Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1880-12-02
syaousis Of Secretary Ramsey's
Annual Report.
Interesting Statistics from the
Report Of U. S. Treasurer,
THE WAR DEPARTMENT.
WARRINGTON, Nov. %

War gives u RCnCi ii iNNASN vi tnS vol iOuo
srhordinste reports, calls attention to
her several recommendations, ind de-
tails at length the operations of the de.
nsrlmen. during the year. Upon the sub
isct OF expenditures, the Secretary says
sThe expenditures tor all affairs under
control of this department for the fiscal
yesr ending June 80, 1880, were $50 924,
i73. Congress appropriated tor the
service for the current tisc year SAL ,993,.
63O The estima tes for the service OF the
fiscal year ending June 30, 1892, are
s43627055. The estimates 10 detail were
originally submitted to me for 500 429 no;
but on revision of the same, omissions or
reductions were made as follows: In the
civil establishment, Sl3, $685. military es-
tsblishment S250,000; public works,
SlS,5l4,l29; and IN The miscellaneous
class, Sl5 900; making total of revisory
reductions of SIS 500 ia Some increase
IN the amount OF the estimates for the year
1892 over the year 1881, appears in the
civil establishment, the military estab.
lishment, and miscellaneous. For public
works | have reduced the estimates to &C.
cord with what | understand to be the
amount required for the absolute necessi.
ties of the service, IN order TO prevent
waste OF property and damage u com
mercial interests Beyond such necessi-
ties II is submitted that the wisdom OF
Congress may perceive that as valuable
improvements surround the realty OF the
Government, and as the commerce of the
country advances in growth and prosper.
ity so should appropriations to cover ex-
penses be apporuoned The Mississippi
River Commissioners, operating in accord
suce with an act approved June Is, 1879,
submitted report which WAS duly trans
mitted 20 Congress last March, and was
published by order of the House OF Rep
resentstives. Thst report exhibited for
the first time estimates OF the appropria
ton required for the works of improve.
ment therein described, amounting to
So l13 coo, and ii awaited further consid.
Grafton when the session ceased. The
commission has communicated to me its
desire to renew those estimates, and Ills
communication will be transmitted TO
Congress as of special mporIance-not
included, however, in the annual esti
mates Of expenditures for the service OF
this department"
la regard to the South Pass, Mississippi
river, the Secretary says: "Ihe perma-
nenCy OF this important work seems TO be
assured from the fact that there has been
no failure whatever IN the maintenance OF
q maximum channel during the six
months ending August 8, last This i'm.
provement has opened through sands and
shoals, broad, deep highway 10 the
ocean, snd is one upon the permanent
success .! which congratulations may be
exchanged among people abroad and at
home, and especially among the commu-
- tftaairni,Nr, Naliatr w nu
commercial exchanges float IN an unob-
sructeQ channel, safely TO and from the
sea"
Secretary Ramsay concurs IN the recon-
mendstiOn OF Gen, Sherman that Congress
be asked to give $4,000 enlisted men spe.
cifCally to troops OF the line of The army,
and favors the abandonment OF many
Of the small posts and the concentration
OF large forces at stragetic points. The
absence of large numbe of officers from
the regiments is alluded to, and action
recommended looking to the relief of the
service in this respect
Secretary Ramsay endorses the recon-.
mendation OF the Adjutant General in re.
lation to placing the uniformed militia
upon the same footing ia respect TO It's
rules and forming as The regular forces,
and calls attention TO the necessity of pro-
vidirg by legislation Tor the organization,
arming and discipline of toe militia.
The affairs of the Leavenworth military
PRISON, the Secretary says, have been caps-
bly, administered during the year. He
suggests, however, that IN order TO be en-.
tirely successful aud 10 carry out as lar rs
possible the original design OF N liking the
Institution sell sustaining, an important
measure OF legislation is necessary, which
is the authority OF Congress to apply the
earnings OF the prison TO lis maintenance.
The Secretary says: "From personal in.
speClion of many of the Notifications re.
feared to by the Chief Engineers, | am
s5le 10 emphasize his recommendations,
and beg to state that their incompetent and
Geienssles5 condition is discreditsble to
| 'he country. Judging IRON the history o!
all other nations aud the experience Of our
own, the UElted States will, notw ,hstsnd-
lag our traditional pacl1c policy, find it.
self sooner or later at war it'll a maritime
power When that war comes ii WILL come
suddenly. There will be no time after It's
declaration to construct deienses, either
liked or floating, o her nations have been
Tor some years and are now constructing
Fast steamers OF enormous size, encssed
10 iron amor up 10 five feet Ia thick ness.
aud armed win rfed guns weighing up
10 one hundred tors, carrying shot OF tons
weight, fred with little short of . quarter
! Of a ton of powder. 1t is feared that The
country does not appreciate the fact thal
s'lCr a declaration Of var q few days, or
tY-n hours, might bring these great en-
Rl1ss OF destruction to Our c0sst--it may
o- IN New YORK or Boston, or Portland,
., Baltimore, or New Orleans, or San
,a-c'soo, OF to any point the enemy may
.s0 No one can estimate the damage
~ el NOV fnllnM y