Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1878-11-08
REPORTS TO THE SECRETARY OF
WAR.

III DbCGIlDbl uCAJs
REPORT OF THE coMMIssARY-GENERAL.
The annual report of Commissary- General
Macfeely has been submitted to the Secretary
of War 1t shows that the total amount dis
bursed for subsistence stores during the fiscal
year ended June 80 last was S3,510,55l, of
which fl,0ll,1 ,147 was reimbursed by sales OF
stores to officers and enlisted men: $3l, ,S24
was paid by the Interior Department for sup
plies furnished to Indians; S13,S43 was col
lected for tobacco sold TO enlisted men, and
the balance was furnished to the Department
by the Congressional appropriation. Gen.
Macfeely urgently recommends that the APP
preparations by Congress should be made suf-
ficiently large to enable the department to
purchase all supplies for cash, and should be
rendered available from the date of the pas
sage of the act, so as to admit of the purchase
and shipment of supplies for distant posts
early in the spring, and thus avoid loss in
transporting meats, etc, in the hot months of
June and July. Referring to the complaints
made from time to time that stores were not
purchased in the neighborhood of the posts
where they were to be consumed the Com
mssary-General says investigation has shown
that in most, If not in all cases where this
course has been pursu ed, IL has been done for
the reason that stores of a proper quality
could not be procured as economically in the
vicinity of the posts as from other points
The number of contracts made by officers of
the Commissary Department during the year
was over 26,000
The cost value of the rations issued to vel
low-fever sufferers since the 18th of August
last lup to Oct. y is stated at S24,-
649 The Department has furnished supplies
for Indians to the amount of about S43, 900 in
excess of its reimbursements from the In
terror Department Referring to the state
ments made by the Board of Indian Peace
| Commissioners, and reiterated in Congress,
that the purchase of beef and -four by the In
dian service at some points is at less than the
cost of the same supplies purchased for the
| army, Gen. Macfeely denies that the articles
| purchased were of the same grades.
The Commissary General recommends that
| the present limitation of sixteen ounces per
month as the maximum amount of tobacco
| that may be furnished to enlisted men, and
charged against their pay rolls, be enlarged to
| twenty-four ounces, as it appears that a ma
| iority Of them desire to purchase more than
| they are now allowed thus to obtain. The
modification in the army ration authorized
last year, it is stated, have given general sat
| isfaction.
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT.
The annual report of Surgeon-Gen. Barnes,
| United States Army, shows that there were
disbursed during the year, for medical and
hospital supplies, SAG, 06l,01; ; expenses of pur-
veYing depots, S5,65L23; pay of employees,
S35, BOB. 70; medical attendance, nursing, etc,
| S7,41l.S1; miscellaneous expenses, Sc Ill. 16;
| total, 500, 545O3; balance June 30, 1873, 800,
! 9SS.67. The greater part of this balance has
since been disbursed, and the remainder will
| be required in fulfilling contracts made before
| June 30. There were furnished during the
year eighty-three artificial limbs to disabled
| soldiers, while LOO drew combinations for
the same. The monthly report of sick and
wounded represent an average mean strength
| of the army of 2O,14 white and l,S95 colored
| troops. The total number of deaths reported
| from all causes was 256. OF these l2l died
from disease and 135 of wounds, accidents and
! injuries. The proportion of deaths from all
causes to cases treated was one to 107. The
removal of garrisons from threatened points,
| although in some instances deferred later
| than prudence would dictate, has saved the
army from any serious losses during the
prevalence of the dreadful epidemic of yellow
| fever which has proved so fatal this year
| among the citizens of the Southern States.
| The only cases reported in the army up to
/ September l occurred in a small detachment
| left at jackson Barracks, New Orleans, when
| the garrison was removed. There were five
cases and two deaths in this detachment.
| The Surgeon-General next refers to the
work in the Record and Pension Divisions of
j the office, and says: "The number of official
| demands upon this division during the fiscal
| year for information as to the cause of death
| in the case of deceased soldiers and the hos
| pital record of invalids was 21,014, being
| rather more than the average number of such
| demands received annually since 1870 The
number of unanswered cases on hand at the
close of the previous fiscal year was 1857
making the total number of cases to be
searched during the year 39,77l.n He then
refers to the increase of the clerical force in
this division, authorized by Congress at the
last session, and says the beneficial effect OF
| this increase of force was speedily felt, and
that they are now gaining upon the cases in
arrear.
Tine requirements of the army as to medical
officers during the past year have been as fol
lows: Number of permanent posts 100; mum
Der of temporary posts and sub-stations, IA
total, ia. The number of military expedi
tions in the field during the year was thirty
seven. These expeditions required the serv
ices of tfty-siX medical officers. There are
now fifteen vacancies in the grade of Assist
ant Surgeon. He refers to the act of June 2
1876, reducing the number of Assistant Sur
geons to 125, and says any further reduction
in the number of medical officers would b,
unwise, expensive and to the injury of thu
service. The present disposition and occupa
tion of troops creates a necessity for addi
tioual medical aid, and it has been found ex
pedient, economical and in every instance alb
solutely necessary, to employ physicians un
der contract to meet such demands Sucl
employment terminates when the emergency
ceases.
NsPECToR-GENERAL's REPORT.
The report of the Inspector-General of tn
Army specifically details the condition of tn
various military posts, and gives the report
of the several commands as an appendix.
appears that the Paymasters have prompt
that the military posts are in excellent condi
tion, the discipline good and the character o
the officers without Teproach 1t is recon
, mended that the enlisted men pay more atten
tion than heretofore to target practice. Alto
gether, the report shows a gratifying cond
tion of affairs IN everything connected wit
the spector-Generals Department.
THE NAVY.
The reports of the Bureau Officers in tn
Navy Department show that there are noI
and eight or nine more in the course OF pref
aration to be sent abroad There are none
the Gulf-thOse that were there having bee
sent north, as usual during the summermonth
, , on account of the health of the officers an
l crews and because there was no special reaso
for them to remain there. The Navy has no
} about fifty vessels of various classes in SCI
worthy condition, apart from eight or mir
monitors, which are intended more particula
ly for home defense. The opinion is eXpresse
g that there should be at least one hundred Sc
| going vessels in order TO meet all requirement
I The personnel OF the Navy is represented I
be in admirable condition. There are 800
4 100 in reserve. These are on leave for thrt
= months, liable to be called into service an
time; beside, the apprentice system affords
gradual supply of educated seamen for ii
Navy, and hence there is no necessity for mar
new enlistnents. The policy of the Navy ID
q partment is not to repair vessels which wou
1 cost forty per cent over their original valu
! | The wear OF vessels is estimated 10 aVerat
y ten per cent. per annum. The work in a
! vance is principally confined to riaing smoot
: bore guns, the Rodman and Dahlgren seer
. ingly going out of use. Experiments wi
" torpedoes show their practicability, and G
> forts are made TO perfect this means of wa
d fare. The fact is established and admitted
n foreign military and naval officers that Il
4 gunpowder used in our Army and Navy
much superior 10 any of their own in propI
q sive force.
i RIVERS AND HARBoRs.
= The annual report of Gen. A. A. Humphrey
y, Chief of Engineers, is devoted mainly to u
!, two subjects of Notifications and river al
u harbor improvements. IL is shown that duriI
l. the fiscal year ending June 30, the sum
l. S2, 794, ,5S3 was expended for the improveme
\ of rivers and harbors, and a balance OF 81 ,0S
67S, remaining from previous appropriation
70 is available for use during the present fsC
S, year. The act of June Is, 1873, made pr
1t vision for two hundred and fifteen works al
| fnp at