Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1876-12-09
GROUND TRIP

name OF tho State of Colorado, md sfharaa1 prO-
into the Union upon IN equal % citing MIth tine
original States. Consultation having been
State. ana the sctsng oTerner = bas IN
certified to me me facts, a. provided Tor hy SAID
and ordinances. as provided for In the said act.
and the provisions OF said act OF Congress having
been daily complied with, / issued the pfociama-
lion OF toe LIST or August, 1915 copy Of which is
hereto annexed.
TIE ARMY.
The report Of the Secretary Of War shows that
the army has been actively employed during the
year in subduing. as the request OF the Indian
Bureau, certain wild bands OF the Sioux
Indian Nation, and in preserving the peace
at the South during the election. Tue Commission
constituted under the act Of July a. 1876. to CON
and reorganization Of the whole army in August
last, has collected LARGE mass OF statistics
They are now under consideration, and their re-
Eort is progressing. am ADVISED. though. by the
possible TO comply with the clause or the act re-
CURING report g pc presented through me TO
Congress on the first day OF this session. as there
has not been time for that mature deIibera-
ton which the importance of the subject demands
Therefore. ask that the time OF making the re-
port be extended to the 29fh day OF January,
1877. In accordance with the resolution OF August
the act of March l. 1875 have not been promulgaf-
ed. but held until after the report OF tne
above mentioned Commission shall have been re-
ceived and acted upon. By the act Of August
is, 1876, the cavalry force OF the army
was increased by 1850 men, with the proylso
that they should be discharged on the expiration
of the host1hIies. Under this authority the cav
airy regiments have been strengthened, and a pGr-
ton of them are now in the field pursuing the
remnants OF the Indians with whom they have
been engaged during the summer. The est-
mates OF the War Department. are made up on
the basis of the number of authorized by
law and their regiments as shown by years Of
experience, and also with the purpose OF part OF
the bureau officers TO provide for all c0ntin-
gencies that may arise during the time for which
the estimates are made, exclusive of the EngI-
neers estimates, presented IN accordance with the
Fha nef IL
mates presented are about &C. 600 900 in excess
Of the appropriation for the wears is74-5 1875 s.
This increase Is asked in order 10 provide for the
increased cavalry force should their service be ne
W h,ilsen % ~ f ~ upon l.,
meut of forti6cati0ns and manufacture of small
arms, and repienlsh the working stock in the sup
those last named have for the past
few years been SO limited that the accommodations
present year. and it viii be necessary to at once
begin 10 replenish them.
lowing recommendations OF the Secre-
tary Of War: FIRST, that the claim under the
during the war, be removed from the offices OF
Quartermaster and Commissary Generals and
These claims are of precisely similar nature to
those now before the Southern Claims Commis-
have not the clerical force for their examina alton
nor proper machinery for investigating the loyal
tY OF the claimants.
Second--That Congress sanction the schem of
an annuity fund for the benefit of the families of
permanent organization OF the regular service,
both OF which were recommended IN my last an
nual message.
Tilird-That the manufacturing operations of
the Ordnance Department be concentrated at
ld an od nor anu anas etn
to this object by the Ordnance Department.
RIVER AND HARBoR IMPROVEMENTS.
The appropriations for river and harbor i'm
With my approval. the Secretary of War directed
that OF this amount 100000 should be expended,
prosecuted which were not of National import
anee. Subsequently this amount was increased
To s., 237, $780, and works are now progressing on
this basis. The Improvement of the South Pass of
the Mississippi River. under J. B. Eads and his
present there is channel of 20 $40 feet in
depth between the ietties, at the mouth OF the
channel however, has the width required before
payment shall be made by the United States. A
aiming these works. and their reports win be pre-
sented as soon received.
NAVAL AFFAIRS.
The report of the Secretary OF the Navy shows
dItion as effective as it is possible to
keep 1t with the means and appropriations
given me Department I'm 10 is, OF course I'm
lishments OF great European Powers with the old
materials OF our navy, to which no increase has
been authorized since the war, except eight small
cruisers built TO supply the place of others which
had gone to decay. Yet the most has been done
that was possible with the means at command,
and by substantially rebuilding some of old
ships With durable material, and completely re-
pairing and refittng our monitor feet the navy
that theagh it does not maintain
eressFe nayes pr fSe word ne now IN
condition more powerful and effective than it
repairs OF our five heavy trou-clads are only de-
layed on account of The inadequacy of the appro-
priations made last year for the working bureaus
of the Department, which actually less in
amount than those made before the war, not
w1thstandng the greatly enhanced price of labor
and materials, and the increase in the of the
naval service growing out of the universal use
and great expense OF steam machinery. The money
necessary for these repairs should be provided ar
once. that they may be completed without further
done all strength that there is in the navy will
be developed and useful to its full capacity, and
ali will be powerful for the purpose of defense
and also for offensive action. should necessity for
that arise, within reasonable distance from our
shore. The fact that our navy is not more
Modern and servieeable than 1t is has been made a
cause of complaint against the Secretary
same time eriticise and complain of his endeavors
10 bring the navy that we have Co its best and
most efficient condition. but the good sense of the
country viii understand that it is really to his
practical action that We have at this time any
effective naval force at command.
POSTAL MATTERS
The report Of the Postmaster General shows
excess OF expenditures. excluding expenditures
account of previous years, over the recei pts
for the fiscal year ending June 80 1876 to be S.
l51 98s g. The estimated expenditures for the
fiscal year ending June so, 1875 s3,672343 a. the
leaving an estimated excess of expenditures to be
appropriated as a deficiency of s6,O7s.267 4s. The
Postmaster General. like his predecessor, is con-
WINGED that change in the basis of adjusting the
salaries of postmasters of the fourth class is
essary for the good OF the service as well as for
the interests OF the Government. and urgently re-
commends that the compensation of the class of
postmasters above mentioned be based upon the
business of their respective offices ss
ascertained from the sworn returns
to the Auditor of stamps cancelled.
A few postmasteTs in the Southern States have
expressed great apprehension OF their personal
safety account of their connection with the
postal service. and have specially requested that
their reports of apprehended danger should not
be made public lest it should result in the loss of
their lives. But NO positive testimony of inter
ference has been submitted, except in the case of
mail messenger at Spartanburg, In South Caro-
lima, who reported that he had been violently
driven away while in charge, on
account of his political affiliations An As
sstant Superintendent of the railway mail service
investigated this case ana reported that the mes
senger has disappeared from his post leaving his
work to be performed by substitute. The POstmas-
Ter General THINKS this case is sufficiently sug-
gestlve to justify him in recommending that
more severe punishment should be provided for
the offense of assaulting any person in charge of
the ma lis, of retardlng otherwise Obsructing