The Canton advocate. [volume] (Canton, D.T. [S.D.]) 1877-1897, 1880-12-16
CANTON, D. T., THURSDAY, DECEMBER Is, 1880.

The maintenance of small posts along wagon and
stage routes of travel is no longer necessary.
Permanent quarters at points selected, of a more
substantial character than those heretofore con-
structed, will be required. Under existing laws
permanent buildings cannot be erected without
the sanction of congress, and when sales of mill
tary sites and buildings have been authorized. the
moneys received have reverted to the treasury,
ard could only become available through Il new
appropriation. 1t is recommended that provis-
ion be made by a general statute, for the sale of
such abandoned military posts and buildings as
are found to be unnecessary, and for the applica-
ton of the proceeds to the construction of other
posts: While many of the present posts are of
but slight value for military purposes owing to
the changed condition of the country, their 0ccu-
patton is continued ut great expense and incon-
venlence, because they afford the only available
shelter for troops
The absence of large number of officers of
the line, in active duty from their regiments is a
serious detriment to the maintenance of the
service. The constant demand for small detach-
ments, each of which should be commanded by a
commissioned officer for necessary service away
from their commands, occasions scarcity in the
number required for many company duties. With
view to lessening this drain to some extent it
is recommended that the law authorizing the de-
tail OF officers from the active list professors
OF tactics and military science at certain colleges
and universities, be so amended as to provide that
all such details be made from the retired list of
the army.
Attention is asked to the necessity of provid-
lug by legislation for organizing. arming and
dlsciplning the acire militia of the country, and
liberal appropriations are recommended in this be-
halt. The reports of the adjutant general of the
army and the chief of ordinance touching this
subject fully set forth its Importance.
The report of the officer in charge of edu-
cation in the army shows that there are seventy
EIGHT schools in in tha ith
an aggregate attendance of 2,3O5 enlisted men
and children. The secretary recomends the en-
listment Of one hundred and fifty schoomasters
with the rank and pay of commissary sergeants.
An appropriation is needed to supply the judge
advocates of the army with suitable libraries, and
the secretary recomends that the corps of Judge
advocates be placed upon the same footing as to
promotion, with the other staff corps of the army
Under the 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 rank (majors), with a pro-
vision 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.
NATIONAL DEFENsEs.
Especial attention is asked to the report of the
chief of eng ineers upon the condition of our ma
tlonal dctenses. From Il personal inspection of
many of the Notifications referred to- the secreta
ry is able to emphasize the recommendations
made, and to state that their incomplete and de-
fenseess condition is discreditable to the country.
While other nations have been increasing their
means for carrying on offensive warfare and at
tacking maritime cities have been dormant
in preparation for defense; nothing Of Importance
has been done towards strengthening and finish
ing our casemated works since ourla civil war,
during which the great guns OF modern warfare
and the heavy arnor of modern Notifications
and ships came into use among the nations, and
our earthworks left, by sudden failure of appro-
priatiOns some years since, in ali stages of incom
petion, are now being rapidly destroyed by the
elements.
INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT.
The two great rivers of the North American
continent, the Mississippi and the Columbia, have
their naygabe waters wholly within the limits of
the United States, and are of vast Importance to
our internal and foreign commerce. The perma-
nency of the important work on the South Pass
of the Mississippi seems now to be assured. There
has been failure whatever in the maintenance
of the maximum channel during the six months
ended August last. This experiment has open
ed a broad deep highway to the ocean, and is an
improvement, upon the permanent 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.
A comprehensive improvement of the Mississip
pi and it's tributaries is a matter of transcendent
Importance. These great waterways comprise a
system of inland transportation spread like net
work overa large portion of the United States,
and navi gable to the extent of many thousands of
miles. Producers and consumers alike have a COM
mon interest in such unequaled facilities for cheap
transportation. Geographically, commercially and
politically they are the strongest tie between the
various sections of the country. These channels
of ,mmunication and interchange are the proper
ty of the nation. Its jurisdiction is paramount
over their waters, and the plainest principles of
public interest require their intelligent and careful
supervision, with q view to their protection i'm
provement, and the enhancement of their useful
ness
The channel of the Columbia river for a dis
tance of about one hundred miles from its mouth,
is Obstructed by a succession of bars, which Occa-
sion serious delays in navigation and heavy ex-
pense for lighterage and towage. A depth of at
least twenty feet at low tide should be secured and
maintained, to meet the requirements of the eX
tcnsive and growing inland and ocean commerce it
subseves. The most urgent need, however, for
this great waterway, is permanent improve
mcnt of the channel at the mouth of the river.
From Columbia river to San Francisco, a dis
tance of over 600 miles, there is no harbor on our
Pacific coast, which can be approached during
was made by the forty-ffth congress for the COM
mencement of breakwater and harbor of refuge,
to be located at point between the Straits OF
Fuca and San Francisco at which the necessities
of commerce, local and general, will be best accom-
modated. The amount appropriated is thought to
be quite inadequate for the purpose intended. The
cost of the work. when finished will be very great,
owing to the want IF natural advantages for site
at any point on the coast between the designated
limits, and it has not been thought to be advisable
to undertake the work without larger appropri-
alton. | commend the matter to the attention OF
congress.
The completion of the new building for the war
department is urgently needed, and the estimates
for continuing its construction are especially re-
commended.
THE ARMY MEDICAL MUSEUM.
The collections of books, specimens and records
constituting the Army Medical Museum and IL
brary are of national Importance. The library
now contains about 81 800 volumes and $1,000
pamphlets relating to medicine surgery, and al
lied topics. The contents of the Army Medical
Museum consist of $4,000 specimens, and are
unique in the completeness with which both mill
tary surgery and the diseases of armies are illus
rated. Their destruction would be an irreparable
loss, not only to the United States, but to the
world There are flied in the record and pension
division over $4,000 bound volumes of hospital
records, together with great quantity Of papers
embracing the original records Of the hospitals
of our armies during the civil war Aside
from their historical value, these records are daily
needed in the settlement of large number of pen
sion and other claims, for the protection of the
government against attempted frauds, as well as
for the benefit of honest claimants These valu-
able collections are now in building which is pc
culiarly exposed to the danger of destruction by
fire. 1t is therefore earnestly recommended that
an appropriation be made for a fire-proof build
ing, adequate for the present needs and reasonable
future expansion of these valuable collections.
Such building should be absolutely fre-proof;
no expenditure for mere architectural display is
required. 1t is believed that suitable structure
can be erected at cost not to exceed $3.50 900.
A PLACE FOR GRANT.
I 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 close The legisla-
ton of the United States contains many preced-
ents 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 a
captain General of the army, with suitable pro-
visions relating to compensation, retirement,