The weekly Arizona miner., 1879-11-21


 | if4h-rate elsrkship in auy large establish ment His salary should be sufficient tc place hira above temptation, and to secure high order of ability.
 The Salt RiTar land question has been settled Dy the reservation order originally recommended by Captain Chaffe, and my self.
 The survey of this new reservation for the Pimas and Maricopas should be made at once, as Indians are already inquiring for ihe limits within which to lay out their ditchcs for the next years cultivation. IL would be well to get these red men away from the rail roads speedily, to their new lands at the confluence of the Verde and Salt Rivers.
 The peace of this Department Is due to perpetual scouting operations. These are bIoodleSs and silent victones, which assure the prospector, miner azd ranchmen unseen protection, and prevent the Arizona rene gade, or the predatory hostile from Mexico, from reaching the industrious citizcn.l But with such a small force, and such an inn mense stretch of territory, crossed by noun tains and hiding places in every direction, some skulking thieves, lke coyotes will break in. But 1 question whether the death rate, or even the stealing, equals that of any civilized couRtry.
 The field operations in South eastern Ari zona have been ably conducted by Major c. E. Compton, Sixth Cavalry, who has late ly been promoted and gone to another De partment. My thanks arc greatly due to this officer for his quickness and vigilance, also for his great discretion aud local kEowl- edge in covering the right places with troops at the right time, without uselessly haIrassing those at rest in camp.
 X brief containing scouting operations from the different posts is herewith submit ted It is believed that our scouting oper atioDs for the present year wIll be carried on priccipally in New Mexico, against the renegade Apaehes of that District, and on the Sonora line, against combinations of Indians with border ruffians. The renegade Chiricahaus, who have given us SO much trouble, and concerning whose existence there has been so much dispute heretofore, are authentically located now near Casa Grande, in Chihuahua, from which place they raid out. Measures are now being ta- ken for the peaceful return of the remnants of this tribe.
 The friendly cooperation and good feel ing which have been exhibited by the In- terior Department towards the military, has been not only appreciated, but produc- tive of good results.
 I submit herewith the information of the Division Commander and heads of the re- spective Division Staff Departments, the re- port of the Assistant Adjutant General, Acting Assistant Inspector General, Chief Qusrtermaster, Chief Cemmissary of Sub sistence, Medical Director, Chief Paymaster, and Acting Engineer Officer, all of whom have managed their business this year ed mirably.
 The attention of the Adjutant General of the Army is urgently invited to ,he report of the Assistant Adiutant General in respect to the embarrassment arising in his office from the dimunition of the pay of Gen. eral Service Clerks. The amount of work done in this Department of the Staff is very great, and skill, quickness and reliability are of the utmost importance at the Head quarters of q Department that may be coA- sidered as always in the field It is certain ly unfair that these clerks should receive less-pa than their associates in the other Staff Departments. But irrespective of the injustice of the case, it has now reached the point that qualified clerks are not to be had for the money allowed. I trust that these
 
 work at the very fountain head of this De- partment, may soon be placed on the best of footing.
 Attention is respectfully invited to the subject of " approval of contracts" in the report of the Chief Commissary of Subsis- tence. He says that the time elapsing be- tween the date of receipt of proposals and the time fixed for .he delivery of supplies s~ al. ss~ sl. of the contracts, and of their transmissuin for the official action of the Division Con- mander, The causes, and embarrassing re- suits, oT this trouble are set forth in his re port, and the proper remedy suggested.
 The Quartermaster's Department on which so much depends, has never been, believe, in so good condition.
 Much praise is due to the post command CTS themselves for the judicious and econ 0micai improvement of their posts, and the care of their men and of the public property And great interest also has been manifested at some of the posts in the improvement of officers and men in their shooting. Mod ern warfare has developed the skirmish line and precise firing into something like a science, depending for its success upon in- dividual shots. But the system of instruc- ton is not yet perfected.
 An enlisted man of this Department, Ser geant z. T. Woodall, Sixth Cavalry, heads the Division Team for Creedmoor this year, and Corporal W. Brill, Company G, Twelfth Infantry, is member of the team. Forts Verde and Mcdowell have shown leading spirit in target practice, and it is believed that all the other posts will do their full part in the future. But the troops further out have been taken up with scouting and labor. The present Department prize con- tributed by Division Commander, was du- ly appreciated by the troops in thls part of his command; and was won by Lieutenant H. P. Kiagsbury, Sixth Cavalry, stationed at Fort Verde.
 Much assistance has been received from Division Headquarters by intelligent direc- ton and stimulating marks of distinction. And the men of this command, under more or less encouragement: from their officers, have responded nobly.
 Very Respectfully,
 0. E. WILCOX
 COMMANDING DEPT OF ARIZONA.