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

,,nelns rivers of The United States daily made by
iasn 81 %ay be Anticipated River are
also made from twenty q the rsga aoas the line
DAT. are widely o adS 10 the
aud safety of the river commerce. by inc cons.ant
water in the channels The benefits resulting from
these reports. In the second year OF ther ssus,
have been fully by tine various Interests
they have advanced The total number Of special ryer
bulletins Issued has been E2O; $3.50 printed copes VI
s Seen shen to carS out the legislation Of the
last Congress authorizing the establishment OF sgoa
stations on the lake or sea coasts may be suit
ably located for that purpose and to connect the Same
discharge Of the duties u the signal Service by
OF suitable telegraph line In cases where no lines are
operation. The plan In contemplation proposes the
establishment OF signal stations at life saving stations
and ighthouse along the ocean coast OF NewJersey
from Sandy Hook to Cape May. distance OF % miles
from each other line connecting the stations az me-
Norfolk ' vs to Cape Haterss c. distance OF 1877
miles, and of the most dangerous coasts Of tne
United States s being constructed It Is expected mat
the above lines will be completed during the
present year. - -,
lions from reports styled probabilities has been more
clearly presented In this than In preceding years Inc
toned in the reports With more rigid and scrutinz-
percentage Of verlfcaon has improved The analysis
Of the years work indicates clearly at once the wisdom
fine Department acknowledge, rs IN previous years,
the general support OF the popular opinion or scennc
on this work. Errors have occurred but It has been
generally recognized inevitable that some must occur
In the present condition OF science The great utility OF
the work longer doubted IL has achieved results
the promise Of which, few years ago. cona nsray 10
ject that arrangements have been maze Win the
meteorological officers Of Russia England ana turkey,
10 commence on Jan. /, 1874, exchange with the
United states daily reports taken simultaneously
a. s the aad i1 TSsh E@p the British Islands
and the United States. The cooperation Of the systems
OF other nations is expected
CADETS AND lrHE MILITARY ACADEMY.
Nv annual inspection Of the affairs OF the Military
Academy and Corps OF Cadets 10 June last disclosed
very creditabe state OF discipline aud an attention TO
study very commendable in the cadets One OF the
effects of the act OF Congress approved Feo D 1874 IN
states was TO the Corps OF Cadets from 25 To
9 This is Of marked sdynntsgs no the e csnd
dates admission TO the necessary examinaton
OF young men hat allowed by law to be educated
at West Point. Examinations for admlssloh are
ssa ,Sce an sar When IN Candidate not
ing the requisite qualifications falls 70 pass, as
their districts remain inexperienced during the period
embraced between the date when they IAN anu me neA
examination and the Unitedlstaes loses cade ior inc
Tho report OF the Board OF Visitors, which this year
had opportunity OF witnessing the examination OF the
candidates. comments upon the large proportion OF those
falling those admitted during the past year there
ter number Is only were rejected by the medical board
and the semi-annua examination in January next !.
those s' admitted in june ana September last viii
also fail These facts furnish strong comment s
airy upon the present mode OF selecting candl-
dates for military education at WestPolnt.
The large number Of those falling TO meet the present
standard clearly shows that due regard has not In
many cases been paid TO selecting those whose attain
ments qualify them for admission IL me members Oh
Congress a little more rgd In requiring those they
propose nominating 10 BE- thoroughly conyersant win
| the rudiments of common school education. their
friends would escape the modification ana expense
attendant their rejection. The Board OF Visitors
of no
the attention of Congress is invited to
new set Of regulations for the OF the Corps
Of Cadets has been prepared and VIII very shortly 20
Band the only one now provided for by law which Is
very small and the OF which Is wholly nscent 10
when they can secure much larger salaries IN the prn
cipa cities OF the UniOn Il again urgently recSehue
TO the attention OF Congress This subject alluded
to in my last annual report. and bill was introduced TO
increase tho number and compensation OF the
which it is understood, passed house OF Congress
but not up in the other It's re-lntroducuol
| and passage 10 earnestly recommended.
NEED OF INCREASED CLERICAL FORCE.
During the last sessoniof Congress the Committee
Expenditures OF the warl Department made exhaust
i've report the workings OF this portion Of the execu
tive branch OF the Government and prepared bill fo
iul ana complete reorganzit9a OF INC GereaI doaD;
that this Department has been peculiarly unfortunate
M is Hoped therefore that The report OF the Committee
Expenditures OF the War Department abov9 referred
10 may receive careful consideration AZ tue hands OF
Congress, and that action he taken upon the recon-
nendatOns Of the committee TO the required organi
| zation Of the clerical force.
When from illness other cause the Secretary OF War
Obliged to be temporarily absent there Is no person In
the Department authorized by law to sign the money
requisons upon Treasury and other papers neces-
slry for its ,current business. In almost all tile oter
Departments OF the Government one or more assistant
secretary provided by law who Is authorized TO per
form duties i'll the absence OF the head OF the De-
partmcnt There Is assistant secretary for the War
Department. aud in order that Inconvenience 70 ndtyd
uaIs as well to the Government may not arise rom
caused by such absence recommend the passage
OF law which VIII permit the Secretary Or war 10 an
thorze the CHIEF clerk, In case OF illness or oter Tempo
rary OF the head OF the Department TO sign re-
QUESTIONS and other papers deemed necessary TOT lne
| uiatc signature.
again refer to the that by jonresouton OF Con-
gress the Secretary OF War required 10 appoint
competent person To arrange and prepare Tor puOca-
ton the official documents relating to the Rebellion ana
the operations army during the and TO sub
NIT plan OF said publication aud estimates OF the cost
to Congress at its then next session person
appointed To assume this work, VINO was 10 receive
compensation OF s., 500 per annum. Although the APP
continent was made at that time no acceptance was
ed and no action taken toward the arrangement
and publication or the records.
AS the appointment, under previous legislation, can.
made for the reason that the act prescribed
should cease in two years after its pas
cage this legislation should be revived and the 5ecre
tary OF War authorized to make the appoint ent This
is great national work, OF much historical value and
constant daily observation aud experience render 10
evident that eary steps should be taken 10 collect and
prepare these and important materials for pubca
ton WIN. W. BELFSAP, secretary OF war.
GEN SHERMAN'S REPORT
AN EFFECTIVE FORCE OF BARELY TWENTY THOUSAND