New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-11-30


provements contemplated by such examinations and
sarly include estimates to continue all works once
meneed under legal authority ald remaining unfinished
Tor want OF funds The annual estimates submitted 10
Congress for the Improvement OF rivers and babor have
thus become larg' y in excess Of the o.
tanned for the works. for 1876 on $135W, 800 sub
United, S6643,5l7 80 granted for 1877, on Sl4,-
30l,100 reported. S5,Ol5,0O0 allowed aud for
1873 $l3 900 100 suggested, nothing appcOpii-
atcd. The estimates for 1879 compiled by the Chief oi
Engineers in order TO show full statements Of all exist
ing facts relative these works OF improvements were
rendered for Sl33O26OO, but were reduced by me 10
correspond vii the aggregate appropriated August II,
1876. the same being S5.Ol50oo. This amount was,
were IS 6 ZOO or 50 26I ZOO more fhan the estimates
"a res iscd The aggregate originally stated for 1850
Sl5,Ol9,00S IhI mas been reduced on my revision
to correspond with the estimates revised for 1879
The report chef Engineers states that work
upon seacoas defcnces, owing 10 the lack of apo
pii1uohs PAS been limited 10 the care ana
Of the woIks. Tue system governing The construction
of works of defence elaborated ana adoped IN
rarheu barboe batteries, projected by high tFycrses
and arranged Tor guns and mOrtars OF large calhlr 10
ne supplemented III we lutute ny Guns oI nc I
modern cahbrc, and Of Instructions IN the caDhels
Tunnins pi inc battciics TIC cher Of Engineers
now rec0mmeuds, in addition 10 completing the Open
of Cascmat, ioIis Tor the reception OF guns
OF the Target clinfc bcEinh armorpoies Of IRON me
trials and cXptrilu,n MS with the torpedo defence
have continued Wlctts Point with satisfactory re-
suits
REFERENCES TO TIKI BUREAU REPORTS
THE Secretary describes the wclmown facts Of tie
payment to Captain Eld. lie then reports that on
October there were only 22,5s5 smll arms Of
the latest model He urges the Importance OF Increasing
the appropriations Tor the manufacture OF small arms
lie Commcnd ALSO the subject OF an increase o. the Gp
preparation for ordnance. He recommends That law
be passed fixing limitation to prosecutions for ooer
ton three years, the time not to run while the ac
cuScd is abroad sccreted. In regard to fraud five
years time was suggested. The following references
are made to the bureau reports: Il
The report Of the shows that he and
1t.ra fltH1V
ability and zed Their inspection las eStanI shea the
fact mat the commissioned officers. as general rule are
GIcod to ycIou, or hurlful habits inc opinion is *
pressed concerning the RANK and ii mat We have never
mad "a finer body of men in service tuan al TINS umc
The instruction in drills and other military exercises
has been much interrupted during the year owing 10
small garIisous, and the large amount Of labor neces
sary imposed upon the men III DuiIdllS' repairs cI'
OF public property, etc. Proper attention has Dee
given discipline ana II Is reported as excellent Inc
Observation-Disclosures REPORTS that tie military prison IL
Fort IcaVeuNorh, Kan, established unicr hc Act OF
| May 2i, ISL Is nOw III successful opera ION OH
the 25th uiiIno there 373 military conyicis COLI
fined IN this prison. All the SHOES required lor Issue To
the troops now fabricated 10y thC Cohvcis at me
prison, and are of excellent quaI'5. .,,
the ACT OF Juy - 1876 IS iorods payment 10 OH
GERS OF the Army .. mileage I.r tIaNSi On an!
