The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1880-12-10

10 the treasury, and could ouly become avail
able through new appropriation. II il recon-
mended that provision be made, by a general
statute, for the sale OF such abandoned military
posts and buildings are found to be unneces-
sary, ana for the application Of the proceeds 60
the construction of Other posts. While many
of the present posts are of but slight value Tor
military purposes, owing to the changed condi-
ton of the country, their occupation is contin-
ued ut great expense and Inconvenience, be-
cause they afford the only available shelter for
troops.
The absence OF large number of officers or
the ltle in active duty, from their regiments Is
a serious detriment to the maintenance OF the
service. The constant demand for small de-
tachments, each OF which should be command
I'D by commissioned officer, and the various
details of officers for necessary service away
from their commands, occasions scarcity LII
the number required for company duties.
With Wow to lessening this drain to some
extent, ii is recommended that tho law author
izing the detail OF officers from the active list
as 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 il asked TO the necessity OF pro-
viding by legislation for organizing, arnlnS
and disciplining the 0ctioe militia of tho couii-
try, and liberal appropriations are recommended
in this behalf. The reports OF the Adjutant
General of the army and the Chief Of Ord
nance touching this subject fully set forth its
Importance.
The report of the officer in charge of educa-
ton in tho army shows that there are seventy
eight schools now i'll operation In the army,
with an aggregate attendance OF 2,3O5 enlisted
men and children The Secretary recommends
the enlistment of $50 schoolmasters, with the
rank and paw of Commissary Sergeants. An
appropriation is needed to supply the Judge
Advocates of the army with suitable libraries,
and the Secretary recommends that the corps OF
Judge Advocates be placed upon the same foot
ing as to promotion with the other staff corps
OF the army Under the existing laws the
Bureau of Military Justice consists of one Of
ficer, the Judg6Advocato General, and the corps
Of Judge Advocates, of eight officers OF equal
rank (Majors), with provision that the limit
OF the corps shall remain at four, whom reduced
by casualty or resignation TO that number.
The consolidation of the Bureau of Military
Justice and the corps Of Judge Advocates,
upon the same basis with the other stan corps
of the army would remove All unjust discrim-
nation against deserving officers, and subserve
the best interests OF the service.
Especial attention is asked to the report Of
the Chief of Engineers upon the condition of
our national defenses. From a personal IN
spection of many Of the Notifications referred
to, the Secretary is able to emphasize the rec
concentrations made and TO state that their
incomplete aud defenseless condition il dis
creditable to the country. While other nations
on offensive warfare and attacking mar
itime Cities we have been dormant
in preparation for defense nothing OF inn
portance has been done toward strengthening
and finishing our casemated works since our
late civil war, during which the great guns
of modern warfare and the heavy armor of
modern fortlhcations and ships came into
use among the nations. and our earthworks
left, by a sudden failure Of appropriations
seine years since, in all stages OF incomple-
lain. lixt Iagt l,rt lao
elements.
The two great rivers OF the North American
continent, the Mississippi and the Columbia,
have their navig bic waters wholly within the
limits of the United States and are of vast inn
portance TO our internal and foreign commerce.
The permanency of the important work
on the South pass of the Mississippi
river seems now TO be assured. There
has been no failure whetevcrinthe maiaten nee
Of the maximum channel dming the Fix months
ended Aug. 8 last. This experiment has opened
a broad, deep highway to the ocean, and /. al
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 CONNER tial ex
changes float III unobstrueted chan.
mel safely to and from the sea.
A comprehensive improvement OF the Mis-
sissppi and its tributaries Is q matter of tran
scendant Importance These great waterways
comprise system Of inland transportation
spread Ike network over large portion OF
the United States, and navigable to tn,
extent Of many thousands of miles
Producers and consumers alike have
common interest in such uneuualeC
facilities for cheap transportation Geoeraph
ically, commercially and politically they are Tia,
strongest tie between the various sections o
the country. These channels of communca
ton and interchange are the property of th,
nation. Its jurisdiction IL paramount over thei
waters, and the painest principles of public
interest require their intelligent and careful
supervision, with view TO their protection,
Improvement, and the enhancement of thei
usefulness.
The channel of the Columbia river, for
distance of about 100 miles from it, mouth i
Obstructed by succession Of bars, which DC
cason serious delays in navigation, and heav
expense for lighterage and towage. A dept
of at least twenty feet at low tide should be sc
cured and maintained. TO meet the require
ments OF the extensive and growing inland an,
Oaean commerce it subserves. The most urgen
need, however, for this great waterway is
permanent Improvement of the channel at tn
mouth Of the river.
From Columbia river to San Francisco, a dis
lance OF over 900 miles, there IL no harbor OF
our Pacific coast which can be approached dur
ing stormy weather. An appropriation o
Sl5O,0O0 was made by the Forty-hfth Congress
for the commencement OF breakwater an,
harbor OF refuge, to be located at some poin
between the Straits of Fuca and San Francisco
at which the necessities of commerce, loca
and general. will be best accommodated
The amount appropriated is though
to be quite inadequate for the purpos.
intended. The cost of the work
when finished, will be very great, owing to tn
want OF natural advantages for a site at an
point on the coast between the designated linn
Its, and 1t has not been thought TO DO adyisabl
TO undertake the work without larger appro
pration. / commend the matter 10 the atten
ton Of Congress.
The completion Of the new building for tn
War Department Id urgently needed, and th
estimates for continuing it's construction NJ
especially recommended.
The collections of books, specimens ant
records constituting the Army Medical Nh
scum and Library are of national importance
The library now contains about 81, 800 volume
and $1,000 pamphlets relating to medicine
surgery and allied topics. The contents of tn
Army Medical Museum consist of 22,O
specimens, and arc unique in the con
pletcnoss with which both military SUI
gerry and the diseases OF armies ar
illustrated. Their destruction would b
an irreparable loss, not only to the Unite
States, but to the world. There are filed I'm tn
Record and Pension Division over 1000 boun
volumes OF hospital records, together with