The Grange advance., 1875-12-15
Recommendation OF the Secretary OF
War.

Recommendations OF the Secretary OF
War.
Below we present some of the most i'm
portant features in the report of the
Secretary Of War, on the operations Of
the department for the fiscal year ending
June 80, 1878:
November %. 1875.
Mr.. President: / am gratified to be
able to state that, since my fast annual
report, a marked improvement has taken
place III the morale OF the service. The
army is now reduced to $4,000 men. Re-
cruiting was resumed in November, 1874,
for the purpose Of keeping up the stand
ard number, and, under careful system
in the selection of the men, the class of
recruits now received is of superior
quality. The number Of desertions has
been largely reduced, being about 2.1U0
less than during the previous year, while
the number Of rc.enlistments has in.
creased nearly threcfold. The state Of
cGntentment thus shown is due, in great
measure, TO the excellent system of pay
established, which is now graduated by
length Of service, and affords the soldier
an opportunity to deposit his savings with
the government ard receive interest for
the same until the end of his term.
MILITARY TELEGRAPH LINES.
In pursuance of the acts of Congress,
approved respectively June 3, 1874, June
%, 1874. and March 3, 1875, authorizing
the construction and operation Of tele-
graph lines in the interior and upon the
frontier, connecting military posts, and
for the protection Of the populations and
from Indian and other depredations, Off.
GERS and enlisted men Of the Signal serv.
ice have been detailed for the construc'
ton and operation of the lines, and have
entered upon their duties. The work Of
construction has been in great part done
under the general direction Of officers of
the Signal Service by additional details
furnished by Department Commanders.
!'hc lines in Arizona from the Texas from"
tier, and in the Indian Territory, al
ready partly CONSTRUCTED, are approach.
ing completion. Permanent benefit will
result from the connection Of military
p"sts by telegraph, and will greatly in.
crease the protection Of frontier villages
upon the lines and the country through
which they pass.
| RELIEF OF GRAssHoPPER SUFFERERS.
Under the authority conferred by the
act of Congress approved Feb. 10, 1875,
for the relief of persons from the. ravages
of grasshoppers, the appropriation was
placed un.ler the charge of officers of the
Subsistence Department, with instruc.
tions for the purchase and issue of food
to the suffers within the respective mill
tary departments: During the period
when destitution from the cause referred
to was greatest. 1,757,l08 ratio s were
issued to 63. 593 adults, and 43,942 child
dren under IL years Of age, residing in
the States of Minnesota, Nebraska, Iowa,
and Kansas, and the Territories Of Dako-
ia and Colorado. OF the sum of $780,.
600 appropriated by Congress, $132,877.6 go
was disbursed for the purpose contempla
ted by the act, and $5,ll230 was re.
\ turned to the treasury.
THE ESTIMATES OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS
are submitted separately, as presented
by that officer, viz:
Furiications end other wo Ks of
defense ...... 80. .$ 2,U44, ,OOU
Public buildings and grounds and
Washington Aqueduct ...:.. 80. 7l4, ,474
Surveys 80. ...... ...... ITO, 900
Engineer depot at Willet's Point,
| N. Y.....:. .... ..... 90. ....... $4,000
Office expenses ...... ......... 4,30o
| improvement Of rivers and har-
bors 80. ...... .... 80. ...... 14,3ol, ,lC0
Total ...... ...... go. ..... go. S.7.29s, ,S74
For several years past have called
attention to the necessity Of All increase
in the annual appropriation for
| Y
The annual appropriation of 100000
was made in 1903, when the population
was about 100000. At the present
time, with population of over 100000.
900, the amount appropriated is still the
same; and it is impossible for this de.
partment to meet all the demands made
upon it by the States and Territories. If
it be the intention and desire Of Congress,
as expressed in the act Of 1903, to pro-
vide EARNS and military equipments for
the whole body Of the militia Of the
United States," then the necessary means