National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-12-07

1Lls ITaQstCT OF the canal was made on the 10Th
day Of June, 1874, from which date the reduction
Of tolls took effect. The requirements of the act
regarding the rate Of tolls for the year 1878 will
be complied with as soon after the close of the
present calendar year as practicable when a spe.
cial report will be submitted setttng forth the
receipts and expenditures during the period of
reduced tolls, I. e., from June 10 to December 81,
1874, and the condition Of the canal at the close
Of the year.
ATACOsTIA RIVER.
In compliance With the provisions of the act
approved June - 1874, authorizing the eenstruc-
ton Of q substantial iron and masonry bridge
and Of 4 causcway across the AnacOstia, or East
ern Branch Of the POtamee river, at or near the
site OF tho present Navy Yard bridge, n contract
has been entered into with responsible parties
for the construction and completion of the said
bridge.
TRANSPORTATION ROUTES.
The surveys upon which to base estimates for
the improvements recommended by the Senate
Select Committee on Transportation Routes to
the ScabOard, including that for the extension of
the Chesapeake and Ohio canal, are now in
progress:
The board of engineers provided for in the third
section ofthe act has been organized and the mem
bers.are now engaged upon the Investigations, OK
ton Of report upon the best method of obtaining
and maintaining depth of water sufficient for
commercial and military purposes, either BY canal
from the mississippi river to the waters OF the
Gulf Of Mexico, or by deepening one or moro of
the natural outlets Of the river.
The survey Of tho lakes has been carried on
during the year with its accustomed energy and
success. The connection of the triangulatiOn Of
Lakes Superior and Michigan, the in-shore and
Oh-shore photography and topography, have
been finished; the Wisconsin triangGIaiion has
been carried southwark to the vicinity of Chicago
and the keweenaw bascIhas been measured. The
surveys Of the Detroit river and river Saint Law
renee from the fOrty-fifth parallel have been
completed: the survey of Lake Ontario has been
commenced, and much of the tield-Work has been
reduced. The preparation of chart No. l of the
Saint Lawrence, Of Sandusky harbOr. and of the
mouth Of the Detroit river, has been completed.
1t has been stated that single survey made last
year. viz, the survey 0! the mouth of the Detroit
river, will save from $4,000 to 100000 to COM
mercc this year.
AIMING THE MILITIA.
An increase in the annual appropriation for
arminS and cquipping the whole body of the
militia Is again brought TO the attention of Con-
gTess, with the hope Of some Legislation thereon
Not only should the appropriation be largely in
creased to meet the wants OF our evor- growing
population, but some legislative action should be
taken TO relieve many of the States and Terri
tories from charges for arms issued to them dur
ing the rebellion, and which should not in fair
ness have been SO charged. This subject has been
SO often referred to in previous reports and so
largely Gwclt upon, that a more extended refer.
cnee to it at this time is unnecessary
SIGNAL OFFICE.
The regular instruction in military signaling
and tclCgraphy. meteOrOlOgy and the signal ser
vice duties AZ stations of observation, together
Msh e66nnded OF a ne hG school Il and
practice at Fort " nipple, Virginia. Inc course
Of instruction and practice is Intended to furnish
. force Of selected enlisted men at once dis
cpliled as soldiers, and fitted by special instruc-
ton for the different duties of the Signal serylee
Working parties have been organized at the last
named tor the construction Of the Geographic
IiIv5 Of the sea coast service and on the frontier
TIE daily exchange Of telegraphic reports with
the Dominion OF Canada &2s been maintained,
and warnings OF threatened danger have been
regularly sent, TO be displayed at taePeFls Of the
Dominion.
received iTGm stations in the West Indies, cX-
tending from Cuba. by Jamaica, to Barbados
and the WindWard Islands. The most eastern
station thus established, and IN the course Of
possible cyclones, lies 300 miles to the south
ward and eastward Of Washington.
Special correspondence had by the Signal
OficCr, by authority of the Department, with
scientists and chiefs of meteorological services
representing the different countries. has resulted
in arrangements by which a record Of Obserya-
lions to he taken daily, simultaneously with the
observations taken thTOue hOut the United States
and adjacent islands, is exchanged semi-mOnthly.
