The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-12-06

time IOT L06t uhturc uoiiu~ass'oA
: which the Importance OF the
subject demands. Therefore ] ask that th.
time of making the report be extended
to the Goth day Of January, 1871 10
accordance with the resolution OF August
10Th, 1876. The army regulation pre-
pared under the act of March /, 1875,
have not been promulgated, but are held
till after the report of the above mentioned
commission shall have been received and
acted on by the act of August ID, 1876,
The cavalry force of the army
was increased by $500 men, with
the proviso that they should be dis
charged on the expiration of hostilities.
Under this authority the cavalry regi-
ments have been strengthened, and q
portion of them are now in tho fed pur-
suing the remnants of Indians with
whom they have been engaged during
the summer. The estimates OF the War
Department ara made upon the basis OF
the number of men authorized BY
law and their requirements, as shown
by years of experience, and also with the
purpose, on the part OF the bureau OH
GERS, TO provide for all the contingencies
that may arise during the time for which
the estimates are made, exclusive OF the
engineers estimates, presented in accord
ance with the acts of Congress calling
for surveys and estimates tor improve
ments at various localities. The esti-
mates now presented are about
six millions IN excess of the
appropriations for the years 1874 1915.
This increase is asked in order 10 provide
for The increase of the cavalry force
should their services be necessary to pro-
secute economically work upon important
public buildings; to provide for the arm
ament of Notifications and the manufsc
ture of small arms, and to replenish the
working stock in the supply department.
The appropriations for these last named
have for the past few years, been so
limited that the accommodation
in store will be entirely exhausted
during the present year, and It will be
necessary to at once begin to replenish
| them.
1 invite your special attention to the
| following recommendations of the Secre
tary of War: First, That the claims I'M
der the act of July 4, 1854 for supplies
taken by the army during the war be re-
moved from the offices of the Quarter
master and Commisssry General, and
transferred to the Southern Claims Com
mission. These claims are OF precisely
similar nature to those now before the
Southern Claims Commission, and
the Bureaus Of the War Department
have not the clerlcai force for their ex-
animation, nor tho proper machinery for
investigating the loyalty Of the claim
ants. Second, That Congress sanctioned
the scheme of an annuity fund for the
benefit of the families OF deceased officers
and it also provided for the permanent
organization of the signal service, both
of which were recommended in my last
annual message. Third, That the manu-
featuring operations of the ordnance de-
partment be concentrated at three arse
mails, and an armory, and that the remain
ing arsenals be sold and the proceeds be
applied TO this subject by the ordnance
department.
River and HarbOr Appropriations.
The appropriations for river and har-.
Dor improvements for the current year
were $5,0l5,000. With my approval,
tho Secretary of War directed that, OF
this amount, S2O00,00U should be ex-
pended, and no new work should be
begun, and none prosecuted which were
not of national Importance. Subse-
quently this amount was increased to
$2,237 900, and the works are
now progressing in this basis.
The Improvement of the South pass
OF the Mississippi river under
the charge of James B. Eads and his as.
sociates is progressing favorably. AT
the present time there is a channel of 20
and $40 feet in depth between the jet
ties at the mouth OF the pass, and lS3 feet
at the head of the pass. Neither chan
mel, however, has the width required.
Before payments can be made by the
United States a Commission of Engineer
officers is now examining these works,
and their reports will be presented as
soon as received.
Report Of the Secretary of the Navy.
The report of the Secretary of the
Navy shows that branch OF the service
to be in a condition as effective as 1t
is possible to keep it with the means and
authority given to the Department. 1t
is, of course, rot possible to rival the
costly and progressive establishments OF
the Great European powers with the old
material of our navy, to which no In
crease has been authorized since the war
except the slight 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 re-
building some of our old ships
with durable material and COM
pletely repairing and reftting our
the monitor fleet. The navy has been
gradually so brought up that, though 1t
does not maintain its relative position
among the progressive nsvies OF the
world, it is now in condition more
powerful and effective than it ever has
been in the time of peace. The complete
repairs of our few heavy iron clads are
only delayed on account Of the made
quacy of the appropriations made last
year for the working bureaus of this de-
partment, which were actually less in
amount than those made before the
war, Notwithstanding the greatly en-
HANGED price of labor and materials, and
the increase In the cost OF the naval ser
vice, growing out of the universal use
and the great expense OF steam machin-
cry The money necessary for these re-
pairs should be provided at once, that
they NAV be completed without further
unnecessary delay and expense. When
this is done all the strength that there is
in our navy will be developed and useful
TO its full capacity, and it will be power
full tor the purposes OF defense
and also for offensive action,
should the necessity for such action
arise within reasonable distance from
our shores. The tact that our navy is
not more modern and powerful than It
is has been made case of complaint
against the Secretary ofth Navy by
persons, who Al the same time criticize his
endeavors TO bring the navy that we
| have TO its best and most efficient con-
a..