National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1873-12-12
War Department.
ruB SECRETARY OF WAR.

wa oSfss' s''~'''
rHB SECRETARY OF WAR.
The annual report OF the Secretary OF War
shows that the estimates for military purposes
for the year ending June 80, 1874 were S3s96,'
3Ts.7s. The estimates for the same purpose for
the year endlng June 80, 1875 are $3iatO,1 122 80,
the excess OF the next year over the current
one being 1884 .3Al The appropriation FOR
military pnrpo for the year ending June 80,
1874, was So. or .97l 81 Congress II asked To
appropriate S22 900 600 for buldiug ana armin Y
foris. He suggests that some action be taken
toward the passage or II positive law 10 pmnish
recruits who have deceived recruiting 0ilicers
by falsely swearing TO their age or physlcal
condition, aud saws: :" In my judgment he
should he Immediately turned over To u proper
tribunal. and the United states law otlicer IN
whose district recruit may have committed
AN offense, should be required to prosecute
hun for the false oath he has taken, and for
the great expense he has gwen the Govern
ment."
The head OF the Executive Department, ON
March 10, 1873 caused an order to be issued
directing that no army officer. either active or
retired, shall. directly or indirectly, without
being called upon by proper authority, solic1t,
suggest. or recommend action by members OF
Congress. for or against military affairs.
Fifty railroads at the close OF the war, under
Executive orders. purchased from this depart
meut railroad material 10 the appraised value
OF over " .50O,OOO thirty or them having pald
their debts IN fun The remaining twenty
are still IN our debt to the amount or si,66S.-
Wa VI. lUt tDlhl HIilouut Nv" 'hu'N
sales, with interest and expenses, has thus far
been S5,ll6 .605 SO.
In regard 10 headstones for soldiers graves
IN the national cemeteries. he states that CON
tracts have been awagded. Particular care
has been taken To have these ncnistones per
manent when once erected. The entire cost
of these slabs aud blocks. under the contract
"a awarded should they be entered into by
the successful bidders, VIII Amount TO
S7O,Oi5.4S.
SEA COAST DEFENsEs.
feel great hesitation in recommending IN
cre9 sed appropriation at this time, but deem
u my duty to say that the armament OF our
sea-coast defenses, which involves tue ques.
ton Of the defense OF our principal sca-ooafu
citles from attack IN case of war win "a naval
power, Is "a subject demanding the earnest at
teution OF Congress The princiral cities on
our coast are in Il very defenseless state, ana
the tedious and costly work OF PREPARATION
cannot he commenced on the breaking out of IA
war with the hope of accomplishing any ale-
quate result. The work must be done IN time
OF peace, without wating for an uncertain pc
rod IN search alter perfection IL gun'construc-
tions. The Importance of this subject Increases
with the earnest and continued efforts on the
part OF ali nations to supply their forts with
the most improved armament. aud should war
lind this country without proper defense
against ironcads and their great guns, the re-
sponsibillty cannot rest on TINS Department.
as the Importance OF the subject mas Deen
brought to the attention of Congress. An hp-
preparation of 81 I49 552 is estimated tor by the
ChIef of Ordnance for the next fiscal year Tor
the purchase OF smoOth-bore guns aud Tor car
riages, which sum VIII proVide Tor one-slxth
only, of the guns ana carriages that VIII be re-
quired for fortltcatIous which VIII be ready
by the 3Oth of June. 1874. TINS amount IS not
embraced In the regular estimates OF aplro,
prlat,ons for the army, as heretofore alluded
to- but II is subject OF great Importance. and
the question Of these appropria SIS respect
fully submitted.
ToRPEDoEs
With the small appropriations granted for
trials with torpedoes. tho Investigations upon
this subject have been continued. TO the Dene-
fit OF our system of submarine mines This
accessory for the defense OF our lrbor III re-
cent years has developed int" one OF great
impo rtance among the maritime powers. ana
to investigate the recent electrical metuous
and systems of torpedoes. as well AS to procure
certain materials, two officers OF englneefs .
were sent duriOg the summer to Europe. Inc
results of their mission are the coIlecIion OF
valuable information on TINS subject, ana
saving Of expenditure 10 the Government
RIVER AND HARBoR IMPROVEMENTS.
The river and harbor improvements men
toned III my last annual report nave peeh
continued. and the works and surveys con
nected herewith have been carried Oh during
the past year with vlgor. Detailed lniorma-
tion III regard to each SPECIFIC Improvement
and the results of surveys directed to be made
by the River aud HarbOr Appropriation acts.
may be found in the report OF the Chief OF
Engineers.
The Improvement OF our rivers and harbors
consists chiefly in giving increased width ana
depth to existing channel ways ana basins,
ana protecting them. or Increasing new cnan'
nels ald basins and giving them protective
works. The operations to this end comprise
the removal of obstrucuons of various kinds.
such as rock III place and powders, bars OF
clay, sometimes lndurated; or graVei, sanu,
ana otner alluvial matter; OF raffs, OF en- eX-
tending from the surface OF the river nearly TO
the bottom, formed by masses OF drifting
trees, OF the accumulation OF slabs. edglngs,
and sawdust: of timber and other c0nstruc-
tious placed in cbannel-ways to obstruct or
close them; the construction OF dlkes. dams,
wlng-dams. and revetmeDts, ana the Dulluihg
Of canals. breakwatets, and piers. all tendlng
TO promote the general interests OF commerce
and navigation, by furnishing increased fdclli-
hes of communication and giving greater
security to trade.
The river anc haroor improvements, men
.loned IN the last annual report. have been
continued, and the works aud surveys con
lected there with nave been carried ou during
he pas year with Nlgor.
A board of experienced officers OF wnlch
Gen. A. II. Terry was President, was con
sened in September, 1872, for the selection OF
lreech loading system Tor the muskets ana
'arbines OF the military service. After an eX-
laustive trial of all the systems pres' nted, the
BOARD selected tue Springfield breech-loading
,ystem as the one OF all those brought before
{, which Is best calculated TO meet the de-
nands OF our military service. The report OF
,ystem OF breecb loader VIII hencetorth be
lsed for muskets aud carbines OF the army
At the same time the callbre of all small arms
or the service-rifies. carDlues, aud revolvers
has been fixed at 45l00 of an lncb.
UNITED STATES ARMY.
Gen. Sherman. the head of the army, says in
his report to the Secretary OF War. that the
aggregate showing Is IS, ,535 enlisted men OF
,avalry, artillery, and Infantry, and 1870 non
20 mhatants-tne whole aggregating 29,5O5, or
80 less than the number 100000 limited bY
aw. In The active regiments the number OF
men sick ana on the necessary details ABOUT
he posts Will fully equal twenty hVe per cent;
10 hat the actual strength Tor military service
ioes not exceed 1862 men. He recommends
hat Congress be asked to fix the limlt ot the
,unsted force at such figure as Will give 3d.
40 enlisted men for the regiments OF the line.
,ud to provide specifically for the non-com-
,atant detachments as an extra force whlcn
would increase the actual humber OF enlisted
men to about $1,000 men.
The number OF regimental commissioned
,fficers on duty or belonging TO the several
departments and divisions number. In the
aggregate, 1,532; present for duty ,234; absent
~ leave or detached, 29o.
The foregoing does not include the thirty one
,econd Lieutenauts recently appointed from
lvil life, now under orders to JOIN their regl-
nents.