Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1875-12-08
WISDOM OF THIS POLICY
Report of The SECRETARY of War.

and to the experienced chief clerk OF the De
partment. for the very valuable assistance con-
stantly afforded him in the discharge of his
duties.
Report Of The secretary of War.
NOVEMBER %, 1875
Mr.. PRESIDENT: | am gratified to be able TO
state that since my last annual report a marked
improvement has taken place in the morale of the
service. The army is now reduced to twenty five
thousand men. Recruiting resumed in No
vember, 1874 for the purpose of keeping up the
standard number, and under a careful system in
the selection of the men the class of recruits now
received is OF a superior quality. The number OF
assertions has been largely reduced, being about
two thousand one hundred less tnan during the
previous year, while the nun Der of re-enlstments
has increased nearly threetoli. The state of con
tentment thus shown is due in a great measure,
to the excellent system of paw established which
is graduated by length of service, and affords
the soldier an opportunity to deposit his saving S
wi the Government and receive interest for the
same until the end of his tern.
THE ADJUTANF GENERAL,
under whose immediate charge the recruiting of
the army is placed, has raised TO the highest
standard of excellence the discipline at recruiting
depots. and the recruits are now we'll instructed
and drilled before being sent to join companies
in the held
l renew the recommendation for the enlistment
of music boys over twelve years of age, in order
to furnish field music to companies and hope that
suitable legislation may be had during the next
session of Congress to supply this want.
MILITARY PRISON.
The Secretary approves of the military prison
for he confinement of those convic' ed of otenses
purely military, thus keeping them from contact
with the criminals of ordinary prisons. There
have been 362 prisoners received during the year,
and there 225 in the establishment.
Those prisoners have been employed in various
ways on the prison building and about the post,
thus saving the expense of employing labor. II
is hoped that an appropriation will be made for
starting workshops, for IL is confidently believed
that the prisoners may be made to earn sufficient
Tor their own maintenance, and 10 time that no
appropriation will be required TO be made by Con-
gresS for their support.
The desertions tor the fiscal year ending June
30, 1874, were $685. of reenlstnents. $685. the
Der of sergeants re enlisted, l49. The desertions
for the fiscal year ending June so 1875 were ISL;
re enlistments, 1885; sergeants re-enlsted, 347.
No better evidence can be furnished OF the i'm
proved condition OF the service than by present a.
tiOn Of the foregoing figures.
REGIMENTAL BANDS.
The Secretary recommends the repeal OF the act
of March 3, 1869, mastering all the regimental
bands The military band at West Point is the
only authorized hand in the service. He recon-
mends the re establishment OF regimental bands
OF twenty five men. The expense OF all music
now falls upon he officers private purses.
He also for good reasons recommends the re-
duction of the numbe of laundresses flowed one
half The expenses OF quarters. fuel transporta-
tion and rations for these people and their fami-
lies is estimated at 100000 per snnum, and yet,
owing to the frequent movements of troops, they
are frequently subjected to great exposure and
suffering.
TRADITIONAL RECORDS.
With the exception of the few official items con-
tained In the archives of the War department the
only Information concerning the early history OF
our old military posts is gained FROM vague tradi
lions and personal "reminiscences No record
showing when, why or by whom military post
was establishes or W no have been its commanders
or the origin OF its name, in many instances, can
be found by any officer assigned to it's command.
This serious omission can be corrected by requir
ing the commander of every post to keep his
torical record book, and to eDter therein every
important event occurring within the scope of his
c0mmand-ihis book to be transferred by each
commander to his succt ssor. and not to be re
moved from the post unless il is abandoned, in
which event it should be forwarded to the Ad-
jutant General for file in the War Department.
such a book would be of great value for supse.
quent reference, and 1t is my purpose to direct
that such reports shall be hereafter kept
Special enistments of teamsters are recon-.
mended, TO secure experienced men who will take
good care OF animals and prevent the depletion OF
the ranks by present details
Attention is called to the unhealthy quarters at
many of our sea-eoast Notifications. Further
LEGISLATION Is asked TO prevent the enlistment of
married men as soldiers.
