New-York tribune., 1879-11-24
THE ARMY FOR A YEAR.


WASHINGTON. Nov. 23.-'rhe annual report of the
Secretary of Wax is gwen to the Associated Press
to-day
Mr. McCnTy joins heartily with Geueral Sher-
man in recommending that the effective force of the
line OF the Army he raised to 5000 men. tie says
that due regard for the safety OF settlers on the
frontiers requires it. The records Of the Depart
ment show that the Indians always strike at the
weak points of the frontier. and that since the Re-
bcon fity-fve officers of the Army have been
killed IN Indian warfare and a corresponding num-
Der wounded, while proport tomato number OF the
nen have also been killed and wounded.
Referring 10 the massacre at the White River
Agency and the killing of Major, IhonburGh the
Secretary says:
In my iud sment the Government should persist in It's
demand Tor the surrender for trial and punishment Of
affairs ana should visit upon the guilty the full y
OF Their offences. II Indians who sdbsist upon the
bounty OF the Government can commit Win immunity
criwe- such as these and II ne United states alls 70
segment 10 repeat the outragcs when opportunity and
on , sns PrSp, sac .S m c %S sS e
understand litte beside force. wholesome lesson.
As to estimates, the Secretary says:
The actual expenditures OF The War Department for
the G.ea year eudias june 80. 1879.
si2.655.723 CO. The appropriations ayaiiahls or the
tue fiscal wear ending June 80 ISIS asgre-
gated si5,o567o2 %; those fer is,9 were
SSSUIGSio 20 go go ~ l5gse e Tor e current year
TSe estimaies the rvlce Of the fiscal year ending
10
they nave from S54 o6Gi3 H. for which
they were originally submitted tOm
basis Of - $50 enlisted men The sgna Corps being
ly law allowed 400 men not TO he Included IN the
$1,000 men. The estimates iOT pubic works as re-
duced s7,557O3i 42 whicn amount Is S39Ge43 81
those Tor 1850 aud So 2S7 AGO 10 les appro
prations for 1850, Which woIc SlO,7si.49i 81. The
expressed under this head ~ last annual re-
port here renewed. best explanatory TO the reduc
ton Of these esIinales wmch' as Irausmitted TO me-
tcths of tais amount fOr the continuation OF works
once commenced undertsal authority and remaining
mted 70 CongIess, IN accordance with law Csee See
The amounts appropriated for "fortiGcations and
other works of defence during the last nye years have
di cry iIo se IN me aInouts snr~es]ed for these
works ly the Chief of Engineers Under his title the
estimates for 1850. which were S3.lss4O0 were re-
sdered IN Congressional appropriations fOr S5OOOO;
and the present estimates. rendered In detail for
Si02S.5OO. have been reduced IN the aggregate 10
81 100000 which amount could be wisely and properly
applied to the preservation aud care Of these works
items for SII 32G $50 reiuced the aggregate
fo S5O15 OOO wlch was the olal OF the amount sppro
priated for tn fiscal wear leI1 ara whcn seems 10
have been sufficient Tor the promotion OF Tie gcheIa
commerce oi The country during that time
Attention is called TO the fact that provision has
been made for publishing the Union aud Confederate
war records.
TRANSPORTATION.
The QuartermaSter's Department is reported to
have spent S1O.7JS, ,O01 during the year. the ex
peuditure in 1874 having been Sli,55s,317. The
Secretary recommends the enlistment of Post
Qnartcrmastcrs' Sergeants. and that Lieutenants
when detailed as A. A. Q. NJ. be allowed $40
month extra pay. The Secretary continues:
The Department moved daring the year 59.l77 er-
settlements 10 the oIi,ary posts many oi when are ~
The far interior aud at the eud oi lonS Ine. OF com
munic,tion. Tue cost OF this transportation was
Tne embarrassment aud expenditure arising in the
leg station against the iandsrant TilIOtus sun Con,
would leave these questions ana claims he settled
the principles OF and equity decided to be applicable
ly The supreme Court, Is again rtc9nuthdtd Dy 'he
Qulrtermastcr General aud concuIred IN by me.
Ine Pacific Ra,iosds irauspoTeo, i"a9o peInpn ipin
sS year A. f sgaF o rae as o ieS yaiSe % OF the &
tsy lransnora ION over these roads 10 June 90 1871
s6e IairoSds Who purchased material from the Quar-
iormasicr's Department. nrder EXecuiive orders o,
0eiohcr. ls65, SUI owen ne nlen & nr 0
jay last. the sum Of lsJ2G IL III M s n'Sun' 10 in
The Nashville aud Northwestern kallIo.d "cn - ,n
solvent S90s $50 p, which amount IL Is not sup
oar Army is more thoroughly provided with transpor-
when a savage tribe attacks party and commits
massacre the relieving TROOPS me- d "S a. nii fro.n
their canionments and begin aeh c l9O inl,.es,
reach The asc of supplies on the Pschc Railroad, aud
complete II less than three days ana rescue inc su
vors
The military cemeteries are reported to be III
GOOD condition and improving in beauty. The
lite bead-stoncs is practically completed. In the
Sprinc work viii begin upon designating soldiers
graves IN private cemeteries in the same manner.
The total number of deaths in the Army, among
the white troops. was 2GG. Of which number 1Oi
died of wounds and injuries. There were twenty
eight deaths Of cOlorcd soldiers thirteen OF them
being from wounds and injuries. Attention Is
called TO the large volume of business pTccpitated
upon the Pension Office. and to the necessity of an
increase in the clerical force Of the Office.
OF engineering works. the Secretary reports with
regret that no progress is being made. at least so
far rs the coast defences are concerned. lie COM
mends the views Of the Chief of Engineers about
the desirabiTity Of reasonable appropriations Tor
the sea-coast defences. lie asks that the Battalion
Of Engineers be raised from 200 enlisted men to
52O
THE JETIIFs.
The Secretary reports as follows about the I'M
pr0vements at the mouth of the Mississippi
Mr. James B. Eads and associates began the c0nstruc
On Of ettes and other works al the South fats OF he
and permanently maintain nayigable channel twenty
Elk feet deep through then existing extensive shoals
feet water. and which, as obstacles 10 navigation.
rendered this Pass useless commerce.
Under an act Of March g. 1879 authorizing the under
taking Ir Eads and associates were 10 receive certain
payments rs The Improvement progressed toward lhe
OF the channel sought and required 10 De Sc
cured within specified time aud they were To receive
periodical payments Tor twenty years for u. msnte
hshce WIN view 70 lnsuflng M ~ m oa & & IN
provemeRt The progress OF the work has Deen me sud-
lec matter of several reports during eac wear non, % @
engineer officer duty Port Eads and has been duly
communicated 20 Congress.
In accordance with the provisions of the act OF March
ls1J. and anendafory acts, payments for the Work
have been made reqasiIOps dated a follows Janu-
June p. Is7s 100000 between October s. 1878; ana
FEBRUARY II, 1879, S2IOSo2 CO. hisrch = 1879,
G b esys:S Nav 20 s7s Mee % sSS a Say S 1873 1873
fesssJ 81 July g. 1879, 100000 ana July ~ lsI9,