Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1875-11-26
Recommendations OF the Chief Of Ord
nance Of the Navy-RePOrt Of the
QuartermaSter-General.
The Chief of Ordnance of the Army on
the Present Condition of His Branch
OF the Service.
General SheTman's Annual Report
The POstmaster-General's Figures
The Director Of the Mint's
Report.

Annual Report of Chief signal officer.
WASHINGTON, November "a. - The
/ chief signal officer Of the army in his
| annual report says: "The display of
eautiOnary day and night signals on the
lakes and at the great ports Ofthe United
| States, has been made systematically on
occasions of supposed especial danger at
43 different stations. OF the total mum
! Der Of cautiOnsry signals thus displayed,
| 76 per cent have been aiterWard report
| ed as justified. In the cases reported as
failures of justification following the
| display, the winds did not attain, at the
| place of display, a violence held to JUS
| tty it, while il isolated instances the
signals have not been displayed when
| they ought to have been. The records
show that no great storm has swept over
any considerable number of the ports of
the United States without pre.annCunce-
ment, In instances OF disasters to YES
sells occurring during the year the facts
| have proven that the watch kept by the
| service and the prompt transmission in
times OF danger of few messages have
| saved property amounting to more than
the cost OF the lines. The scanty force
! OF the signal service will not permit it
" OCCuJJ Auco BltdtcI III SAJSub Inau
those contemplated in existing legisla
ton" E-
The report earnestl RrecOm mends leg
islation for more complete OrganiZa-
ton Of the signal service as necessary
now, both for the interests OF the United
states and as simple justice to the Off
GERS and men who have served so long
and faithfully upon it, with duties now
as extensive, as impOi tsnt, and reaching
directly more interests of the people OF
the United States, than those of any
other bureau of the war department. 1t
exists without laws providing for the
permanent employment and grades of
It's officers, or the promotion of it's en-
listed Lien. This condition is found to
seriously embarrass the work of the
office. The service depends for its sue
cess upon a rspidity of action which
may save minutes Of time. 1t cannot
be too safely guarded against possible
hamperiDgs.
Annual Report of the ChieE-Engineer
on Sea-COsst Defenses.
The chief OF engineers reports: "The
work now in progress on cur ses-coast
defenses consists Exclusively of the con-
structiOn Of powerful eartoern barbette
batteries for suns Of the heaviest calibre,
which batteries are either exterior to
and supplementary to the older case
mated works, or are notifications and
engagements of the bal bette batteries of
forIler times. These earthern barbette
batteries, with massive parapets, trav-
erEes on either side Of each gun, and
strong parad0s where needed, will fur
nish with depressing gun-carriage The
greatest protection for the armament
and csnnoneers that can be obtained
outside Of iron casemate constructions.
The necessity for the continued prepa-
ration Of these massive batteries has
been presented in the annual report of
the department from year to year. Their
size, the weight Of their armaments,
and the time required for their compile
ton form the reason why these works
must be prepared in advance, and not
upon the advent of war Among the ac-
cessories for the defense of our haTb0rs,
and the channel ways leading to them,
are tOrpedoes or ses-mine5 planted
across the channels, and in such num-
bers as to bar the entrance of the enc
my's vessels, and hold them under the
fire Of the batteries. This subject has re-
Oeived very careful attention. The sys-
tenn which has been perfected is be-
lieved to possess every quality requisite |
for success when the toTpedOes are |
planted and handled by men trained |
in it's details.n
Annual Report of the Chief of Ord |
nance of the Navy.
WASHINGTON, November 22.-Cap- |
tain VIM. n. LETTERS, chief of the bureau |
Of ordnance Of the navy department, re- |
ports: 1.-THE experiments which have |
been made by the army ordnance at |
Sandy Hook during the present yesr
have proved the entire practica0ility Of |
the army ten-inch smooth
bore, of about the same weight and gen.
aTal dimensions of the navy eleven-inch,
into a powerful eight-inch rifle. The
bureau therefore proposes to commence
with the conversion of sufficient num-
Der of the eleven-inch to arm the new
;loOp Trenton, aud supply pivot guns to
he larger frigates. If we are to keep
pace with other maritime nations, the
necessity of general rearmsment Ofour
ships with rifled cannon is evident, and
20 strongly is this impressed upon all
officers who meet foreign
hips, that the bureau is in con-
Jtant receipt of reports making deprecia
DRY comparisons between their own
md foreign ornaments. Although we
IAN convert the eleveu-iDch pivots into
powerful muzzle-lOading rifles for upper
iecks, they are by no means so efficient
IS new guns specially designed for the
purpose, while for broadside guns and
mall ships, breech-lOsders are indis-
aensable. / therefore take leave to re
lew my recommendations of last year
elative to obtaining supply of breech-
oading rifles of various calibres. The
wenty XII rifles estimated for form the
of the five double-turretted
now in construction, and will
AXE some time to manufacture-nOtle less
han year after the appropriation be-
ZONES available, il we engage all the
resources OF the country.
These vessels are essential TO aid in the
iefense Of our most important harbors.n
The report recommends liberal appro-
)riations for the torpedo service, and |
avs: 1.-THE torpedo is in its nature de.
ensiye rather than an offensive weapon,
md is an adjunct to, but can never sup
,ly the place Of efficiently armed yes
els, even for defense. All authorities
gree in the opinion that tOrpedOes alone !
.snnot protect themselves, or close i'm
,ortant barboTs. but should be COM
handed by artillery fire, and be sup
/
orpedoes. The defense then may be
considered on q good basis if the mont
ors are armed as above estimated for.
Dur efforts are now principally devoted /
o developing the offensive use Of tOrpe-
oes by specially constructed vessels,
uch Is the Alarm and iut9pid, By fast |
team launches, and 10y the movable
nrpedoes of Lay and Ericsson. Each
f these has achieved a considerable |
uccess, but all are deficient in speed.
he movable torpedoes of Lay and
ericsson can be submerged aud directed |
rom the shore, or monitor, with great
and the former for consider
ble distance, further indeed than il, in |
ny opinion, requisite or useful Fur
her experiment will without doubt de.
elOp an increased speed and value.
commend an appropriation for the
purchase Of the 'best movable torpedo
0 be determined after 8 competitive
rial, as l am OF the opinion that inven-
ion in this direction is not exhausted
annual Report of the Quartermaster-
General. !
WASHINGTON, November "A. - The {
uartermaster-genersl reports: 1.-THE 6