The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1881-12-10
Secretary LincOln's Report.

WASHINGTON, December2 2.
The annual report of the Secretary of War
Is chiefly devoted to the consideration of the
important recommendations contained in
the annual report Of the army chiefs. Gen.
eral Sherman's recommendation that the
army be increased to 10000 men receives
Secretary Lincoln's earnest Endorsement.
The attention of Congress is called to the
need Of legislation to prevent an intrusion
upon Indian lands, especially from Kansas,
into the Indian Territory Secretary Linz
coin invites special attention to that part Of
the report Of General Wright, Chief of En-
gineers, which refers to our seacoast de-
lenses, and on this subject says:
1.-The Chief of Engineers shows that de-
Tense by Notifications and tOTpedOes i the
only one which is at all practicable for
coast as extended as ours, comprising so
many rich maritime cities, extensive navy
yards, and depOts of supply; that any attempt
Mt any other mode of defense would be
enormously expensive, both for first cost
and maintenance, and it is the only mode
adopted by maritime nations, Experience
shows modern wars come on suddenly; that
serious international disputes occur be-
tween nations the relations Of which are
apparently most unlikely TO be otherwise
than friendly, and a condition Of readiness
for defense and an attitude OF belligerency
are sometimes the best preyentiYes of actual
war. We know that the necessary new
works and the proper notifications Of the
old works will require many years for their
completion, and IL seems simply matter OF
common prudence that we commence with
out delay, and, under liberal approprla-
tions, put our coasts in an effective condi-
ton of Defense
Referring to the subject Of the standard eff
requirements necessary for admission to the
Military Academy at West Point, the Sec
rotary says:
- concur in the views Of my predecessor,
that it would not be well to raise the stand
ard Of admission. The result OF the last eX-
animation, in which 40 out of / Is candidates
were rejected, shows the standard is so high
as to prevent the admission OF many VINO
would undoubtedly, if they had been so sit
uated AS to receive the proper preliminary
training, prove valuable officers, 1t has re-
Gently been recommended to me by the
Academic Board to permit the discontinue
ance Of certain prescribed studies in the
course for the purpose OF giving time for
others, the importance Of which was appar-
enU. A consideration Of the subject sug-
gested by this recommendation leads me to
believe it would be bestto extend the course
/ so as to cover i've years. IL is believed that
by so doing not only would the benefits Of
the academy be more widely extended, but
that the graduates would be prepared to
render better service to the country"
! The actual expenditures under the War
Department for the hscal year ended June
/ 3d. 1881, were S42, l22, 2Ol. The apprOpria-
tions for 1852 were $44, $50, 725, and the esti-
mates for 1883 call for S44, 54l, 21G. The es-
/ Inmates presented to the secretary for re-
/ vision included, for the armament Of forliti-
cations, 100000; Notifications and other
/ works of defense, S4,iSG, 800; improving
rivers and harboTs, S29, lOl, 300; improving
! the Mississippi River by the Commission,
| "a, $4,000; public buildings and grounds in
and near Washington, $4,000; surveys
taken, $4,000; total, S39,O9O,SOO. This
amount has been reduced on my revision to
/ judiclously allotted by Congress, will be, in
my judgment, reasonable allowance for
this class Of expense during the next fiscal
year"