The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1877-12-15

| longitude of Fort tetterman, IN Nyo
ming Territory, and Forts Stockton
Concho, and McCavett, in Texas. The
difference of level between Lakes Mich
igan and Superior has been determined
A list of the new charts of the lakes
printed and published during the year
will be found in said report. The sur
vey of the Mississippi River, which has
been carried on by the officer charged
with the lake survey, has been extended
from five miles above Cairo, ILL.,, to a
point eight miles above Columbus, Ky.
The systematic survey of the territory
west of the one hundrcdth meridian,
which for several years has been carried
on by the engineers and other officers OF
the army, has been continued during the
year in portions of California. Nevada,
Colorado, and New Mexico. The con-
tinuation of.this useful work, in itspres-
ent satisfactory condition of organiza-
ton, will, it is hoped, commend itself to
the favorable consideration Of Congress.
The Engineer Department maps used
by the troops engaged in the recent cam
paigns against the Ncz Perces and Sioux
have proved of great utility, and tits de-
sirable that the unexplored areas in the
countries traversed by the troops and
hostile Indians be mapped as soon MS
possible.
In consequence of the failure of the
appropriation of the army, the manu-
facture of arms ut the National Armory
at Springfield was stopped on the LIST of
July last, and there is now only on hand
reserve supply of 1852 rifles and 6,9S3
4. LAD ,Inl 70 ha
opinion of the department. ms meas
ure of precaution and military foresight,
that a much larger number of arms of
the latest and most improved patterns
should he on hand in our arsenals in
cases of emergency.
The organization, arming and dis
ciplining the militia has received the at
tentive consideration Of the Chief of
Ordnance, whose department isrequired,
under the act of 1908, to provide arms
for the whole body of militia. Under
that act an appropriation of 500, 900 is
annually made. which is not sufficient
to arm and equip more than 5000 in
fantry. The organized militia of the
States is now reported 10000 men, and
if it be the purpose of Congress to en-
courage the increase and efficiency of
this force, much larger sum than is
now provided will be necessary. The
armament of our sea coast Notifications
is progressing very slowly.
ESTIMATES.
The estimates for this department for
the fiscal year ending June 80, 1870, as
revised amount, in the aggregate, to the
sum of SAB, l15 443.24, as follows:
slnries, contingent expenses, and post. ~ ~ -
MIN, sry i,S;sni i'SS SSo IS IS
Public worls"....... ......"..'.....-. ~, 10
z7I,zo GU
.. ,1it,443 ~
The estimates for the support of the
military establishment are for an army
Of $4,000 enlisted men, and the aggre-
gate thereof may be increased or di-
minished in proportion as the strength
of the army Is finally fixed at larger
or smaller number. The estimates sub
mitted by the chiefs of bureaus have, in
some instances, been considerably re-
duccd, and it is believed that the several
sums now asked are the lowest that can
be appropriated consistently with lust
regard for the public interests. The
aggregate estimates for rivers and har-
bors have been reduced to $5,0l5, 0CO,
and Notifications to $62o,000.
In conclusion, the Secretary refers to
the work of constructing jetties at the
mouth of the Mississippi River, and
quotes from the report of an engineer
officer detailed to inspect the works, as
follows: 9" 1t is probable that the aid of
the new dredgeboat,' If it is moderately
successful, may soon enable Mr.. Eads
TO gain channel OF % feet deep for a
width of 200 feet throughout the jetties,
and the chances are quite favorable for
the attainment of such channel in the
early stages of low river by the help,
possibly, of only an ordinary dredging
machine, and later, perhaps, even with
out such aid There statements are
made because the law (act approved
March 3, 1859 requires the honorable
Secretary of WGr shall embody
in his annual reports the probable
time when other payments will become
DUE"
Provision for this payment is made in
the sundry civil act Of March 3, 1877
vol. 10, page 1853, provided it becomes
due prior to the LIST of February, 1878
Should the contingency arise subsequent
to that date, it would appear thai
further provision must be made by Con
gress for the payment. 1t having beer
officially stated to me that there was ar
open channel of greater depth thar
eighteen feet at mean tide, to and from
the sea through the South Pass to thu
Port of New Orleans, directed. Angus
IS, 1877, the suspension of the opera
tions for the deeping of the Southwes
Pass under the appropriation of Angus
IA, 1879, in compliance with the pro
visions Of that act.