These reports are to cover the territorial extent
of Algiers, Austria, Belgium, Great Britain,
Denmark. France, Germany, Italy, the Neither
lands. Portugal Russia in Europe and Asia,
Swc6cn and Norway, Spain, Switzerland and
Turkey. Requests for similar cooperation are
preferred as rapidly as practicable.
The sca-cOast service of the signal corps, in
connection with the life-SaYing seTN ice has been
continued during the year. Photographic lines
reaching from Barnegat to Cape May, and from
Norfolk to Cape Hatteras have been constructed,
graphic lines operated by the officers and enlisted
men Of the signal service. The telegrapbic wires
connect ca I'll station directly with the War De-
paTtnent.
DEsERTIoNs.
Although the ratio of descrters from our army
has materially diminished during the past year,
vet the number still continues so great to make
this one of the most serious and perpleXlng evils
we have to encounter In our service, and remedy
is much needed.
agree with the inspector general OF the army
in his suggestion that lcEPFfiOn he constituted.
by legislative enactment, 4 felony, cOgniZable
by our civil courts Of criminal jurisdiction, the
offenders to be arrested by marshals and depu-
tics. like other criminals; but this jurisdiction to
be concurrent with that Of military courts.
WIDOWS AND ORPHANS OF ARMY OFFICERS.
Much interest has been taken by many officers
Of the army i'm the passage by Congress Of an act
providing that equitable deductions should be
made from the monthly pay Of officers and de-
POSTED to the credit Of the Treasury Of the United
States, to be passed into the general balances OF
the Treasury and be known as the Army mu-
tual suTyiyOrship annuity fund
bill for the protection Of widows and orphans
of officers Of the army, upon plan which had
been thoroughly matured, was introduced into
the House OF Representatives at the last session
of Congress and referred TO the Military Com
nittGc, in whose possession 1t now is. The views
Of those eninently qualified to Judge of the sub
JeCt OF life Insurance have been taken, and they
are without exception favorable to this plan.
There are many strong reasons why should
-ecCmmend il, as ! most cordially do, to the IA
vOrable consideration Of Congress.
MILITARY ACADEMY.
Drring the year the corps of cadets has steadi-
~ improved in discipline, and the result OF the
annual examinations has shown perceptible IN
crease Of proficiency in scholarship. Of the 3i2
cadets allowed by law, 2g7 are now at the acade-
my. and every eXeTtiOn is being made to induce
the Congressional Representatives in whose dis
tricts the vacancies exist to nominate capable
candidates ut sufficiently early day TO insure
their admission in June.
Ii is believed that Il the parents of those n9mi-
mated, or the candidates themselves, would more
generally comply with the suggestion Of the en-,
appOintee, that before leaving his place OF resi-
deDee for West Point he should be thoroughly
examined by n competent physician, and Dy a
teacher and instructor Of good standing, such an
examination would reveal any serious physical
disqualification, or defective mental preparation,
and the candidate probably be spared the
expense and trouble Of a useless journey and the
modification Of rejection.
A thorough examination as 70 the requirements
Of the institution, and much reflection on the sub
lcct, satisfy me that proiessOrship Of rhetoric
and English literature should be established
without Delay TO accomplish good results. Should
this be arranged, part OF the time now occupied
by other studies must be taken. This can readily
be done, for have never been able to understand
why the time which might be intelllgently de-
voted to the instruction Of the cadets IN the rhet
OTic and literature Of our own ianguage-sO ne
eessary, 50 useful and so appreciated in all po-
sitiOns Of life-shOuld be Lost and FILTERED away
by attempting to give them smattering Of
Spanish.
PUBLICATION OF THE OPTICAL RECORDS OF THE
REBELLION.
The sum OF $4,000 was included in the apprO-
priatiOn '.FOr sundry civil expenses OF the Gov
eminent !" approved June -, 1874. .'tO enable the
Secretary OF war to begin the publication Of the
official records Of the war Of the rebellion, both Of
the Union and Confederate armies
This is q work Of no incOnsiderable magnitude;
It certainly II Of great Importance and interest.
1t has been commenced with q determination TO
snare no pains 70 make the arrangement OF the
records simple and complete at the same time 20
omit al iTTeIeNa ant matter This object viii b,