The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-11-13


ANNUAL REPORT OF THE PAYMAsTER GENERAL
General Alvord, Paymaster General of the Army,
says in his annual report for the last fiscal year. end
ing June 80 1875 the number of during
time was 2521; reenlistments Of prvates 1885, and
of sergeants 347 The number OF assertions has de-
creased nearly onehalf while the number Of enlist
ments has increased nearly three times during the
last fiscal year, contrasted with the year.
This betokens superior contenment and is due doubt
less alone the pay being graduated by length
of service and to the effect Of the deposit system but
10 undoubtedly also due to improvement
In tho whole tone and condition Of the army The
total amount deposited by soldiers during the year
1926, 256 Doubtless the effect of the system has
been, heretofore to diminish assertions There re
manned the Both of June last s527 600 the hands
Of the government received deposits and not yet
repaid since the passing Of the act of May l5 1872
The Paymaster General calls attention the scheme
ravoraby alluded to by the Secretary OF War in his last
annual report for the enactment OF system OF
annuties tor the families of deceased officers by voun
tary deductions from the monthly pay Of officers 1t
is proposed that ii shall be done without eventual lex
pense to the government The money TO be deducted
is worth the government certain per centunS OF
interest This interest and the expectancy OF life
ARRIVED at by careful statistics the from
which annuity tables would be prepared by the most
careful and critical calculations The science OF proba
btes has reached great precision in It's computa-
tons; but after certain tables had been used twenty
years, less then If found defective correc-
tions could be made which would more perfectly &C
complish the object sought Some officers have
pressed a preference for voluntary established
assessment made upon the death Of the OIL
cer upon each member OF the association,
scheme entirely different from the nnuty plan
that II probably would at all conflict with t. There
Is one precaution that the Paymaster General would
emphasize that neither himself any other officer be
made las in the case OF the late Freedmens Bureau the
custodian Of any fund, but that il be deposited In the
Treasury, TO be withdrawn according to law The Paw
master General says the allowance and payment OF
mileage to officers OF the army is hedged about that
there be and were abuses OF II which are not
inseparable from any allowance based upon orders
issued the discretion Of Therefore he earnestly
recommends return to the system OF mileage AZ
better fitted to do justice to the officer and to the gov.
ernment
THE REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER or THE
NuDED OF LARGE AREAS OF ITS WATER
SHEDS.
Commissioner Burdett, OF the General Land ONCE
will, 10 his forthcoming report, strongly recommend
that all timber lands owned by the government be ap
praised and thrown open 10 purchase AZ NOT TESS IMAM
their Appraised value He is OF the opinion that unless
they are thus placed under private guardianship the
pine forests Of the country will be wastefully
haused by the lumber companies and spectators who
stripping the land OF its timber under cover OF
dummy preemption entries or without prctence Of
compliance with the law while the government derives
no from its property and the country sustans
almost irreparable damage from the sweeping den
ndation Of large areas Of It's watersheds
He win also condemn the practice Of ex
lending the system OF subdivision surveys
over immense bodies OF worthless land west Of the
hundredh meridian and suggest that only such tracts
be mnutey surveyed have any attractions for set
Tiers He will also recommend that provision be made
Tor connecting the Land Office surveys with important
points established by the geographical surveys of the
Territories, and that tho monuments at section cor
aers &c, be constructed in much lasting man
aer The recommendation Of his predecessor that the
nrhamniinn LAWS should DO abolished aud she hong.