THE SIGNAL SERVICE
During the past year lO2 signal stations have
been maintained, TO fill the system of stations OF
observation from which reports are necessary to
enable warning to be given OF the approach and
lOfC6 VI stoTDS anu OF otner meteOric CHANCES
the dement, OF agricultural and commercial inter.
ests. series of daily ielegraphic reports from
stations in the West Indies. extending from Cuba
by Jamaica. TO Barbados and TIE WiDdwnrd
islands. has been arranged for.
The issue OF the official deductions from the
ONCE oil the signal officer from the reports there
received, has continued during he year. A minute
examination OF these deductions and comparison
with the meteoric changes afterward occurring
within the district to which each has had refer-
enee have given the average percentage of 81 & la
a anpraa n
average percentages of preceding years exhibit :
an Improvement IN accuracy with each succeeding
year.
The display of cautlonary day and might SIGNALS
upon the lakes aud at the great ports of the ITni
ted states upon the Atlantic and Gulf coasts has
been systematically on occa sions of supposed sne
cial danger. OF The total number of cautionary
slgbais thus displayed seveuty-six per cent has
been afterward reported as justified
Inc exhibition of maps on which the meteorIe
conditions are shown by symbols at the rooms Of
the boards OF trade, chambers of commerce. and OF
otner commercial associations, and ut places OF
pubic resort for the bene at OF htopine and other
Interests; the display OF bulletius: the dfsrrihn
ton Of weather maps and the employmenf Of
other metnoos for rapidly diffusing information
years.
The river reports, giving the average depth of
water 10 the great rivers OF the interior ana
notice of dangerous changes, for the benefit OF
river commerce and the population in the Weir
ny, have been regularly made. telepranhed
oulietined IN frames and published by the press
The telegraphic lines, reaching from Rarnegat
to cape May. and from Norfolk 10 Cane IA .
teras, on the most frequented aud, in some
places, the most dangerous parts of the eoast
have deem continued in operation as a psrt Of fha
signal service. In view of the action OF don
gress, measures have been taken to extend the
ilnes IRON hatteras, by Wilmington TO Smith
vile, at the mouth OF the Cape Fear river. The
STAT ons upon these lines are occupied anu the
lines are operated by enlisted men
The experience OF 1ve years demonstrates The
usefulness OF this service to that degree that the
secretary Is constrained 10 YIELD his objections To
Increasing the bureaus of the Department, and
DC VIII ask cong ess at It's present session 10 an
tnoflEe the erection of Signal Service RurYan
TO emorace the branch OF the service dtstncr f,o :,
s s olher erahches, which are now crawn upon
oS detail TO- the performance of the duties Incl
cent TO the signal service Attention is direcfes
TO the various reports and recomme en- atoms of
the chieis OF the several staff departments of the
army. return TO the mileage system in lien of
tnat OF actual travelling expenses now ruIiny in
the army, is recommended as prudent and ee,,-
nomical. ~ w.
sEA-coAsT DEFENsEs.
The works for the defense of our seahos,d ~,
sns engiheer department. have progressed
sassiactoriiy and as rapidly as the means pro
vided would admit. The class OF works ado,,red
IN lSos, are heavy earth batteries thorourhIv
protested, ana arranged for ours and morrars
suitable 10 resist the attack of The most nowarsI
iron ciads- Already some Of the positions &c
iee.ee, particularly In our commercial ports. have
large proportion of their gun positions nrenarsa
Tee estimates are tor Continuing these xorss
some OF them TO completion
hne battalion OF engineers, under the law Of
June l6, 1874 reducing the army has Saa aT Ia, VI
i'eu 70 TWO hundred enlisted men, This mum her
~ .ne opinion OF the chief OF engineers. is too
SHAH LOT the efncient performance OF the duties
requieu OF tnem. 1t war should occur with a
maritime power the want of trained soldiers 10
pan. and operate our torpedo deiepses would be
ssrI1usiy ieit: ana 1t is submitted whether the
uooas oi TINS branch OF the service NAV naf
JUSTIFY a minimum organization for the battalion