Pioche daily record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1872-1876, 1875-12-16
sEcRETARIEs' REPORTS.

The annual reports Of the Secretaries
of War and the Navy have been pub
lished. Secretary Robson, Of the Naval
Department, shows that the number OF
vessels of every class and description
now borne on the register at LAT. These
carry, all told, 1,195 guns, and are OF
1852, 492 tons measurement. OF these
twenty-six, carrying nominally 266 guns,
are sailing vessels without steam power.
He recommends that steps be taken to
secure an adequate supply of live oak
for shin building purposes and concludes
as follows
1t is gratifying TO be able to report that
the Navy is now in stronger and more
efficient condition than it ever has been
since the commencement Of your admin |
istration. 1t is not very strong in the |
number or in the classes OF its shirs, but
what there are OF them are in as good O |
condition as it is practicable to keep such |
materials of war under the various and
irving conditions to which they are, in
the nature of their services, constantly
exposed. far larger proportion than
usual of our wooden ships are ready for
service. Our iron-clad fleet Is efficient.
Our storehouses are fairly stocked with
ordinance, equipments and supplies, and
we have on hand a fair supply of the
best material for the building and repair
OF ships. The service has been placed
in this state of efficiency, compared with
what existed few years ago, by utiliz-
ing. except in the case of eight sloops
built under special appropriation, what
could be spared from the current ap-
preparations and from the appropriations
made during the Cuban emergency, and
applying these means practically and
steadily toward putting what was worth
saving of the Navy as it existed in as
permanent good condition as the state of
the ships and the means at command
permitted. The wisdom Of the policy ia,
think, illustrated by the strength of
our position to-day. 1t would also be
we'll, think, if Congress would afford
means to finish at once all the repairs of
the five double turretted monitors, since
when they are finished, according to the
present design, our iron-clad feet will be
much more powerful, aud while they are
undergoing repairs useless for any pres
ent purpose, and the process Of repairing
them out of what can be spared iron
current appropriations not only cripple
the department in all its other opera
tions, but is, of course, very slow. With
these added to it our iron-clad fore
would, for purposes OF defence, presen
very substantial barrier to anythin
which would cross the seas and atteml
to enter our ports.
The annual report Of the Secretary c
War is dated November 20, and open
with the statement that q marked in
provement has taken place in the moral
of the service since last year. The arm
is now reduced to 25, 900 men. Recruit
ing was resumed in November, 1874, fc
the purpose Of keeping up the s,andar
number, and under a careful system
the selection of the men the class of r,
cruits now received is Of superic
quality.
The report of the commanding gener
OF the Department Of Texas contains d
tailed information concerning the diff
culties which have created such excit
ment on the Lower Rio Grande, whel
some OF the most prominent officers an
wealthy merchants OF that part Of Mexi'
appear to be regularly engaged in fifth
out parties to plumber the stock ranch
on this side of the river. Reports
murder in open daylight Of several i
fuentisl citizens, including United Stat
officials and soldiers, and other bastard
outrsges on the part of these vagra
Mexicans, were made TO the divisit
commander, who invites attention to Il
grave character of the invasions and Il
importance of prompt and decisi
measures on the part of the Governme
for their suppression. Many Of the !
ports from that locality are probab
sensational in character and are believ
to have been instigated by parties who
personal interests would be subseryert
by the presence Of more troops on t
borders of Texas; but many Others G
of undoubted reliability. and measul
have been instituted by the departme
commander. under orders from SUPER
authority, to preserve the integrity
and inforce proper regard for
territory OF the United States.
The actual expenditures If the War
Department for the year ending
June 80 1914 including river and
harbor improvements, were. ....... S42, 32G,
The same for the last fiscal year, end
ing June so. 1875, were. ........... n,277,
Showing reduction of............. 1,048,
The estimates for the military estab-
lishment for the ensuing fiscal year
ending June 80, 1876, are. ......... $50, 452,
THOSE for the current iscal year.
ending June so, ls75were. ......... s2.iss,
Being an increase of........,...... 963.
The appropriation for that purpose
for the current fiscal year were :. s2s 1877
Good progress has been made DUR
the year in the preparation of
official records OF the war Of the rel
lion, both in the Federal and Confeder
branches.