds OF the roads
use these earnings in Hquidation 81 % their debts,
but they refuse and persstently neglect to give to
the Postmaster General necessary formal orders TO
| turn over the funds to this department.
He also recommends an appropriation to con-
tn9e the present experiment OF % .ae arteslan wen
wells to the people OF Colorado, Wyoming, Mon
tana and Dakota will be OF Importance upon the
development OF their material interests.
In regard to headstOnes for soldiers graves In
the national cemeteries he states that contracts
] have been awarded Particular has been
taken to have these headst0nes permanent when
once erected. The entire cost OF these slabs and
blocks under the contracts awarded. should they
| be entered into by the successful bidders, Will
amount to $77o,045
He recommends that the 100000 appropri.
| ated by Congress for the erection OF q depot at
| san Antonio be used to purchase or rent such
| posts in Texas as may be found actually needed,
He also recommends an act to be passed author
! iZin9 the issue OF tobacco 70 the enlisted men or
the army a component part OF the army ration.
as near as may be in amount equal TO that author
| lied TO be sold to them.
| The recommendation made in former years is re-
newed that the catalogue and tables OF the ana
tomcal section or the Army Medical Museum be
published in o style similar To Martau'S 'Cranla
| Americana A bill for this purpose passed one
house Of Congress during the last session, but
The Secretary thinks it is absolutely necessary
| for the welfare OF the service that the medical
corps be opened to appointment and promotion,
AilusiOn Is made to the recommendation to the
Paymastef General Tor legislation providing 10r an
increase OF the present force Of paymasters. There
are now but "A IN the service. The PaymaSter Gen.
erai recommends the number TO be fixed by law at
ST. ana that promotions and new appointments be
allowed.
The corps OF engineers have been actively
gagged on the defensive works OF our coasts, upon
for them, and for the protection OF the naylgable
waters OF the United States against deterioration,
whether from bridging or other causes; upon the
geodetic and photographic survey or the
lakes, upon surveys for the defences OF the
coasts upon military surveys and recon.
noissances In the interior, upon geographical
and geological explorations, upon public buildings
and groun6s in the District OF Columbia, upon the
construction OF lighthouses and upon the demarca-
tiOn OF the boundary between the United States
and Great Britain.
The works projected and approved for the modi-
fcation and strengthening OF our sea coast de-
fences and fortincations have been advanced
with rapdty consistent with economy
cipal harbors contain quite number OF
platforms ready for their ornaments OF guns of'the
positions along the shores OF the Inlets to our har
bors, must always be the basis OF any successful
defence, and works projected and in course OF con-
structon should be prosecuted to completion and
be suitably armed. With the small appro-
priations granted FOR the trial Of torpedoes.
continued to the benefit OF our system OF
submarine mines. This accessory ior the defence
OF harbors in recent years has developed into one
n maritime Powers.
TO investigate recent electrical methods and sys-
TENS OF torpedoes, as well as to procure certain
materials two officers OF engineers were sent dur
ing the summer to Europe. The results of their
mission are collection OF valuable information on
government.
The river ana harbor improvements mentioned
in the last named report have been continued, and
the works and surveys connected Herewith have
been carried on during the past year with vigOr.
1874 directed that report be made upon the
practlcabisy OF bridging me channel sr,e be
Without % material urS INJURY % to the A interests rests
| OF navigation, and upon the number and character
OF vessels navigating that channel. Tne subject
| has been committed to o board or experienced en-
/ g1neer officers, who are now engaged upon it, IL
is expected that their report viii be received dur
| ing the early part OF the session OF Congress- In
carrying out the provisions of recent acts Of Con-
gress authorizing the construction o. bridges my
bridges have been built, and that one
is now being constructed across the navl-
authority OF law, and that one OF these parties Is
now constructing bridge under authority claimed
TO be derived from acts granting the right OF way
for railroads through public lands and granting
lands to aid in the construction Of road chartered
by State authority. In view OF the provisions OF
more recent acts OF Congress, requiring the Secre
tary OF War to maintain a supervision over the
location and construction Of bridges crossing
navigable n waters OF the united states, In order
protected l feel It my duty to invite
the attention OF Congress TO this subject, and TO
suggest such general legislation as may be deemed
necessary for the preservation Of the great natural
channels OF commerce. In this connection the
Secretary recommends that the act authorizing
the construction OF q bridge across the Arkansas
River at Little Rock, Ark, approved May 81 1872,
be repealed, for the reason that bridge con-
structed In compliance with Its terms would mate
rally obstruct and impair the navigation OF the
river.
success during the season.
The survey OF Lake Michigan has been pushed
Lawrence River has been extended nearly TO Lake
Ontario Other portions OF the survey are In salts.
factory progress.
the commission appointed by the President to
examine and report upon system OF irrigation In
the San Joaquin and Sacramento valleys. in Cafor-
MIA, met and organized in San Francisco in May,
and proceeded at once to examine the valleys In
question and the streams emptylng into them.
satisfactory progress. They are sim engaged in
the collection OF information to enable them to
render iull report upon the subject Of their In
Referring to the report OF the Chief OF Ordnance
calling attention to the arguments favoring re-
peal OF the law prohibiting promotions In the
Ordnance Corps the Secretary says:-
''rneir claims 10 promotion appeal strongly TO
| the attention OF Congress-
board OF experienced officers, OF which Gen.
] eral A. II. Terry was president, was convened IN
September, 1872 for the selection OF breech-load
| ing system for the muskets and carbines OF the
military service. After exhaustive trial OF all
the systems presented, the Board selected the
/ Springfield breech-loading system as the
! OF all those brought before 1t which is best
calculated to meet the demands Of our mill.
tary service. The report OF the board
was approved, and the Springfield system OF
breech-loader will hcnceiorth be used for muskets
and carbnes OF the army At the same time the
caibre OF all small arms for the service-rines
carbines and rcvolvers-has been fixed at 5-1OO OF
an inch. II IL now question OF grave
importance whether new arms OF the
cepted system shall not be made at
sufficient quantities for a reserve supply In case
Of war; and to this end appropriation OF $500 900
has been asked Tor the next fiscal wear for the