The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1880-12-09

eight schools now in operation in the army,
with an aggregate attendance Of 1905 enlisted
men and children. The Secretary recommends
the enlistment Of one hundred and nifty school
masters, with the rank and pay Of commissary-
sergeants. An appropriation is needed to sup
ply the judge advocates Of the army with sulta-
able libraries, and the Secretary recommends
that the corps Of Judge advocates be placed
upon the same footing, as to promotion, with
the other STAFF corps OF the army. Under ex-
sting laws, the Bureau Of Military Justice con-
sists OF one officer, the Judge Advocate Gem
eral and the corps Of Judge advocates, OF eight
officers of equal rank (majors) with provision
that the limit of the corps shall remain at four,
when reduced by casualty or resignation to that
number The consolidation Of the Bureau Of
Military Justice and the corps of judge advo-
Gates, upon the same basis with the other staff
corps Of the army would remove an unjust dis
elimination against deserving officers, and sub
serve the best interests Of the service.
COAST FoRTIFIoATIoNs,
Especial attention is asked to the report of
the Chief of Engineers upon the condition Of
our National defences. From personal in-
specton of many of the Notifications referred
to- the Secretary is able to emphasize the rec
concentrations made, and to state that their in
complete and defenceess condition is discredit-
able to the country While other nations have
been increasing in their means for carrying on
offensive warfare and attacking maritime cities,
we have been dormant in preparation for de-
tense; nothing of Importance has been done to-
wards strengthening and finishing our casemat-
ed works since our late civil war, during which
the great guns Of modern warfare and the
heavy aTmor of modern Notifications and ships
came into use among the nations, and our
earthworks left, by a sudden failure of appro-
rNYink utToa in oil H.
completion, are now being rapidly destroyed by
the clements.
NAVIGATION.
A comprehensive Improvement Of the Missis-
sppi and its tributaries is a matter of trans
cendant Importance Geographically, CONNER
ciay, and politically, they are the strongest tie
between the various sections of the country.
These channels of communication and inter-
change are the property of the Nation. It's jul
rsdiction is paramount over their waters, and
the plainest principles of public interest require
their intelligent and careful supervision, with
view to their protection, improvement and
the enhancement of their usefulness.
The channel of the Columbia River, for dis
tance of about one hundred miles from its
mouth, is obstructed by succession Of bars,
which occasion serious delays in navigation,
and heavy expense for lighterage and towage.
depth of at least twenty feet at low tide
should be secured and maintained, to meet the
requirements of the extensive and growing in
land and ocean commerce it subserves.
From Columbia River to San Francisco,
distance of over six hundred miles, there ID no
harbor ON our Pacific coast which can be ap-
preached during stormy weather. An appro-
priation of $4,000 was made by the Forty
fifth Congress for the commencement of
breakwater and harbor of refuge, to be located
at some point between the Straits of Fuca and
San Francisco, at which the necessities of COM
merce, local AID general, will be best accommo-
dated. The amount appropriated is thought to
be quite inadequate for the purpose intended.
/ commend the matter to the attention of Con-
gress.
THE ARMY MEDICAL MUSEUM.
The collections of books, specimens, and rec
ords, constituting the Army Medical Museum
and Library are Of national Importance. The
Library now contains about 81 800 volumes and
$1,000 pamphlets relating to medicine, surgery
and allied topics. The contents of the Army
Medical Museum consists of 1000 specimens,
and are unique in the completeness with which
both military surgery and the diseases of armies
are illustrated Their destruction would be an
irreparable loss, not only to the United States
but to the world These valuable collections
are now in building which is peculiarly ex
posed to the danger of destruction by fire. 1t
is therefore earnestly recommended that an ap-
preparation be made for new fre-proof build
ing adequate for the present needs and reason
able future expansion of these valuable collec-
tions. Such building should be absolutely fire.
proof; no expenditure for mere architectural
display is required. 1t is believed that suita-
BILE structure can be erected at q cost not to eX
Ceed $250,OO0.
QUIET HINT.
/ commend to the attention Of Congress the
great services of the Commander-in-Chief Of
our armies during the war for the Union,
whose wise, firm and patriotic conduct did SO
much to bring that momentous conflict to a
close The legislation Of the United States con-
tains many precedents for the recognition Of
distinguished military merit authorizing rank
and emoluments to be conferred for eminent
services to the country. An act Of Congress
authorizing the appointment of Captain Gen
eral of the Army, with suitable provisions re-
lating to compensation, retirement, and other
details, would, in my judgement, be altogether
fitting and proper, and would be warmly ap-
proved by the country.
ALASKA.
The recommendation of the Secretary of the
Navy, that provision be made for the establish
ment of some form of civil government for the
people of Alaska, is approved. At present
there is no protectionof of persons or property in
that Territory, except such as is afforded by
the officer Of the United States ship jamestown.
This vessel was dispatched to Sitka, because of
the fear that, without the immediate presence
of the National authority, there was impending
danger of anarchy. The steps taken to restore
order have been accepted in good faith by both
white and Indian inhabitants, and the necessity
for this method of restraint does not in my
opinion now exist. If, however, the James,
town should be withdrawn, leaving the people,
as at present. without the ordinary judicial
and administrative authority of organized
local government, serious consequences might
ensue.
CoALING STATIONS AT THE IsTHNIUs.
The Secretary of the Navy has taken steps to-
wards the establishment of naval coaling sta
tions at the Isthmus of Panama to meet the re-
quirements of our commercial relations with
Central and South America, which are rapidly
growing in Importance. Locations eminently
suitable both as regards our naval purposes
and the uses of commerce, have been selected
one on the east side of the Isthmus at Chiriqui
Lagoon, in the Caribbean Sea, and the other on
the Pacific Coast OF the Bay Of Golfto.
THE POSTAL SERVICE.
In 1850, the postal receipts were So, 518,-
067 40; in 1880, the receipts we're S33 S15 479 81
All the inhabitants of the country are directly
and personally interested in having proper
mail facilities, and naturally watch the Post
Office very closely. This careful oversight on
the part Of the people has proved constant
stimulus to Improvement During the past
year there was an increase Of 2, 1874 postofioes,
and the mail routes were extended az, 1T miles,
making an additional annual transportation OF
10,8O4, 191 miles. The revenues OF postal SER
vice for the ensuing year are estimated at $685.
S45 H4.1O, and the expenditures at $42,
$780, leaving deficiency to be appropriated out
of the Treasury of So, $50, 1890.
The Universal Postal Union has received the
accession Of almost all the countries and col
onies of the world maintaining organized postal
services, and 1t is confidently expected that all
the other countries and colonies now outside
the Union will soon unite Herewith thus realiz-
ing the grand idea and aim of the founders Of
the Union, of forming, for purposes Of interna-
tional mail communication, single postal ter
ritory embracing the world, with complete
uniformity of postal charges, and conditions Of
international exchange, for all descriptions Of