Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-12-10
Report of The Secretary Of War.

The Secretary of War has made public
his annual report of the operations of that
department during the past year. 1t is
very exhaustive review of the accomplish
ments requirements of the many divisions
Of the service. We present to our readers
some Of its more important features. The
expenditures for all affairs under the control
of this department for the fiscal year ending
June 80. 1880, were S39, 1924, 1893. Con-
gress appropriated for the service of the cur
rent fiscal year, S4l, 1898. $50 40, leaving I'M
expended 81, O6S, s5737 The estimates for
the service for the fiscal year ending June 30,
1882, are s43, 627 ,055.54.
In relation to the improvements that have
for some time been going on at the mouth of
the Mississippi river the Secretary says
''The permanency of this important work
seems to be assured, from the fact that there
has been no failure whatever in the mainten-
ance of the maximum channel during the
six months ending on August ., last. This
Improvement has opened, through sands and
shoals, broad, deep highway to the ocean,
and is one upon the permanent success OF
which congratulations may be exchanged
among people abroad and at home and espec.
tally among the communities of the Missis-
sippi Valley, whose commercial exchanges
float in an unobstructed channel safely to
and from the sea-
The Secretary recommends that the army
be recruited to the full legal force of 10000
men. lie SAYS: SIT is believed the full le-
gal strength is the least possible force at
which the present organization can be main
tanned, having in view efficiency, discipline
and economy. While the enlistment of this
force would add somewhat to the appropria-
ton for pay of the Army, the saving made in
other directions would be very considerable,
and the efficiency of the Army largely in
creased"
The Secretary recommends "that provision
be made by general statute, for the sale of
such abandoned military posts and buildings
rs are found to be unnecessary, and the APP
plication of the proceeds to the construction
of other posts" The construction of the
State, War, and Navy Departments has been
confined during the year TO the completion of
the east wing. and that of the north wing to
the height of the third story floor. The Sec
rotary says: 1.-The necessities of the gov
ernment service require that the new building
for the War Department shall he pressed to
completion as rapidly as possible. and the
estimates for continuing its construction are
especially recommended. 1t is recommend
ed that the uniformed State militia
be placed upon the same footing, in respect
to its rules and forms, as the regular forces.
and to that end correspondence has been
opened with the Adjutant Generals of the
States. 1t is not to be forgotten that, during
the earlier period of our late civil conflict.
time and resources were squandered which
might have been husbanded by proper organ
ization of the militia during the prior time of
peace
with a few exceptions. every garri-
soned military post within the limits of our
territory has been carefully inspected during
the past year" with highly satisfactory results.
.'Col. A. Med. McCook, aide-de-camp, the
officer in charge of education in the Army,
reports IS schools in operation, with an ag-
gregate attendance during the year of 1905
enlisted men and children. The construc-
ton of % new chool-houses has been or
iered during the same period, at an average
cost of 81 ,0S9 each. Attention is called to
the difficulties encountered in procuring the |
services of competent teachers from the en- |
listed men of the army. 1t is recommended
BY Col. McCook that legislation be had, |
the enlistment of $50 schoolmas- |
ers, with the rank and pay of commissary- |
'ergeants-a suggestion that will probably |
itself to the favorable consideration |
# Congress" The Recommendation that |
rambling be prohibited in the army, by the I
Enactment of an additional article of war is
enewed.
There we're 25 wall tents and
500 common tents sent to Memphis for re-
ief Of the sufferers from yellow fever. Since |
he Abatement of the disease, all tents sent to
places infected BY this epidemic have been
destroyed By IRE. There were so hospital
'ents sold to he National Board u Health