Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1875-01-21
Presidents Message-The Coast De.
fences.

Presidents Message-The Coast De-
fences.
The following message of the President was
sent to the House of Representatives yesser-
day, on the subject of coast defeDces:
To the Senate and House Of Representatives.:
In my annual message OF December |, 1879,
while inviting general attention to all the recon-
mendations made by the Secretary of War,
your special attention was invited to the i'm
portance of preparing for war in time Of peace
by prov ding proper armament for our sea coast
defences. Proper armament is OF vastly more
inheritance than Notifications. The latter can
be supplied very speedily for temporary pur-
poses whom .,eeded; the former cannot"
These views gain increased strength and per-
tinence AS the years roll by. l have now again
the honor to call special attention to he condl-
ton Of the armament of our forLlhcatons," and
the absolute necessity for immediate provision
by Congress for the procurement OF heavy can
non. The large e1 pendltures required TO supply
the number of guns for our forts is tie strongest
argument that cun be afduccd for liberal an
nual appropriation for their gradual accumula-
ton. In time of war such preparations cannot
be made, cannon canrot be purchased in open
market or manufactured ut short notice They
NUT be the product of years OF experience and
labor.
| herewith inclose copies of report of the
Chief Of Ordnance and of 4 board Of ordnance
verted from ten-inch smooth bore, which
shows very conclusively an economical means
of utilizing these useless smooth bores and max
ing them into eight inch rides capable of pierre
ing seven inches of iron.
The .294 ten-inch Rodmsn guns should, in
my opinion, be So Utilized and the appropria-
ton requested BY the Chief Of Ordnance OF
$3.50, 900, to commence these conversions, Is
earnestly recommended
Viii convinced of the economy and neces-
sity Of these conversions the determination of
the hcst and most economical method of pI ovid
ing guns of still larger calbre should no longer
be delayed the experience Of other nations,
based on the new conditions of detence brought
prominently forward by the introduction Of
iron clads into every navy afoat demands heav-
ier meta and rife guns of not less than twelve
inches in caiiore. These enormous masses,
hurting shot OF 700 pounds Can alone meet
many OF the requirements of the national de-
fences 1hny mus. DO Provided and expert
mrnt: on large scale Can alone give the data
necessary for tue determination Of the question.
4 suitable proving ground with all the facili.
ties and conveniCrces referred to BY the chief OF
ordnance, with liberal annual appropriation,
is All undoubted necessity. The guns now ready
for trial cannot be expert. ented with without
funds and the estimate Of S250,00O for the PR
pose is deemed reasonable and is strongly re.
commended.
The constant appeals for legislation on the
armament Of iortf at;ons" ought Ee longer to
re disrrgarded if Congress desires in pe,ce TO
prepare the important material .hout which
future WAR; must inevitably lead TO disaster.
This subject is submitted with the hope that
the co SlueratlQn 1t deserves mag D3 gwen 1t st
the IreSeIt session. U. >. Or Mt.
ExECUT We MANSION, January 70 1875.
KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAs At the meeting
of the Grand Lodge oil Knights of Pythias 10
Richmond, Oh Tuesday, the reports Of the
grand officers we're presented. Since the last
meeting, the Graud Chancellor states that he
has grautcd dlspcnsatons Tor the establishment
Of uine new lodges Relations with the Supreme
body have beeu most cordial aud traternal, and
the apprehensionS, expressed, is, under the
management Of the pr sant worthy and efficient
Ulcers, fast giving away to feeling Of entire
confidence.
Grand Banker. H. c. G. Hartman, submit
ted his report, showing balance on haud slOce
last session of 81, 80. 81; received from Il. X.
orR 5. TO date, ST 500 80; total, S2,729.9l;
discussed, 81 1913 rs, leaving balance 10 u.
5 hands OF $S96.6.
Supreme Representative Wade submitted a
report of the action of the Supreme RepreseD-
tatlves at the annual session of the Supreme
body, held in Pirtsburg, Pa He states that
the report of the Supreme Scribe gives fat
teTlUR ACCOUNT VI the CODulliUu VI Tue OTucI,
as will be seen By tie following extract NuG.-
Der Of lodges, l,2O4; Past Chancellors, l0,0O7,
knights Sc, 4S9; total membership, Including
esqulres aud pages, 97.700.
Loss OF A VALUABLE HORSE. Several
nights ago valuable horse belonging to Mr..
VIM. j. Bowie, near this village, was missed
from the stable; search was made for several
DAYS but without avail and the horse Has
supposed To have been stolen; when, some days
ago. Mr.. Bowie began to fill his ice house, he
saw, to his astonishment, the body of his horse
laying at the bottom of the ice-house with its
neck brokeu. 1t seems hat the horse bad
gotten out of the stable and met its death 10
the above singular mauner This was valu
able animal aud highly priced By its owner
Marlboro Gazette
PARRIcIDE -On Saturday last near Earlys-
vile, III A!tcmarle, negro mau named Henry
W bite, attempted to whip one of his daugh-
iers, when she resisted, and seizing stick,