The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1880-12-17

1
lied, the moneys received have reverted 4
thc Treasury. and could only become avail
anic through new appropriation. II Is rec
general statute. for the sale III such nban
uonea military posts and buildings as ar
ionnu 70 be unnecessary. and for the applica
other posts. While many II the present post
ARE OF but slight value for military purposes
owing 70 the changed condition al the coun
c NY, smsr occupation 4 continued ~ grca
lord the only available shelter for troops.
me absence OF large number OF Officers 81
s = nut, ~ active duty from their regiments
- serious dctiimcnt 60 the maintenance o
me service. The constant demand for small
uetachmcnts each Of which should be com.
manued by a commissioned officer. and the
various details 81 officers for Unnecessary service
away from their command. occasions Il
svarcity IN the number required for company
duties Win view to le~Sening this drain "a
authorizing the detail of officers from the nd |.
tive list ~ professors of tactics and military
science ~ certain colleges aud universities. be
20 ~ ainenueu a. 20 provide that ali such details
DC made from the retired list of the ARMY.
ATTENTION - asked 10 the necessity of prN
Wiling by legislation for organizing arnifnv
anu disciplining the active militia of the
commended In this behalf. The reports Of
the Adlufant General OF the Army and the
Cniei o. Ordnance touching this subject fully
set forth ITS Importance.
The report OF the officer in charge OF cduca.
ton in the Army shows that there are seven.
Weight schools now In operation in the
army. army. with an aggregate attendance of s.soi
enlisted men and children. The Secretary 70.
commends the enlistment Of one hundred ana
DIN schuomasters. with the rank and pay of
..,, "a, sergcants An appropriation is
Army with suitable libraries, and the sccre-
Iary recommends that the corps OF Judge.
Advocates be placed upon the same footing
~ 70 promotion. with the other staff ,rps ~
he Army. Under existing laws the Bureau Of
Military Justice consists of one officer. the
Judge Advocate General, and the corps OF
Judge Advocates. of eight officers OF equal
ank (Majors), with provision that the limit
y the corps shall remain at four. when re-
luced by casualty or resignation to that
lumber. Iheconsolidation Of the Burean OF
ates. upon the same basis with the other star
orps OF the Army. would remove an unjust
examination against deserving officers, and
'1 Tsss the best Interests Of the service.
ne Chief OF Engineers upon the condition OF /
ar national defenses. From personal in |
pceuen OF many of the Notifications referred |
2, the secretary Is able 10 emphasize the rec. |
made. and TO state that their /
icompicte and defenseless condition j. dis |
EQUITABLE 70 the country. While other ma.
arriving on offensive warfare and altacking
aritime cities, we have been dormant M
epar alton tor defense: nothing Of inpor.
~ 3. nas Deen done toward strengthening
"a nnishing our casemated works since our
te civil war, during which the great guns ~
odern warfare and the heavy arinorof mod.
n iortincations and ships came into use
nong the nations. and our earthworks left
sudden failure Of appropriations some
AIRS since. In all stages of incompletion are
w being rapidly destroyed by the clements.
IMPROVEMENT OF NAvTGABLE WATERS
The two great rivers Of the North American
the Mississippi and the Columbia.
We their naNigable waters wholly within the
~, ,is. o. the United states, and are Of vast
portance 10 our internal and foreign com
srce. The permanency of the important
'rk on the south Pass OF the Mississippi
yer seems now to be assured. There has
en- no failure whatever in the maintenance
the maximum channel during the six :
'nths ended August 3, last. This experi. 2
'nt mas opened broad deep highway 70
ocean, anu = an improvement. upon the :
NJ DC exchanged among people abroad and U
nome, and especially among the com. Y
mites of the Mississippi Valley, whose 2
nmercial exchanges float in an unobstruct. 7
channel safely TO and from the sea-
comprehensive improvement ~ the Mis-.
sippl and Its tributaries Is matter OF tran. :
ndent importance. These great water
~ comprise ~ stem Of inland transport
ion spread like net work over a large nor. q
2 Of tho United states. and navigable TO y
ex.ent OF many thousands OF miles. Pro !,
erest IN such unequaled facilities for chc.p y
nsportation. Geographically, commercial. Z,
ma POLITICALLY they are the strongest tie y
VI.
sc channels Of communication and inter e
nge are the property of the Nation. Its 9,
suction - paramount over their waters. y
ine P.Ines, nrineipIes q public interest
,, with view to Interpretation. fmprove. ~
y, and the enhancement Of their useful i,
he channel Of the Columbia River. for 4 re
ance OF about one hundred mnes from its
lth, - obstructed by succession Of bars
q occasion serious delays In navigation, al
heavy expense for lighterage and toware n,
epth of at least twenty feet az low tide 3,
uld be secured and maintained 10 meet | AT
requirements of the extensive and b.
wing inland and ocean commerce II sub "a
res. The most urgent need. however for CO
great waterway u apermnncnt improve co
= Of the channel at the mouth Of the to
ON Columbia River 70 SAN Fran. a.
9, distance of over six 70
dred miles. there is no harbor IN
our Pacific coast which can be ca
Driation Of $4,000 was made by the Forfy M
Congress for the commencement of n 81
X water and harbor Of refuge TO be locat. in
y some point between the straits Of Fuca fol
San Francisco, at which the necessities cu
,mmerce, local and general. will be best In
Inc amount appropriated Il Ju
ight 70 pc quite inadequate for the pur- be
he'd, Will be very great, owing TO the want ia
aturni advantages for a site NJ any point II,
ne coast between the designated limits, Or
2. H.- utt bttu tuOu4nt I'D DE advisable TO be
ertake the work without a larger appro -
tlon. ! commend the matter 20 the at vi
ion of Congress. ~
2 completion Of the new building for the pn
Department Is urgently needed and tile II ,
mates Tor continuing its construction are 90
cialiy recommended.
Q collections OF books, specimens. and ins
rds constituting the Army Medical Muse or
'nn Library are OF national importance. co,
library now contains about fl,ty.one r
sand i've hundred (5l 500 volumes and /
seven thousand (5s,yo) pamphlets relnt pr,
70 medicine, surgery, and allied topics III
contents Of the Army Medical Museum yes
~ ~ twenty-five thousand ca. Ou0) spec. OH
=, hnu arc unique IN the completeness hol
Nhlrh DOM military surgery and the Ind
'Ses 81 armies are illustrated. Their de- rio,
ton would be an irrcparable loss not Mn
~ Viz ihitcu states, but 70 tho world cor
q are nled IN the record and pension di- tlir
n, over sixteen thousand (lG.O0Ol bound thc
'i.s ~ norptai records. together with n eng
Iuanu,s ~ papers, embracing the orr TIT
records of the hospitals ~ orr armies am
* We ciNii w'nr. Aside from their hstori. goe