Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-12-07
Report Of Secretary Of War.
Ills Recommendations and -tate.
mentS.
Appropriations Asked For.

New York, December g.
The report OF the secretary of war says that
the sea and coast defences are making satisfactory
progress. The class Of works adopted in 1869 il
heavy earth batteries, thoroughly protected and
arranged for guns and workmen, suitable to resist
the attack Of the most powerful iron clads.
Already some positions selected, particularly in
our commercial ports, have large proportion o!
their gun positions prepared.
lie urges an increase of the engineer corps from
two hundred to five hundred men, as that num-
Der is required for torpedo service.
lie SAYS that the trials with torp docs have oon.
tinued and have confirmed previous Ii>,s Il, 10
the Importance of this auxiliary in the defence OF
our harbors as well as certainty that their use in
time of war will prevent an enemy's vessel from
running past our batteries, and will enable ms to
hold them under the fire OF our artillery.
All the preliminary work for the deepening and
widening of the channel at the mouth of the Mis-
sissippi river has been done, and the secretary
recommends an appropriation of ST. 800 for the
next years surveys and examinations.
lie also asks the following appropriations For
tfcations and other works of defence, s., 044 900
public buildings and grounds, ard Washington
aqueduct, Siso,2oO; engineer depot at Willet':
Point, New York, $50 900; office expenses, 1874,
600; improvements of rivers and harbors, $l4,-
30l 100; total, S27 ,29S, 740.
He SAYS the army was reduced to $4,000 men
and they are more contented than heretofore,
there being less desertion, while the class Of
formerly in the army.
He dc sires legislation authorizing him 10 en-
list music boys under IL years of age.
He also urges the establishment Of military
band of Is for each regiment and reduction OF
laundresscs allowed each regiment.
lie urges the adoption Of the German service
of en.istipg for transportation service, beev-
ing thereby would be secured considerable econo-
my, aud desires stricter laws compelling enlsting
men to make oath that they are single.
He commends the work Of the signal bureau,
and saws that daily reports are being arranged
with all the west India islands. OF the daily re-
ports last year. the probabilities have been full
filled in 81 out of 100 instances.
The amount expended during the year in Ma
tional cemeteries was 1921 1887, and eleven ceme-
teres still require enclosing walls. Headstones
furnished to date 63, IL.
He recommends the enactment of a system Of
annuities for the benefit of the, families of de-
ceased officers. He favors the re-establshment of
the mileage system to officers travelling under Or
ders, and recommends the concentration Of NUM-
tions of war in one grand arsenal, to be built
from the proc eeds of the sales Of the present a.
senals.
The actual expenditures of the war department
for the year ending June 80, 1874, including river
and harbor improvements, were S42, 1926, 3l4. The
same for the last fiscal year ending June &c. 1875,
were Sal ,3I1 49, showing reduction Of 81 ,0i8,-
$50.
The estimates for the military establishment for
the fiscal year ending June 80, 1877, are 1913, 452
1885, those for the current fiscal year ending June
80, 1876 were S32 Ass, 500, being an increase OF
1868 421. The appropriations for that purpose
for the current fiscal year were S2S,727 ,404.
lie recommends Congress to appropriate $780,
COO additional, to enable the war department to
give adequate and practical hibtion Of its re-
sources at the Centennial.