National Republican., 1873-12-01

able the Department 10 collect from the Post
once Department the postal earnings Of several
OF these delinquent railroads. The bonds OF the
roads given at the time q pnSnsse peaSe
debts. but they refuse or persisten.ly neelect 70
give TO tho Postmaster General the necessary
formal orders TO turn over the funds 70 TINS Dc
he also recommends an appropriation 70 con:
tinue presont experiment OF artesian well at
Fort D a. RnsselI BELIEVING seI,es w.a o. now,ns w
tana, and Dakota will be OF importance upon
development Of their material interests. In re-
gard % head-stones for solders graves @ IN ma, na,
awarded. Particular care has been taken 70
have these head-stones permanent when once
erected. The entire cost Of the slabs and elocks,
under the contracts a. awarded, should they be
entered into by the successful bidders, VIII
amount to tiTo,0i5.is.
lIe recommends that the one hundred thou
sand dollars appropriated by Conercss Tor cree
tion Of depot at san Antonio be used TO purchase
OF rent OF such sites OF posts In Texas as may
be found to be actually needed, there being no
necessity TO erect depots nt that point. Also
recommends that an act he passed authorizing
the issue OF tobacco 10 enlisted men Of the army,
as a component part Of the army-ratiou, A. near
as may be In amount TO thAt authorized to be
inc recommendation made In former years Is
renewed, that the catalogue and tablets Of the
DO puDlished in style similar to Mortons era
MIA Americana. A bin for this purpose passed
ono house Of Congress during the last session,
W Inc s Secretary tSinss !. l. absolutely necessary
for the welfare Of the service that the medical
corps be opened to appointment and promotion.
Anu5ion Is made TO the Recommendation OF the
Paymaster General for legislation providing for
an increase OF the present force Of paymasters.
There are now but forty-four In service. The
Paymaster General recommends that the mum
bef be fixed by law at nfty 1.-TWO, and that pro-
motions and new appointments be Allowed.
The corps Of engineers has been actively en-
gagged upon the defensive works OF our coasts
surveys for them, and for the protection OF the
| navirable waters OF the United states against
deterioration, whether from bridging or other
causes; upon the geodetlc and photographic
| survey Of the lakes; upon surveys for the de-
fences of the coasts; upon military surveys and
| Reconnaissance In the interior; upon geographi-
buildings and grounds In the District Of Colum-
bia; upon the construction Of lighthouses, and
upon the demarkation OF the boundary between
| the United states aud Great Britain.
The works projected and approved for IN,
modification and Strengthening OF our sea-coas
dctcnces and fortincations have been advance
with rapidiy conslstent with economy an
bors now contain quite number OF platform
ready for their armament OF guns OF the larges
callores. Heavy guns mounted N covered pos
bors must always be the basis Of any successfu
defence, and the works projected aud in oours
o. construction should be prosecuted to compile
With the small appropriations granted 70
trials with torpedoes, the investigations upo
thls subject have been continued, 70 the beneu
OF our system Of submarine mines. This ascei
sory for the defence Of our harbors In recen
years has developed into one Of great importanc
! among the maritime powers, and 70 investigat
torpedoes, as well as to procure certain mate
| ras, two officers Of engineers were sent durin
the summer to Europe. The results Of thei
mission are the collection Of valuable informs
l m thia auhtarf n QQVtQU of II DeUd
tuTe to the Government
, The river aud harbor improvements montione
In my last annual report have been continue.
and the works and surveys connected therewii
, have been carried on during the past year wit
! vigor.
: Q, 1879, directed that report be made upon th
9 practicability Of bridging the channel betwee
Lake Huron and Lake Erie, without material Il
Jury to che interests Of navigation, and upon q
number and character Of vessels navigating thi
Z channel. The subject has been committed TO
Y board OF experienced engineer Officers, who 81
o now engaged upon it. II Is expected that the
2 report Will be received during the early part
y the session OF Congress.
" In carrying out the provisions Of recent &c
a of Congress authorizing the construction
]. bridges, my attention has been called TO the fa
o that certain bridges have beeu built, and tn
Z one Is now being constructed across navigab
u waters OF the United States without any amino
a ity OF law; and further, that certain parti
e Claim the right to bridge, and that one Of tho
q parties Is now constructing bridge under q
n thority claimed TO he derived from acts grantir
u right Of way for railroads through public LAM
9 and granting lands to aid In tho construction
n 4 road chartered by State authority. In view
!. the provisions OF the more recent acts OF Co
y gress requiring tho Secretary OF War TO mainta
+ a supervision over the location and constru
& ton OF bridges crossing navigable waters Of u
L United States, In order that the interests
a navigation shall be protected, feel 1t my du
d ject and to suggest such general legislation
al may be deemed necessary for the preseryati,
g. Of the great natural channels Of commerce.
le In thus connection the Secretary recommen
., bridge across the Arkansas river at Little Ros
Of Arkansas, approved May 81, 1879, be repealt
n a; ior the reason that bridge constructed N Co
20 and impair the navigation OF the river.
