The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-12-07


IL limited by statute tsection Ills. Revised
Statues) to not more than 10000 enlisted
men, but that proyisos contained In appro.
priation bits have limited expenditures TO
The enlistment ~ hut $4,000. IL Il believed
the full legal strength IL the least possible
force vt which the present organization I'm
be maintained, having IN view efficiency,
discipline, and economy. While the enlist
ment OF this force would add somewhat 10
the appropriation for pay OF the army. the
saving made In other respects would be
more than an equivalent for this additional
outlay, aud the efficiency OF the army would
be largely increased.
The rapid extension OF the railroad sys.
TEN west Of the Mississippi river and tlG
great tide Of settlers which has flowed IN
upon new territory impose on the military
an entire change OF policy. The maintenance
OF small posts along wagon and stage
routes OF travel Is no longer Necessary. Per-
msnent quarters at point, selected Of more
substantial character than those heretofore
constructed will be rtquired. Under exist
.ipy laws permanent buildings cannot I've
erected without the sanction OF Congress,
and when sales OF military sites and build
ines have been authorized The moneys
received have reverted 10 the Treasury, and
could only become available through new
appropriation. II Il recommended that pro-
vision be made by general statute for the
sale Of such abandoned military posts and
buildings as are found TO he unnecessary
and for the application OF the proceeds 10
the construction OF other posts. While
many OF The present posts are OF hut slight
value fer military purposes owing to the
changed condition OF the country, their oc-
cupaiion Is continued at great EXPENSE and
inconvenience because they afford the only
available shelter for troops.
The absence OF large number OF officers
OF the line, in active duty, from their regi-
ments, Is a SCI iOus detrimeDt 10 the mainte-
nance OF the service. TIE constant de-
mand for small detacbments. each OF which
should be commanded by a commissioned
officer, and the various details Of officers for
necessary service away from their com.
mands. occasions scarcity in the number
required for company duties. With view
10 Iessening this drain TO some extent, II Is
recommended that the law authorizing the
detail u officers from the active list a. pro-
fesSors OF tactics and military science at GER
tain colleges and universities be so amend
ed a. TO provide that sll such details be made
from the retired list OF The army.
Attention is asked to the necessity OF pro-
yiding By legislation for organizing, arm.
ing, and disclplning the dctiue militia oil
the country, and liberal appropriations are
recommended in this behalf. The reports
OF the Adjutant. General OF the army and
The Chief OF Ordnance iOnchiDg this sub.
iect fully set forth ITS importance.
The report OF the officer in charge OF ed
ucatiOn in the army shows that there arc
ion In
ibe army, with an aggregate attendance oil
2, 800 enlisted men and children. The Sec
rotary recommends the enlistment Of one
hun lred and fifty schoolmastefs, with The
rank aud pay OF ommissary-sergeants. Ar
appropriation is needed to supply ejudgC
advocates Of the army with suitable libra
ries, and the Secrt lary recommends that The
CORPS o. Judge advocates be placed upon The
same footing. as TO promotion. With tue oihel
staff corps OF The army. Under eXistin!
laws the Bureau OF Military Justice consist:
of one officer, the Judge Advocate General
and the corps Of Judge advocates OF eieb
Officers of equal Isak (maiors), with pro
vision that The limit If he corps shall re
main ut four, when reduced by casualty o.
resignation 10 that number. The consollda
ton Of the Bureau Of Military Justice ant
the corps Of Judge advocaes upon the same
basis with the other staff corps OF the army
would remove an unjust discrimination
against deserving officers and subserye tn
| best Interests or The service.
| Especial attention is asked TO The repor
| OF the Chief of Engineers upon The condi
ton OF our national defences. From
| personal inspection OF many OF the FORTH
cations referred to the Secretary is able &
tmnbasize the recommendations made, an
| TO state that their incomplete and defence
| less condition is discreditable 10 the country
| While other nations have been increasing
| their means for carrying on offensive war
fare aud attacking maritime cities W
have been dormant in preparation 10
defence. Nothing OF imporiance ha
been done towards strengthening an
finishing our casemated works since on
late civil war, during which the gi ca
guns OF modern warfare and the beay
armOr OF modern fol Infections aud SHIP
came into use among the nations, and on
eartbworks left-by sudden failure OF ap
propriations some years since-ln all stage
OF iDcompleii0n are now being rapidly dt
stroyed by the elements.
The two great rivers Of the North Amer
can continent--tbe Mississippi and The CC
lumbia-bave thelr nayigable waters who'll
within the limits OF the United STATES, an
are OF vast importance to our lhtefnai an
foreign commerce. rhe permanency OF 10
important work on the South Pass OF th
Mississippi river seems now 10 De assured
| There has been no failure whatever I'D III
maintenance OF The maximum channel III
ring the six months ended August 9Th last
This experiment has opened oroau ace
| highway TO the ocean, and Is an improve
| 4 I,o nf
concentrations NAV be exchanged anon
people abroad and at home, and especial'
among the communities of the Mississippi
| Valley, whose commercial exchanges nos
] in an unrestricted channel safety 10 an
| from the sea.
] a eomprebens,ye Improvement OF ID
Mississippi aud it's tributaries ia na''eI
tran, candent importance. These grea
waterways comprise a system Oh 'u'ah
transoorfa,ion spread like network over
large potion OF tue United States, an,
nayigabe TO the extent Of many thousand
| oi mites. Producers and consumers alik
have common interest in such uOequalle
facilities for cheap transportation. Gee
graphically, commercially, aud politically
| they are the strongest tie between the va
r,ous sections OF the.cOuntry. These chan
uels of communication aod interchange al
the property Of the nation. lis jurisdiction
is paramount over their waters, and III
plalnest principles Of pubic interest re
quire their Intelligent and careful supery
sion with view to their protection. I'm
provement, and the enhancement OF thel
usefulness.
The channel OF the Columbia river, for
distance of about one hundred miles frot
its mouth, is oD>tructed by a succession
bars, which occasion serious delays in nav
CATION aid heavy expense for lighterage an
towage. A depih OF at least twenty feet
| t,da shouId no secured and maintained