The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-12-04

Totals ............... .......r.., ............3e
QuARrRRMAsTER's DEPARTMENT.
At the beginning OF the last fiscal year there
remained in the Treasury to the credit of the
quartermaster's department 1882 239.65. The
sam apl ropriated was $11, 1875 900, and the
balance undrawn at the close of the year,
81 ,295, ,279.01.
There have been authorized 90 new build
ings, at an estimated cost of SHIFTS. Repairs
t. Dubic buildings have cost, it is estimated,
S452, ,559. OF this sum $4344 were expended In
erecting and ftting up buildings for schools
and religious purposes. The water supply and.
system of sewerage have. bsen improved at 81
military posts, costing SOL ,S52 Hospital
buildings have cost for construction and re-
pair $74,96S.
There were on hand on June 80, 1883, 16, 400
animals, of which 1881 were cavalry and
quartermaster's draaght and pack animals.
There were issued during the year 1885
cords of wood and 40 ,818 tons of coal.
The commissary general renevs previous re-
commendalions, looking to improvement in
the cooking of the food supplied by the sub
sstence department for the army, and he sug-
gests hat II provision were made by law for
the special enlistment of men as cooks and
bakers, the health, comfort and efficiency of
the troops would be materially benefited
thereby.
MEDICAL DEPARTMENT..
The total number of deaths from all causes
reported from the army for the fiscal year end
ing June 30, 1888, Is 1852 from disease and 80
from wounds, injuries and accidents.
The cost of the medical and hospital sup
plies actually issued during the last fiscal year
was $3.50, 1878. 1t is desirable that the issue
of irusses shall correspond to the issue of
artificial limbs, as was probably the intention
of Congress; that il, that a truss shall be fur
ni,hed to every one who was ruptured in the
line of his duty while serving in the army or
navy.
ENGINEER DEP 4RTMENr.
For many years no appropriations have been
made for continuing the construction of our
forts, and the barbette batteries designed for
the country's defence, and incomplete and
rapidly going to ruin. 1t appears TO be not
only matter Of prudence, but of absolute
necessity, that these works, SO long delayed
shall at once be commenced and pushed to
speedy completion. The balance in the
treasury July 1, 1882 to the credit of appro-
pri4tion for improving harbors aud rivers was
"a, ,738. .263.50. The appropriations by the acts
of June 16,1S82. Aug. 2, 1882, and March 8,
1888, were $18, ,751 1886. and the sum of S373,-
1924 was drawn from indefinite appropria-
tons for construct ng iettiss in the South pass,
Mississippi river; operating and care of various
canals; and removing sunken vessels obstruc-
ting navigation. The drafts (ncluding $500
transferred to the interior departmenD bv re-
QUESTION during the year we're 3,841 541 27.
leaving balance OF $10,021 $40 55 IN the
treasury July /, 1882, and on the same date
there was in the hands of officers or on deposit
to their credit the additional sum OF So 362,-
254.10 Since that date and up to Nov. ], there
has been drawn from the treasury $4,9 27
1t will be necessary that early provision
should be msde to fit ont another expedition
for the relief of Lieut.. Greeley and his party.
Their exact situation and condition is only q
matter of conjecture. They have had With
them at Lady Franklin Bay a supply of food,
clothing and other necessares entirely sufi-
cient to last them until next summer: and
there would be no reasonable apprehension
for their safety if it were known that they had
remained and we're now at LADY franklin bay.
l earnestly recommend that the attention OF
Congress be invited to the subject of giving
substantial encouragement to the formation of
volunteer militia organizations in every State
and in the District of Columbia, by liberal
appropriations to supply the necessary arms
equipments, tents, ammunition and other ord
nance stores
Lieut.. Greeley's case is considered by no
means hopeless. He has the advantage of
daylight ia which to move II he left his station.
SIS ordered, no later than Sept. /. The days
which would be lost in outftting vessel aud
in the voyage to Greenland will be utilized by
him. Arriving at Cape Sabine not far from
Sept. 10, perhaps earlier, he will learn of Gar
liDgtons disaster, and determine on his plans
for the Winter. II he attempts to move South
upon the Danish settlements, he has TAO ra-
tions at Cape Sabine, 240 more ON an island in
its vicinity West of Brsvoort island, aud 240
at Litteton Isand-suficent, without re-
trenchment, for 4S days for his command.
But be may choose to regain Lady Franklin
bay, over distance of about $50 miles. There
he had more than years supply of the best
assorted food, including breadstuffs, canned
meats, fruits, vegetables, chocolates, Coffee
milk, pr serves, sauces; and also lights fuel
and shelter. For his journey north ward, he
would have at Cape Sabine and on the island
West of Brevoort some 80 days food at start
ing, and oD his road depots at reasonable dis
tances which he will not have emptied on his
way down to Cape Sabine. or these depots
there we're at Cape Hawks over two months
supplies, 10 days at Cape Colinsow and 10 at
Carl Ritter Bay. From one to another of these
he can travel comparatively light, sure to find
plenty on his return to Lady Franklin bav.
He cannot fail to know that the most earnest
efforts will be made co relieve him next year,
and plans will at once be prepared to put on
foot an expedition which shall meet all the
wishes of the most anxious friends OF the
party.
The Post OfIce Department.
The revenues of the Post,l Department for
the year ending June 80, 1883, were S45, ,5OS 81,
of which $41l, l,6l937 was from money order
business. The expenditures for the service of
the year were S42 SIG. .700.56 and the other ex-
penditures raised the total disbursements to a
figure which left the surplus of earnings ST.
O01, ,2S1S3. The receipts for the fiscal year
were SO 632, ,2S246 more than during the pre-
vious fiscal year. The cost Of railroad trans
portation during the year was $12, 882 SO.
The star route service for the year was s., ,042,
939 SO less than it was the previous year--a
decrease of Is per cent. The appropriations of
the fiscal year exceeded the expenditures by
$1.284, 1893 go. The Postmaster General esti
mates that the receipts of the department for
the fiscal year ending June 20, 1885, will be
$47, l04 .078.3l, and the expenditures $50,062,-
the Treasury of SO .958, ,11l29. The receipts
for letter postage the past year were $685. 1885,
| 711.50, and at the rate of annual increase
would be $31 ,186, ,140.91 in 1876 He estimates
that at two cents for letter postage the loss
| will 10 81. .S93, 1856 80
During the year, 1857 Post Offices have been