X The survey OF the lakes has been continu
ut with success during the season. The survey
T. Lake Michigan has been pushed forward neal
~ to completion. and that Of the St Lswren
OF river has been extended nearly 70 Lake Ontar
e otherportlons Of the survey are In satisfactc
n, The commission appointed BY the President
ry examine and report on system OF irrigation
the San joaquin, Tuare and Sacramento valle
rd California, met and organized In San Francis
It's in May, and proceeded at once to examine /
" valleys In question and the streams empty
2: into them. BY tho end OF June they had ma
II this labor and in the collection OF informant
O. to enable them to render full report upon
be subject Of investigation.
10 referring 10 the report OF tne cnieI OF O
n nance calling attention to the arguments fav
ing repeal OF the law prohibiting promotions
y. the ordnance corps, the Secretary says: Tn
OF claims to promotion appeal strongly TO the
lg board OF experienced ofiicers, Of which G,
IS A. II. Terry was president, WAS convened
on September, 1879, for the selection OF bree'
It. loading system for the muskets and carblnes
10, the military service. After an exhaustive u
ng Of all the systems presented, the board select
~ the Springfield breech.loading system as
on one, OF all those brought before 10, which Ia
In best calculated TO meet the demands OF our m
or tary service.
Us Tue report OF the board was approved, q
W the Springfield system OF brcech-loader v
ie blnes OF the army. AT the same time the calit
~ OF all small arms for the seryice-rifies, 81
=, bines and revo vers-has been nxed At .45
ss ,e an inch: I Is now question Of grave impo
~ shall not be made At once In suflcient qaantit
~ for reserve supply In case OF war, and TO q
H. end an approprlation Of 500 900 has been ssk
W W Rether with the materials now on hand, OF abb
u u, 5000 arms.
m The annual appropriation OF 100000 for ar
ii. ing and equlpplng the militia, an amount o.
N. by Congress during the early part Of the centu
Is now found inadequate, BY reason Of che gr
on Increase Of population, TO- supply the wants
nv the whole body Of the militia, and IL is, the
ks fore, recommended that the appropriation
m that purpose be increased In q manner prop
~ tlonate TO the increase Of the population siI
mi the passage OF the act OF 1S0S providing for
distribution OF arms to the militia OF the count
m. feel great hesitation In recommending
el creased appropriations at this time, but de-
II my duty TO say that the armament Of our 81
nv coast defences, which Involves the question
~ the defence OF our principal Sea- board cit
al from attack, In case Of war with naval pow
rs Is q subject demanding the earnest attention
M Congress. The principal cities on our coast
2 n in very defenceless state, and the tedious I
by costly work Of preparation cannot be commend
~ on the breaking out Of war, with the hope
u accomplishing any adequate result. The w
as must be done In time Of peace, without watt
"a for an uncertain period In search after peri
NJ ton In Run-constructlons. The Importance
n this subject Increases with the earnest q
y. continued Efforts on the part Of all natio
4. to supply their forts with the IN,
~ improved armament, and should Y
IN md this country without O proper
~ fence against ironclads and their great gu
~ the responsibility cannot rest on this Depa
a ment, rs the importance OF the subject has on
- been brought to the attention OF Congress. .
\. appropriation Of 81 ,44I $50 is estimated for
40 the Chief Of Ordnance for the next fiscal y,
a. for the purchase OF smooth-bore guns and
Iy carriages, which sum will provide for one sil
~ only OF the guns and carriages that viii be
N quired for the fortincations which will be reA
n. by the 3Oth OF June, 1874. This amount Is i
4. embraced In the regular estimates OF appropr
4. tions for the army, but Is Q subject Of great |
y. portance, and the question OF these appropr
a tons Is respectfully submitted.
10 The heavy rined guns selected for fabricati
10 and test under the act approved June q, 1879,
ID now In process OF manufacture, and will be Co
Il pleted during the winter. Valuable inf0rmati
a -.