Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1876-11-26
MISCELLANEOUS.
Annual Report of Chief Engi-.
neer Hurlburt
JEFF Davis the Ex-Traitor Comes
Home
Small Pox Raging at Lake Win
liepeg.
MISCELLANEOUS

REPORT OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS
Washington, Nov. 25-The annua,
report Of Gen. Humphreys, chief Of
engineers, presents detailed state
ment Of various operations OF the
engineers deE art nent during the year
ending June Both, sketches those in
progress and makes numerous recon-
mendations for tho future. One hun
dred and seven officers hold commits
sions in the corps of engineers Of the
u. s. A. at the end of the fiscal year
on the active list and Ave on the re-
tired list.
After a careful study OF the subject
of sea coast defense by the corps Of
engineers and with the light afforded
by the experience Of actual conflict
bet wecn sea coast defences and the
new naval armaments, the system to
govern the future c6hstruction of our
works was elabored il 1869 and re-
ceived the approval Of the general Of
the army and the secretary OF war
was and since then has been repeated
ly endorsed by the action of congress.
The main features OF this system are the
use of heavy eartben Bsrbette batteries,
with parados and traverses Of heavy NOR
tar batteries and Of obstructions In the
channels mainly electrical torpcdoes 10
bold vessels from running past the batteries
and reaching the cities or depots beyond
them Works Of this character have been
| steadily progressing since 1869, and IN
many of our harsors are we'll advanced to-
wards completion. but in none Of our har
bors are these alterations finished, while in
some Of our important harhors along the
/ gulf coast the works are scarcely com
menced He urges their speedy compile.
| tion.
/ Gen. Humphreys says Of amounts Of ap
preparations for public works on the rivers
and harbors by the act approved August
1 18th. 1876, certain allotmepts have been
made in compliance with the instructions
of the secretary of war Of Sept. 4th. limit
/ ing expenditures under an act to two mil
Hon dollars, and directing that no new
work Of Improvement should be begun
Among these allotments are work on tht
1 Des Moines rapids, one hundred and fificer
thousand dollars: Rock Island rapids, ter
thousand dollars; Illinois river, len thous
and dollars.
, In determining the amounts-to be allot
ted 70 each work named, reference ha
been had 10 The balances on hand of prevl
ous appropriations for works specified. Al
these Improvements for the continuance Q
which parts OF appropriations which hav
i been allotted are in my judgment clearl
national allotments to Improvements Of lei
ser magnitude and consequence, and ar
indispensibly necessary TO protect work a
ready done. 4
The officers In charge Of the i'm
provements were notified Of th
amount allotted and the works are no,
!. being conducted on this basis.
The report also epitomizes detaile
accounts by officers on river and haI
Dor improvements, now in progrc.
: under their respective infringement
together with statements OF tn
amounts which these officers estima,
can be pso6tabIy expended during tn
+ next fiscal year
Among these estimates are tf
following for the improvement Of I'll
Mississippi river between the mou,
of the Illinois and Ohio river,
III 45e6, $50 for the mouth of the Mis-
il issippi; tl5o, 1000 fof the upper Mis-
Is issippi river; t9l 800 for improv
is mcnt Of the Des Moines rapids; tl35
n 0W for Rock Island rapids; Csc, OK
'e for Illinois river; 5000 for the Oh