The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1880-12-02

WAsH1Narox. Noyember

CoCIOs0Iy N9mDoyS 6OpOr6
WASHINGTON, November n.
THE annual report of the Secretary Of War
| gives general review of the various subordi-
J nate reports, calls attention to their several
recommendations, and details at length the
operations of tho Department during the year
Upon the subject of expenditures appropria-
| tions and estimates, the Secretary says:
The expenditures for al, affairs under the
control Of this Department. Or the fiscal year
ending June 30, ISL were $39,8a,773. Con-
kfesS appropriated for the service the current
fs6al year $4l,S93,63O. The estimates for the
service of the fiscal year ending June 80,
1851, are $43,627, G'5. The estimates in detail
were originally submitted to me for $82 ~, TO,
but, on revision of the same, omissions or
reductions were made rs follows: In the civil
establishment, $lS5S5; military establish
ment, 100; public works, $ls,5l4, ls9: and
in the miscellaneous class, $s500l making
the total of revisory reductions 1850, ia.
The same increase in the amounts Of esti-
mates for the year 1888. over the amounts ap-
propriated for the year 1881 appears in the
civil establishment, the military establish
hent and the miscellaneous. For the public
work have reduced the estimates to accord
with what understand to be the amount re-
quired for the absolute neccs stiles of the serv-
ice in order to prevent waste of property
and damage to commercial interests beyond
such necessities 1t is submitted that the wis
dom of Congress may perceive that, as valua-
BILE improvements surround the realty Of the
Government, and 6s the commerce of tho
country advances in growth and prosperity,
IT should appropriations to cover expenses be
apportioned
The Mississippi River Commission, oper-
aeing in accordance with an act approved
June e, 1879, submitted a report which was
duly transmitted to Congress last March, and
was published by order Of the House of hep
resentatives The report exhibited for tho
first time estimates of the appropriation 70
Quired for works of improvement therein de-
| ecrfbed amounting to 81, COO, and 1t awaited
further consideration when the session closed.
The Commission has communicated to me its
desire to renew those estimates, and this COM
fnunication will be transmitted to Congress as
matter OF special importance, not included,
however, in the annual estimates and expendi.
lures for the service Of this Depar;
In regard to the South Pass of the Mississip-
pf River, the Secretary says: 1.-The perma-
nency of this important work seems to be as
sured from the fact that there has been no
failure whatever in the maintenance of the
maximum channel during the six months end
ing August last. This improvement has
opened through sands and shoals broad, deep
highway to the ocean, and is one upon the rer-
manent success of which congratulations may
be exchanged among people abroad and at
home, and especially among the communities
of the Mississippi Valley, whose commercial
exchanges float in an unobstructed channel
safely to and from the sea-"
Secretary Ramsey concurs in the recon-
mendatior of General Sherman that Congress
be asked to give g, 600 enlisted men specifically
to the troops of the line of the army. and ia
vors the abandonment of many small posts
and the concentration OF larger forces at STRAIT
egic points. The absence of large number of
officers from their regiments is alluded to- and
action is recommended looking to the relief Of
the service In this respect.
The Secretary indOrscs tie recommendation
of the Adjutant-General in relation to placing
uniformed State militia upon the same foot
ing in respect to its rules and forms us the
regular forces, and calls attention to the ne
cessity of providing by legislation for the or
yanization, arming and discipline of the militia
The affairs of the Lcavenworth Military
Prison, the Secretary says. have been capably
administered during the year. He suggests,
however, that in order to he entirely success.
ful and to carry out as far as possible the
original design of making the institution self
sustaining, one important mt asurc of legisla-
tinn is necessary. which is the authority Of
Congress to apply the earnings of the prison to
its maintenance.
Concerning coast defenses the Secretary
says: From personal inspection Of many Of
the Notifications referred to by the Chief Of
Engineers, am able to emphasize his recon-
mendations, and beg to state that their incom-
petcnt and defcnseless condition is discredita-
bic to the country. Jud ring from the history
of all other nations and the experience of our
own, tie United States will, notwithstanding
our traditional pacific policy, find itself
sooner or later ut war with q maritime
power. When that war comes it will come
suddenly. There will be no time after it's
declaration to construct defenses, either fixed
or floating. Other Nations have been for some
years ard are now constructing fast war
steamers of enormous size, incascd in iron
armOr up to two feet in thickness, and armed
with r.1ed guns weighing up to 10 tons, carry
ing shot OF toms weight, fired with little
short of q quarter of ton of powder. 1t is
feared that the country does not appreciate
the fact that after declaration Of war a few
days or even hours might bring these great
engines of destruction to our coast. 1t may
be to New York, or Boston, or Portland, or
Baltimore. or New Orleans. or San Francisco,
or any point the enemy may select. No one
can estimate the damage which may follow"
Tho works of river and harbor improve
ments, and cxamin ltions, and surveys pro-
vided for by the act of March 8, 1879, and pre-
vious acts, were carried on during the fiscal
year with satisfactory progress. The amount
available therefor July l, 1879, was $l0,772 lie.
The amount expended to June 30, $780, was
$6,l74,2I, leaving a balance of $l5J7, 955 to be
expended during the present fiscal year, to
which is to be added appropriations by the
River and Harbor act of June II, 1880 amount
ing to $685.. :00 The act of June IA, 1880,
makes provision for 343 works Of improve
ment, in sums varying from 500 to $4,000, and
for surveys and examinations with view to
the improvement Of la localities.
In relation to the Whitaker case, the Secre.
tary says: II have refrained from comment
Ing upon the unfortunate agitation which
flowed from an alleged assault upon a colorcd
cadet at the West Point Academy in April last,
for the reason that, in some of it's legal as
poets, the subject is still under considerar
tion.' 3#'-s.A 1s
In conclusion Secretary Ramsey recon-
mcnds that provision be made by law for the
appointment of an Assistant Secretary of War.
Report Of the Indian Bureau.
WASHINGTON, November 81.
THE annual report of the Indian Bureau for
1880 has been completed. 1t exhibits con-
tinued steady advancement toward civilian
ton on the part of nearly all the Indian tribes,
and very remarkable progress in many in
stances, especially among the Ogalallas and
Brule Sioux in Dakota, and the Pacific Coast
Indians collected ut the Yakima Agency.
The demands upon the Bureau by the Indians