Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1873-12-11
Report OF the Secretary OF War.

The annual report OF the Secretary OF War shows
that the estimates for military purposes Tor the
year ending June 30, 1874, were $s;, ,37s. The
June 30 1875, $34, 40, 12z the excess the
current year being $584,244. The appropriations for
military purposes for the year ending June o. 1874
were &t4,917,yi.
In addition to the usual estimates already made,
the following are submitted for such action az Con
gress may deem proper to take: Armament Of
forts, $1.449,550; estimates for engineering pur-
He recommends that better facilities 10 obtain
field musicians be afforded by the passage OF an act
authorizing the enlistment OF boys not under IL
years Of age, with the consent OF their parents or
guardians
The Secretary says bis orders directing officers,
active retired, to refrain from visiting Washing
ton during sessions OF Congress with view TO in
Thence legislation, will be strictly enforced, In 40
far A. he has the power. He also says further leg
ieation Is necessary TO define the scope OF the pro.
vision OF the act regulating the pay OF Officers,
communication, etc. The Secretary recommends
that allowance Of ten dollars per month be made
10 Lieutenants Of the line detailed as Acting As
eistant Quartermasters.
OF the fifty railroads which purchased material
from the Department ut the Close OF the war TO the
amount Of SOC, 600 thirty Of them paid In full.
The remaining twenty arc still indebted about
S47O0,0,0. He recommends the passage OF law
which will enable the Department to collect from
the Post-ofice Department the postal earnings Of
several OF the delinquent railroads.
He also recommends an appropriation TO con-
Time experiments Of the artcsian well ut Fort ID.
a. Russell, believing series Of flowing wells TO
the people OF Colorado, Wyoming, Dakota, and
Montana will be Of importance In the development
Of their material resources.
He also recommends that an act be passed au-
thorzing the issue OF tobacco part OF the racns
OF enlisted men, and that medical corps be opened
To appointment and pr0motion that there be an
increase OF Paymasters from forty four TO ffty-wo,
and that new appointments and promotions be
allowed.
Works on the sea-coast defenses and fortidca-
tons have been advanced with rapidly consistent
with economy and efficiency, and the works In
four OF our harb0rs now contain quite number
OF the 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 Congress
to the bridging of the navgable waters OF the
United States, and suggests such general Iegisla-
ton a. may be necessary for the preservation OF
the channels OF commerce. He recommends the
repeal Of the law authorizing the construction Of
the bridge across the Arkansas River at Little
Rock, for the reason that bridge constructed &C.
cording TO Its terms would materially obstruct nav
igation.
The survey Of the lakes has been continued with
success during the season.
The Springfield system OF breech-loaders will be
henccforth used for muskets and carbines In the
army, and an appropriation OF $4,000 Ia asked
for TO manufacture about 35,O6u arms OF the &C.
cepted pattern for reserve supply In case OF war
Its recommended that the appropriation Tor arm
ing and equpping the militia be increased In pro-
portion TO the Increasing population since the
psssage Of the act OF 1873
defenscless condition, and the Secretary calls the
earnest attention Of Congress TO the fact, suggest
ing that 81, 10000 the estimate Of the Chief Of
Ordnance, be appropriated to put them In q state