road which the roopsoi the United STATES are t-
titled to be transported rec ana me- siacs reason, lot
TINS request Wuicn seem To me ehli!cy sa'l'tI"'2,
invite attention to the recon nehoau0n @l the ray
qulrr that vacancies occurring III the Fay Department
he filed by aIpolul lncnt nom me t"pdo oI t' me
also make special reference 10 tha "ic'IS renewed
recUmm, IdatIuu lOI ihc establishment oi the annuity
scheme, which Was approved III my last report a. ven
as hy the President I'M MS annual mess &c lioA re-
consideration OF uc subject an slI disposed to give
Tie Su.g, Oh, General reports The total number Of
deaths iii the Army during me year rom al cadscs al
25G or about l. IN 1000. OF item III died Of disease
aht mo- a. tIr,Irr III ibc Inc Indian co2iry led 10
a uuabcr Of resulting IN severe loss sand
detailed statement Of such ios rs l~ FURNISHED bN me
SUPERINTENDENT Ab1u; 1000 yO.umcs and 5000
wear. uahg the tOtdI number ABOUT lbVoO VOLUMES ana
$1,000 pamphlets. The mCcS catalogue, including
original yluc.s IN medical ioU"nu~ and transact NJ
has been completed 10 GATE ItUhCLl Win Tue surgeon
General in tac RECOMMENDATION tuai t"Srrss should
au; burJz the print NJ OF TINS caia "-ge, ana invite
special attention 10 me estimate which has been pre-
In, records Of the war %! the ',hrAou, both Union
and Confederate alt uItl lu' 'n'' 49, 81 'v HI"u,
General OF the Army. Inc "tih o' 'd'HE lN7' Tor
publication under chTEa % Cuout EnOrIt y. scott
{. = A. To- whose report / invite attention. Tie
Confederate records obtained 10 EcHu9d a the lImt
OF lis capture brought mere IN l~bJ, ana nave been
carefully arranged. The agent recently appointed by
me- General Marcus j. Wright has been 'duou-y and
successfully engaged for the past rc months IN Ifocur
candid and liberal UNDERSTANDING with The Southern
Historical Society, a. We! as WIN several uLtI posscs-
-o, OF -ucu papers thi- Department daily adding 10
IT, material for a history OF Inc war Inc department
Is now ready to transmit 10 EonSrv5s consiueiapie
spaclc action by Congress sLa eua'c u 10 90 So The
aprouriauOu- heretofore aor have been Tor preparing
f6I notification, NOT for publishing.
The wise legislation Of Tie act approved July 20
1873 permanently organizing the ouu,tod men OF hc
t,p5 CONS uloyd NJ 100 soIgraut-, 30 Corporais and
80 prlya;cs mas been and vii, be productive Of good
results IL has done away with Huuoi dutc, ana einb'r
easements lucyidhIc without H. 1t has hAcd the ser
vice honorable Iuolhs, ana o'cH,i career "I
which tLoy aIc proud 10 lhc b'-l td7 OF !'uH- A1'T
can c:tZ.u-. inc unCc files are crowded WIN dpphca-
toa, f.r enlistment Ihc severe examination, are sue
cr,siuly undergone. The cause providing mat Two
s,r-c,uts NAY each year he appointed 10 be second
lieutenant, gives tnat stimulus Of permanent service
and promised reward :" Ioht anu ?" t"I.' s"u.u'
fnr Until the results Of ms organization, up 10 TINS
time 80 satisfactory, have been more iy tested 1t j.
not advisable That changes u, an III. l'"' Joy
the great fusion gwen ihc reports OF ut once through
the press, The display OF the avn rc4t once bulletins and
forms OF report the maps ana regular publications, it's
estimated that tue statements based upon the nior-
nnd iisuSd Gdy for The public use, reach dy
NOT less than Onc-thlrd Of all Inc households
in the United states. Inc regular dairy publication OF
NE I.n1Lls ~ ,S pIr AZ S,rs ~ cotsied V9
evidence thcuseiulness OF the reports and OF the Ia
fui Mli ,i are Intended In lurs,"nrr nf The
a, Of Congress authorizing the construction and opera
non OF geographic lines III the interior ana upon the
noDtjer 'or connecting military posts and stations and
other officers ana en- -tea ucn of the -ir
nal ery &C. have been continued upon these dulles TIE
lines in Arizona Ncw-McICO, ana upon the Texas from
Tier are nearly completed The liuts in the NostHwc,
for which provision Is made are pushed rapidly ior-
ward The work Of construction Ia. brea in large part
done by working parties furnished by tnc active cOOgcr
200 miles OF Inc Is operated and maintained IN tie
care OF officers ana enlisted men OF tine signal service"
TIE MILITARY ACADEMY.
The annual reports OF the maiorccncral commanding
the Military Academy at West Point aud Of the Board
OF Visitors which assembled at the examination June
last, are hereto appended. concur with tic
mandpg general IN his commentator Of the system Of
competitive examinations Largely used 10 deter
mine the selection of candidates for appointment from
Corglc -iOual districts, which j. indirectly hu power
funny working improve tie school Jsem OF the state
/ al.O cOncur "a proposed partial revision OF The
acac.mc system But ! am not AT this time III favor
Of advancing the qualifications for admission, or TIE
grade theoretical studies at the Academy. IL would
serve 10 exclude many young men OF sufficient capacity
for the ordinary military duties without adding
necessary clement Of usefulness III thtir performances
would rather drop out certain subject time
Tor me study OF Others more practically useful. Tue
question admissions al the September term is within
the discretion OF TINS Department. aud viii be duly
/ sldcrtd.