River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1880-12-16

I
Danish either Of these metals from our currency is
4 to narrow and limit the circulating medium Of
/ exchange to the disparagement of important in
terests. The United States produces more silver
than any other country and is directly interested
in maintaining it is one of the two precious met
J ais which furnish the coinage of the world. 1t
will IN my Judgment contribute To this result if
congress viii repeal so much of existing legisla-
ton requires the coinage of silver dollars, con-
tanning only AZ Il grains of silver and in its stead
will authorize the secretary of the treasury to coin
silver dollars of equivalent value as bullion with
! gold dollars. This will defradd no man, and viii
| be in accordance with familiar precedents. Con-
gresS several occasions has altered the ratio Of
value between gold and silver in order to estab-
fish it more nearly in accordance with the actual
| ratio of value between+h two metals
In financial legislation every measure in the d.
rect0n of greater fidelity in the discharge of PEE
cuniary obligations, has been found by experience
to diminish the rates of interest which debtors are
required TO pay, and to increase the facility with
| which money can be obtained for every legitimate
purpose. Our own recent financial history shows
how surely money becomes abundant whenever
confidence IN the exact performance Of moneyed
Obligatio.. S is established
WAR DEPARTMENT.
The secretary OF war reports that the expendi-
lures OF the war department for the fiscal year
ended June 80 1885, $50 1924 173.03. The
appropriations for this department for the cur
rent fiscal year, amount to $4l 1898 630.40.
With respect to the army, the secretary invites
attention to the fact that its strength is limit
ed by statute (section lis revised statutes) to
not more than 30 900 enlisted men, but that pro-
visos contained in appropriation bills have limited
expenditure to the enlistment of but 25 900. 1t
is believed the full legal strength is the least pos
sible force at which the present organization can
be maintained having in view efficiency, disci-
| pine and economy. While the enlistment of this
| t0rce would add somewhat to the appropriation
for pay Of the army, the saving made in other re-
spects would be more than an equivalent for this
additional outlay, and the efficiency of the army
would be largely increased.
The rapid extension of the railroad system west
of the Mississippi river, and the great tide of
| ers which has flowed IN upon new territory i'm
| pose on the military an entire change of policy
! The maintenance of small posts along wagon and
| stage routes of travel Is no longer necessary,
| Permanent quarters at points selected, of 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 a new
| appropriation. 1t is recommended that provis-
| ion be made by 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
| bot slight value for military purposes, owing TO
the changed condition OF the country, their Jccu-
| patton is continued at great expense and incon-
venience, 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 detrment 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 Il scarcity in the
|
view to essening 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 proyid-
! lug by legislation for organizing, arming and
disciplning the act ire militia of the country, and
liberal appropriate )ns are recommended in this be-
half. The reports # 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 now in operation in the army, With
an aggregate attendance of 1905 enlisted men
| and children The secretary recOmends the en-
| listment of one hundred and fifty sch0onasters
with the rank and pay of commisSary sergeants.
| An appropriation is needed to supply the judge
| advocates of the army with suitable libraries and
! 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 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
,ft Ia
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 engineers upon the condition of our ma
4 tional defenses. From n personal inspection OF
many Of the forifcatons referred to, the secreta-
| ~ is able to emphasize the recommendations
made, and to state that their incomplete and de
fensress condition is ufscredtabie TO the country
| While other nations have been increasing their
means for carrying on offensive warfare and at
lacking maritime cities, have been dormant
! in preparation for defense nothing of Importance
| has been done towards strengthening and finish
ing our casemated works since our late civil war,
during which the great guns Of modern warfare
and the heavy armOr 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-
pletion, are now being rapidly destroyed by the
elements
INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT.
The two great rivers of the North American
continent the Mississippi aud the Columbia, have
their nayigable waters wholly within the limits of
the United States and Of vast Importance to
our internal and foreign commerce. The perTna-
nency of the important work on the South Pass
of the Mississippi seems now to be assured. There
has been no failure whatever in the maintenance
of the maximum channel during the six months
ended August last. This experiment has open
ed broad deep highway to the ocean, and is an
improvement, upon the permanent success of
which congratulations may be exchanged among
people abroad and Mt home, and especially among
the communities of the Mississippi valley whose
commercial exchanges float in an unobstructed
channel safely to and from the sea-
comprehensive improvement of the Mississip
pl and its tributaries is 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 navigable to the extent of many thousands of
miles Producers and consumers alike have 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 communication 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 a view to their protection, inn
proyement, and the enhancement of their useful
ness
The channel of the Columbia river. for a dis
lance 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 low tide should be secured and
maintained to meet the requirements of the eX-
tensiye and growing inland and ocean. commerce it
subserves. The most urgent need, however, for
this great waterway, is permanent improve
ment of the channel at the mouth of the river.
From Columbia river to San Francisco, dis
tuYp of fYtila 10 hDr tptsf,f pfir
Pacific coast, which can be approached during
stormy weather. An appropriation of $3.50 900
was made by the forty-fifth congress for the
mencement of breakwater and harbor of refuge
to be located at some point between the Straits of
Fuca and San Francisco, at which the necessities
of commerce, local and general, will be best accom-
modatcd. 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 of natural advantages for site
nj any point the coast between the designated
limits, und IL has been Thought to be aaVisn bie
to undertake the work without a larger appropr-
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 especially re
commended.
THE ARMY MEDICAL MUSEUM.
The collections Of books specimens aud records |
constituting the Army Medical Musen.. and Ii |
brary are of national Importance. The library |
now contains about 81 800 volumes and 81 600 |
pamphlets relating to medicine surgery and al |
lied topics. The contents of the Army Medical |
Museum consist Of % 600 specimens, and are |
unique in the completeness with which both mill |
tary surgery and the diseases of armies are illus
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