The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1874-12-17

the pursuit of savages who have broken out
from the reservations and committed depre-
dations. Messages from all points are re.
transmitted TO order and organize the move.
ments of pursuit, and the cost of couriers
has been much diminished.
Under the ACT appropriating million OF
dollars for placing headstones ut the graves
of soldiers Inferred in the National Military
Cemeteries, contracts have been made fol
the whole work, which are within the sun
appropriated, and the same is now In
progress.
There are seventy-six Cemeteries desig
mated as National, in which are inferred
139,962 unknown and 162,079 known sol
diers. Sixty-eight Superintendent are OF
duty.
The Cemetery established at the city o
Mexico during the Mexican war having beer
declared National Military Cemetery b!
act of Congress, and committed to the car
Of this Department., many Improvement
have been made.
In the Medical Department, notwithstand
ing the occurrence of cases OF yellow feye
at Forts Jefferson and Borraneas during tn
summer of 1873, the army enjoyed unusua
good health during the year.
Under the Chief of Engineers the work
for the defense of the coast have been pros
ecuted with vigor and as rapidly as the ap
preparations in hand would permit, and II
several Of our important harbOrs some of tn
larger works are approaching completion
Generally, the works are notifications of eS
listing defenses, constructed for less powerful
ornaments than those now used. The rapi
advances that have been made in power o
modern ordinance, renders 1t essential tina
ha kaI 20 yar1t
completion and properly armed.
The trials with torpedoes, which for som
years past have been going on at Willet
Point, have developed system inferior,
is believed, to none in use abroad, whic
will furnish us at small cost with a means Q
barring our harbors against the inroads Q
iron-clad vessels, furnishing us with on
form of obstruction for holding them unde
the fire of our guns.
Satisfactory progress has been made upo
the works for the Improvement OF rivers an
harbors.
The provisions of the second and thir
sections of the act approved May II, 1877
providing for the payment of the bonds {
the Louisville and Portland Canal Con
pany," so far as relates to the transfer of a
the property of said company to the Unite
| States, have been complied with.
In compliance with the provisions of TIL
act of June %, 1874, authorizing the col
struction of substantial iron and masonr
bridge, and of causeway across the An
costa, or Eastern Branch of the Potoms
River, at or near the site of the preseI
Navy-Yard bridge, contract has been el
tered into with responsible parties for II
construction and completion of the sal
bridge.
An act approved June 90, 1884, provide
for the appointment of commission of e.
gineers to Investigate permanent plan T,
the reclamation of the alluvial basin of Il
Mississippi River subject to inundatio
The commission has been organized.
The amounts appropriated by the riv
and harbor act of June 20, 1874, are apple
to the specific objects therein designated.
The survey of the lakes has been CARR,
on during the year with its accustomed e
ergy and success.
with promise of identifying Americi
rocks with well-known types in Europe.
The geographical surveys and exploration
west of the one hundredth meridian in c,
ifornia, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, Colorad
New Mexico, Wyoming, and Montana, ha'
been carried on successfully.
In the Ordnance Department the Seer
tary reports material progress. The Sprin
field rifle has been adopted as an arm in Il
service; and the immediate manufacture
half a million of the best arms is recol
mended for protection in case of any emt
gencies. An increase in the annual Apr
priation for arming and equipping the who
body of the militia is brought to the attic
ton of Congress, with the hope of some lie
islation thereon.
The sale of several of the numerous arsena
east of the Mississippi river is advised, al
the building up of grand arsenal on Il
sea-board; and also the establishment of
powder depot and experimental ground
heavy cannon.
The regular instruction in military sign,
ing is progressing.
The act approved June 16, 1874, maintai
ing the signal-service at q force providil
for one hundred and fifty sergeants al
ton of two for each sergeant, has been pl
ductive of good results. The men who ha
enlisted under it are of superior quality.
During the year twenty-three stations
observation have been added to those fro
which reports are deemed necessary to G
able proper warnings to be given of the q
proach and force of storms and of 9th
meteoric changes for the benefit Of agric,
tural and commercial interests.
The daily exchange of telegraphic repol
with the Dominion of Canada has been mai
| uhu VI threatened udHR
have been regularly sent to be displayed
the ports of the Dominion.
A series of daily Geographic reports h
been received from stations in the West
dies, extending from Cuba, by Jamaica,
Barbados and the Windward Islands Il
most eastern station thus established, and
the course of possible cyclones, lies 2,3
miles to the southwark and eastward
Washington.
Legislation is recommended in regaad
the dismissal of army officers detected in pl
senting duplicate vouchers for pay in
gard to leave of absence OF army officers;
specting provisions for the support of wi
ows and orphans of army officers; for app
priations to locate military prison at FL
Leavenworth for the establishment of
Professorship of Rhetoric and English
erature at West Point; and for the publ,
ton of the official records of the War of t
Rebellion.