The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1875-12-09
THE WAR
Abstract ofthe Annual Re p Drt OfSecretary
HeIlZnAp ON the Opera lions of the De-
partmens for the Fiscal Year Ending
lime RI. IS75.

the morale of the service. The army is now
reduced to $4,000 men. Recruiting was re-
sumed in November, 1874, for the purpose
of keeping up the standard number, and
under a careful system in the selection oil
men, the class of recruits now received is oil
a superior quality. The number OF deser-
tons has been largely reduced, being about
2,100 less than during the previous year,
while the number of re-enlistments has In
creased nearly threefold. The state of con-
tentmeut thus shown is due, in a great
me asure, to the excellent system of pay es-
tablished, which is now graduated by length
of service, and affords the soldier an OPP
~portunity to deposit his savings with the
government and receive interest for the
same until the end of his term.
The desertions for the fiscal year ending
June 80, 1874, were 1906; of re-enlistments,
500; the number of sergeants re-enlisted,
149. The assertions for the fiscal year end
ing June 80, 1875, were 2,512; re-enlist-
ments, 1886; sergeants re-enlisted, 341. No
better evidence can be furnished of the i'm
proved condition of the service than by pre-
sentation of the foregoing figures.
Notwithstanding the policy which dis
courages, with limited expectations, the en-
listment of married men, a large number Of
them succeed by fraudulent representations
In entering the army. Their presence there
proves often a source of embarrassment to
military discipline, as it is of injury to their
families. The restitution of the latter leads
to assertions, and is then urged upon the
executive as ground for he extension OF
clemency to the offenders. The conviction
is entertained that this growing evil might
In a large degree be corrected by appropri-
ate legislation. Under existing regulations,
except in cases of re-enlistment, the soldier
on enlisting makes a solemn written decla-
nation that he has neither wife nor child"
and it is believed that a law requiring him
to verify such declaration by oath, and pre-
scribing a severe punishment for falsely
taking this oath, would do much toward the
repression of what has come to be a chronic
Generalization, followed by deplorable re-
suits alike to the service and to the families
thus abandoned by their heads and natural
protectors.
In pursuance of the acts of Congress ap-
proved respectively June 3, 1874, and March
), 1875, authorizing the construction and
operation of telegraphic lines in the interior
and upon the frontier, connecting military
posts, and for the protection of the popu-
lations from Indian and other depredations,
officers and enlisted men of the Signal Serv-
ice nave been detailed for the construction
and operation of the lines, and have entered
upon their duties. The work of construction
has been in great part lone under the gen.
eral direction of officers of the Signal Serv-
ice, by additional details furnished by de-
partment commanders. The lines in Ari-
zona from the Texas frontier and in the In
dian Territory, already partly constructed,
are approaching completion. Permanent
benefit will result from the connection Of
military posts by telegraph, and will greatly
increase the protection of frontier villages
upon the lines, n the country through
which they pass.
The construction of ~ninetythree new
buildings has been authorized during the
year, at an estimated cost of 1901 ,27S, and
al expenditure of S407 SOL has been author
lied for repairs to buildings, construction
and repairs of e~isterns, and other works.
Plans for the construction of a new post
ton the North Fork of the Loupe river, au-
thorized by act of June 16, 1874, to be known
as Fort H~artsuf, have been approved also
plans for log buildings for winter quarters
for troops stationed near Red Cloud and
Milestone Agencies, for which Congress
appropriated $4,000 by act of June 80, 1874.
The work of care and improvement of
National cemeteries has been satisfactorily
performed during the year. Inelosing walls
have been completed at nine cemeteries.
Eleven still require walls. Four lodges have
been completed during the year; thirteen
~ gCb v DC DuIb Inc dmOuuE 6Ap6Queu
for this and other necessary work during
the year was $131, 3S7.25.
Under the authority conferred by the act
of Congress approved February 10, 1875,
for the relief of persons from the ravage OF
grasshoppers, the appropriation was placed
und the charge of officers OF the Sub
sistenee Department, with instructions for
the purchase and issue of food to the suf-
ferers within the respective military depart
ments. During the period when restitution
from the cause referred to was greatest, one
million nine hundred and ffty-seven thou.
sand n hundred and eight rations were
issued to ~sixty-three thousand five hundred
and ninety-three adults, and forty-three
thousand nine hundred and forty-two
children under twelve years of age, residing
in the State of Minnesota, Nebraska, Iowa,
and Kansas, and the Territories of Dakota
and Colorado. Of the sum of $780, OOap.
propriated by Congress, S132, 1857. SO was dis.
bursed for the purpose contemplated by the
act, and $5,112.31 was returned to the Treas.
ury. A full and detailed report of these
issues will hereafter be submitted, in com
pliance with the act of Congress upon the
subject.
In connection with the progress of work
IN the Army Medical Museum, attention il
invited 10 the efforts that have been made in
1919 W AlS u SoNd4OSuC
the scientific world, where its usefulness
would be very great. In two previous re.
ports its publication was recommended, and
at the last session of Congress an appropria-
ton to that end was voted in the House OF
Representatives and favorably considered
in the Senate, but without final action.
Authority having been granted by Con.
gress for the Congressional printer to print
and bind 5000 additional copies of the
Medieal-and Surgical History of the War
the illustrations and composition for the
first part have been completed, and the
press-work and binding will doubtless be
finished before the assembling of the next
Congress. The progress upon other works
in preparation is fully stated in he Surgeon.
Generals report.
/ again call the attention of Congress To
the recommendation contained in nv last
annual report for the enactment of a system
of annuities for the families of deceased
officers, by voluntary deductions from the
monthly pay of those holding commissions
in the army. Certainly if private compa-
mics can make money by an annuity system,
1t Is IN the power of the government at least
70 render itself secure in extending similar
benefcent aid. It is proposed that this aid
shall be extended through the agency of the
government, without eventual expense to
the public treasury. 1t is argued that the
money to be deducted under the operation
OF the proposed scheme is worth to the gov.
m a certain percentage of interest
h Wel-settled principles governing life in.
surance would be applicable to this plan,
and the annuity tables would be prepared
by the most careful and critical calculations
The science of probabilities has reached
great precision in those computations enter.
ing into life insurance, but after certain ia,
bles had been used twenty years, more OF
less, corrections could be made if thew were
found deficient, which would mole perfectly
accomplish the object of the scheme, viz
the rendering of substantial assistance tc
the families of deceased officers of tht
army, without actual expense to the govern
ment.
The works for the defense of our seaboard
unde the Engineer Department, have pro
crossed satisfactorily, and as rapidly as the
means provided would admit. The class O
works, adopted in 1869, are heavy earth bat
teries, thoroughly protected, and arranged
for guns and mortars suitable to resist tn,
attack OF the most powerful iron-clads. Al
ready some of the positions selected, partic
ularly in our larger commercial ports, have
large proportion of their gun positions pre-
pared.
In the Improvement of the Mississ;nn