Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-11-23
REPORT OF GENERAL sHERN


strength of the line of the army according TO
the last reports received is 1,5io officers and
"a OBJ enlisted men. During the past winter
the troops In the departments Of the Missouri
and Texas were employed In an arduous and
severe winter campaign against the Kiowa
Cheyenne and Conanche Indians ON the
border of the Staked Plains that have for
years been engaged in depredatious on the
Texas and Kansas frontiers. The Sioux In
dams have recently made incursions into
MoI bla N ezra mostly to steal cattle
Railway and north of IL. General Crook ia
of the opinion that the whole army, acting
and suggests that troops be stationed i'm the
midst of the Indians to watch and prevent
them leaving on pretense OF hunting. Gem
erty by Indians is believed to be less during
the past year than in any former year and
the prospect is that as the country settles up
they acquire habits OF industry in farming
or in stock raising they will need food from
the general government, because the game
on which they have hitherto subsisted has
diminished very rapidly.
QUARTERMASTER GENERALS REPORT
In his annual report just submitted to the
Secretary OF War, the Quartermaster Gene
raj says: That no such embarrassment to
the military service Is caused 10y the law
which compels officers of the Quartermas-
ter's department 10 keep separate accounts
with each appropriation on account OF which
they Gisburse money. Officers OF the depart
peal Of the law. Through the courtesy OF SIR
Edward Thornton one hundred cork helmets,
snch as are worn by the British troops In
hot countries have been procured, and are
being tried in Arizona Measures have been
taken to have the Quartermaster's depart
ment represented at the Centennial al Phila-
delphia next summer by display of articles
of supply. A detailed statement of expenses
on account OF transportation by railroads
and otherwise is given, as well as expendi-
lures and operations in connection with In
dian agencies, national cemeteries, military
posts and sea- coast forts; for the latter the
erection OF buildings outside the forts for use
in time OF peace is strongly recommended.
The passage of law providing for the de-
struction or removal to q storehOuse OF the
accumulated mass OF useless papers is again
urged.
REPORT OF GENERAL ORD ON MEXICAN
RAIDERS.
General Ord in command OF the depart
ment of Texas, in his annual report gives a
lengthy account of the border operations of
the Mexican banditti. The report closes with
the following significant suggestions: IT
seems TO me that the circumstances of the
plumber OF the stock ranches on the Rio
Grande are almost Identical with the pira-
by the Algerines, who fled in safety 10 their
own ports with their prizes. There the Of
fences were committed on the open sea, and
here they are committed on the open PLATA
Some more effectual means must be adopted
than sending troops or sailors to look on
while our people are being despOiled ard
murdered for 1t is very evident that the sail
ors and soldiers, however willing, can do
nothing If confined 10 this side of the river.
and an order to make reprisals, with the
means to carry out the order. has sometimes
resulted IN indemnity as well as security.
REPORT OF HARBoR DEFENsEs.
The report of the chief OF army engineers
shows that the work now in progress u,rcn
our seacoast defencss consists exclusively in
The construction OF powerful earth baroette
natter!ts tor guns OF the heaviest calibre
These earthern barbette batteries, with mas
sive pafapetS, traverses on either side OF each
gun, and strong parados, where needed, will
furnish with a depressing gun carriage the
greatest protection for the armament and
cannoneers that can be attained outside of
lion case mate constructions. Among the
accessories for the defense of orr har5ors are
torredoes, or sea mines, planted across the
chanrels and ia such numbers as to bar the
entrance OF the enemy's vessels, aud hold
them under the fire Of the batteries.
REPORT OF COMMIssARY GENERAL.
The annual report OF Commissary General
Of Subsistence McFeely shows the amount
appropria ted for subsistence of the army for
the fiscal year ending June 30, 1875, was
90 was SC9,liI.S9. He recommends that
s3o0,0C0 OF the amount to be appropriated for
the support OF the army for the fiscal year
ending June 80, 1871, be made available prior
TO the 1st of June next for the purchase of
supplies required for advance shipments to
distant posts.
CENSUS OF THE INDIANS.
Major General John Pope has forwarded TO
the Secretary OF War table giving the aum-
Der OF Indians living in the United States,
Onltllng thoSe living in Alaska, as follows:
CIVILIZED Indians, eco; semi-civilizel In
dians, 13j 900; barbarOus Indians. 81, 600. He
says, as the Indians are superstitiously OPP
posed 10 being counted, the taking of their
census abOunds with many greatdiilculties;
therefore the strength above given is MOSTLY
official estimate.
REPORT OF THE CHIEF OF ORDNANCE.
General s. V. Benet, chief OF ordnance, has
made his annual report 20 the Secretary OF
War. II shows that the disbursements for
the year amounted 10 81 25i 5Ts0S. In regari
to the sd lie Of certain arsenals the report
says: In pursuance Of an act OF Congress
board was appointed to report 10 the next
Congress how many of the same can be soil
without interfering with the necessities of
the military service. In pursuance thereof
board. consisting of Lieutenant Colonel CHS
pm and Majors Treadwel aud Baylor, Ott-
nance department, was appointed for the
purpose indicated, and its report recon-
mends the immediate sale of Pikesville Ar
senal, Nd. This recommendation is con-
CURED In, the arsenal being badly located
and of insufficient capacity for storage TO
Justify the expenditures necessary 10 keen IL
in repair. The Detroit Arsenal having been
recently turned over TO the Interior depart
ment for sale, as required by law, ami the
Columbus Arsenal having been transferrei
to the general recruiting service for depot
retention of all the remaining arsenaIs east
OF the Mississippi as essential for the neces-
sites and proper service OF the Ordnance de-
partment, unless Congress shall by legisla-
tive enactment permit the execution OF the
plan OF concentration proposed by the board
on arsenals in 1874. That plan consists in
the establishment of a grand arsenal OF Goa
s'ructiOn in the vicinity OF New York CITY.
retaining the Springfield armory and the
FRANKFORT arsenal as adjuncts, for manufac-
turing purposes; retaining, also, the In
dtanapolis arsenal. Indiana; 'Kennebec arse
nal, Maine; Fort Monroe arsenal. Virginia
and Augusta arsenal, Georgia. as places for
storage and repair, and selling the Allie
sheny, Watervliet, WATERFOWL and WASH
ington arsenals as rapidly rs circumstances
Will permit, the proceeds Of such sales to be
devoted TO the purchase OF site and the
erection OF workshops, storehouses, etc, for
the grand arsenal. The amount that can
probably be realized from the sales will be
S3,3ls 1924 IS.
BEATING THE BELL PUNcH-THe DiscOcs-
Ties that Deoc0R Richdftts3n Nude One Fine A :
torcon.-William Richardson, the president
of the Atlantic Avenue Railroad. deacon OF
DR. ultOnsS church. and late republican can