The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1875-12-10
Report of the Secretary OF War.

Secretary Belknaps report il. AZ usual,
very lengthy document, and our space permits
only Il brief abstract of its salient features He
is gratifed to state that since his last report
marked Improvement has taken place in the
morale Of the service The army is now re-
duced to IS, 600 men. Recruiting was resumed
in November, 1874, for the purpose Of keeping
up the standard number, and under careful
system i'm the selection Of the men the class of
recruits now received is OF a superior quality.
+sTbe number of desertions has been largely re-
duced, being about 210O LEES than during
the previous year, while the number OF
re-enlistments has increased nearly threefold.
The state Of contentment thus shown
il due in great measure, to the excellent sys-
TEN Of pay established, which is now graduated
by length of service, and affords the soldiers an
opportunity to deposit his savings with the
Government and receive interest for the same
until the end of his term.
The Secretary calls attention b the fact that
large numbers of married men have been en-
listed, and that their presence in the ranks
proves source Of embarrassment to military
discipline, as it IL an injury to their families
He asks for appropriate legislation to correct
the growing evil.
The work of care and improvement OF ma
tional cemeteries has been satisfactorily per-
Termed during the year. Nine cemeteries have
been inclosed with walls. leaving eleven vet
uninclosed.
The works for the defense OF our seaboard.
under the Engineer Department, have pro-
dressed satisfactorily and as rapidly as the
means provided would admit. The trials of
torpedoes have continued, and have proved the
| importance Of this auxiliary in the defense Of
| our ha-bors.
! Secretary Robson states that under the act
of Congress for the relief Of persons from the
ravages Of grasshoppers, 1857. 108 rations were
issued to 60, 593 adults. and 43,942 children
under II years Of age, residing in Minnesota,
i NJ IL n Nh
| OF the sum of $50. 900 appropriated by Con-
gress, 1892 SS7. 60 was discussed for the purpose
contemplated by the act and IS, 1921 was re-
! turned to the Treasury.
The Secretary calls attention to the fact that
the annual appropriation for armng and equip
ping the militia 600 600 is now no larger than
in 1908, when the population was about 5000
900. and SAYS that with such meager appro-
pration it is impossible for him to meet all the
demands made upon his department by the
States and Territories.
Secretary Belknap heartily approves of the
plan proposed by the Board on Arsenas in 1874,
for the concentration of ordnance manufacto-
ries, by the establishment in the vicinity OF
New York city Of grand arsenal of construc-
ton.
The entire army has been supplied during
the year with new rifles and carbines cali.
Der As.
The Secretary calls attention to the Rio
Grande troubles and SAYS measures have been
instituted to preserve the integrity of, and cn
force proper regard for, the territory of tn,
United States.
The Indians in the Department of the Mis-
souri, are represented to be in a peaceful MOOD
at present, and all on their reservations excep
the Utes.
1t liz suggested that Alaska be attached Il
Washington Territory as a county.
The report shows that the actual expendi
lures of the War Department for the year end
ing jane 80. 1874, including river and harbo
improvements. were $40. 326, 314.71 the sam
for the last fiscal year, ending June 80, 1875
! were Sal, 277, 375.2S- showing reduction o
: 81 ,0iS 939.43. The estimates for the militar
establishment for the ensuing fiscal year end
ing June 30, 1877, are S33 452, 1863. so; those 70
the current fiscal year, ending June 30. 1876
were $50, 4SS, 1863. 50-being an increase of 1868,
427. The appropriations for that purpos
for the current fiscal year were t28, 1917 407 SO
Secretary Belknap states that the curiositie
of the great Yellowstone National Park ar
, rapidly being destroyed, and urges that troop
be stationed in near the park to proven
spoliation. He rightly says that everythin
/, should be done that can be to protect all this
IL grand and beautiful in that remarkabl
: region.