The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1880-12-11

of officers for necessary service away from their
commands, occasions scarcity in the number
required for company duties. With view TO
lessening this drain to some extent II is recon.
mended that the law authorizing the detail of
officers from the active list as professors OF tao.
tics 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.
ing by legislation for organizing, armng and
disciplining the dcti,e militia OF the country,
and liberal appropriations are recommended III
this behalf. The reports OF the Adjutan, Gen-
era of the army and the Chief OF Ordnance
touching this subject fully SET forth us import
ancc.
The report Of the officer in charge OF educa-
ton in the army shows that there are seventy
eight schools now in operation in the army,
with an aggregate attendance OF 23O5 enlisted
men and children. The Secretary recommends
the enlistment OF one hundred ana nity school
masters, with the rank and pay OF Commissary
Seryeants An appropriation is needed to sup
ply the Judge Advocates Of the army with suita-
BILE libraries, and the Secretary recommends
that the corps Of Judge Advocates be placed
upon the same footing as to promotlon, Win
tie other staff corps OF the army. Under the
existing laws the Bureau OF Military Justice
consists of one officer, the Judge Advocate Gen
eral and the corps of Judge Advocates, OF eight
officers of equal rank (Majors) with provls-
ion that the limit Of the corps shall remain AT
four, when reduced by casualty or resignation
TO that number The consolidation of the Blu
reau OF Military Justice, and the corps OF Judge
Advocates upon the same basis with the other
stall corps of the army, would remove an UNI
JUS discrimination against deserving officers,
aud subseryc the best interests OF the service.
Especial attention is asked to the report Oh
the Chief of Engineers upon the condition OF
our national deienscs From personal IN,
spcction OF many of the Notifications referred
to, the Secretary Is able to emphasize the re-
Communications made, and to state that thelr
incomplete and dcfenseless condition Is dis
creditable TO the country. While other nations
have been increasing their means FOR carrying
on offensive warfare and attacking maritime
cities, we have been dormant in preparation
for defense; nothing of Importance has been
done towards strengthening and finishing our
casematcd works since our late civil war, our.
ing which the great guns OF modern warfare
and the heavy armor OF modern iorllhcatIohS
and ships came into use among the nations,
and our earthworks left, by asudden failure OF
appropriations some years since, in all stages
of ncompletion, are now being rapidly de-
stroycd by the elements.
The two great rivers Of the North American
Continent the Mississippi and the Columbia,
have their nayigablc waters wholly within lhe
limits of the United States, and are OF vast I'M
portance to internal and foreign commerce.
The permanency of the the important work on
the South Pass OF the Mississippi river seems
now to be assured. There has been no failure
whatever in the maintenance OF the maximum
channel during the six months ended August
9 last. This experiment has opened broad
deep highway to the ocean, and Is an improve
mcnt, upon the permanent success OF when
congratulations may be exchanged among peo-
Die abroad and ut hoMe, and especially among
the communities of the Mississippi valley,
whose commercial exchanges float in an un0D
abe al al IN
A comprehensive improvement OF the Mssis-
sppi and its tributaries is Il matter OIL iran
scendant importance. These great waterways
comprise system OF inland transportation
spread like network over large portion OF
The United States, and navigable to the extent
of many thousands Of miles. Producers and
consumers alike have common interest in
such unequaled facilities for cheap transporta-
ton. Geographically, commercially ana polltl-
cally they are the strongest tie between the va
rous sections Of the country. These channels
of communication and interchange are the
property of the nation. It's jurisdiction Is para
mount over their waters, and the plainest prln-
cplcs of public interest require their intelli-
gent aud careful supervision, with view To
their protection, improvement and the enhance
ment Of their usefulness.
The channel of the Columbia river, for dis
lance of about one hundred miles from It's
mouth, Is obstructcd by II succession OF bars,
which occasion serious delays in navigation,
and heavy expense for lightcragc and towaSe
depth of at least twenty feet mt low tide
should be secured and maintained, to meet the
requirements OF the extensive and growing IN
land and ocean commerce 1t subscrVcS. The
most urgent need, however, for this great wa
tcr-way is Il permanent Improvement OF the
channel ut the mouth Of the river.
From Columbia river to San francisco, dis
lance Of over 600 mile, there is no harbor on
our Pacific coast which can be approached dur
ing stormy weather An appropriation OF sl5O,-
900 was made by the Forty fifth Congress for
the commencement Of a break water and har-
Dor of refuge, to be located at some point be-
tween the Straits Of Fuca and San Francisco, at
which the necessities Of commerce, local ana
general, will be best accommodated, The
amount appropriated is thought to be quite in
adequate Tor the purpose intended. The cost
of the work when finished, will be very great,
owing to the want Of natural advantages for
site at any point on the coast between the de-
signatcd limits, and 1t has not been thought to
be advisable To undertake the work without =
larger appropriation. 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 recommended.
The collections Of books, specimens and rec
ords constituting the Army Medical Museum
aud Library are Of national importance. The
81, 900 pamphlets relating to medicine, surgery
and allied topics. The contents Of the Army
Medical Museum consist OF 1000 specimens,
and are unique in the completeness with which
both military surgery and the diseases OF ar.
mics are Illustrated. Their destruction would
be an irrcparablc loss, not only to the United
States, but to the world. There are flied in the
record and pension division over 5000 bound
volumes Of hospital records, together with
great quantity Of papers, embracing the ortgi
nal records Of the hospitals OF our armies dur
Ing the civil war Aside from their historical!
value, these records are daily searched for eyi.
dence needed In the settlement Of large num-
bers of pension and other claims, for the pro
lection Of the Government against attempted
frauds, as well - for the benefit of honest
claimants. These valuable collections are now
in building which is peculiarly exposed TO
the danger of destruction by fire. II Il therefore
earnestly recommended that an appropriation
be made for q new hre.pro0f building, adequate
for the present needs and sonable future eI-
pansion Of these valuable collections. Such a
building should be absolutely fre.proof; no ex-