The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-12-03

ing the year for the benefit of mariners. 81 .
per cent. were justified by the results. The iudI-
cations of weather furnished to the press We're
verified in So per cent. OF the cases. Last wear
the Notifications and verifications were 50 per
cent. and S6.6 per cent. There has thus been a
further slight gain III accuracy OF prediction
On the Pacific coast, whtve Gather only was
predicted, the percentage of verihcatl0ns rose
To 90.5 per cent.
Ia fiji y-four cities meteorological committees
have beer appointed and nave given valuable
assistance. An interesting study was the inVes-
tlgatl0n of a suggested relation between ram
fail and the growth of populauOn ANA extension
of railroads ana teleGrauhs in the Northwest,
ana a careful study of the river foods of lSs2,
made Tor the purpose of discovering some means
of predicting sucn phenomena.
Among the improved merh0ds of distributing
weather predictions is that by means OF railway
trains. The Cleveland, Akron & Columbus rail
road mas adopted a system OF weather signals,
which are displayed on their cars, and which
thus ave warning to the farmers of The country
through which the line passes. The chief signal
oIhcer calls attention TO the crippled cpnnltlun
IN which the signal service was left by the last
appropriation acts, and asks more liberal action.
The report that cary provision
be made for fitting out another expedition for
relief of Lieut.. Greedy and his party.
THE MILITIA.
Concerning the militia, the Secretary makes
the following recommendations:
The report of the Acknowledgement shows that
in many of the States mucn attention is being
given to the Improvement of the militia. As
stated in my last annual report, officers of the
army are sent. whenever requested by the prop
er State authorities, to be present at militia en-
campments to inspect the troops. and to give
any assistance in making the encampment sue
ceSsful auu profitable to those who take part in
them, so far as Is possible. ON -ers were, aC-
cordingly, sent during the last year to encamp-
ments in nine different States, aud the reports
OF the inspecting officers given in full by the
Acknowledgements are Interesting ana instruct
i've.
I earnestly recommend that the attention of
Congress he invited to the subject of giving sub
stanlIal encouragement 10 the formation or
volunteer militia organizations in every State,
and in the District of Columbia, by liberal APP
preparations to supply the necessary arms,
ordnance stores. With our small standing army.
our main dependence for public defense must be
on our militia; and the wisdom of the compare
lively small expenditures which would eDcour-
age their organization and their efficiency in
drill and discipline, seems apparent. In the last
Congress a bin on this subject was reported from
the Soitate committee on military affairs Is.
1896, by which it was contemplated that in
lieu of the annu~l sum of $780, 900 provided by
the act of the ODD 81 April. 1903, the sum OF
5000, 600 should he annn%.ly appropriated, the
purposes for which it should be used being more
extended than under the provisions of the old
act. A careful consideration of 5hiS proposed
act leads to the belief that its enactment would
be a great public benefit, and / strongly recon-
mend the passage of such a law.
| believe it TO be especially the duty of Con-
gress to make a new enactment respecting the
The act now in force, in its essential
parts, is nearly acentury old, and is not adapted
to the present situation of affairs. It is be-
lleVed that. under appropriate legislation, an
efficient aud creditahle organization of the mill
tia III the District Of Columbia could be easily
effected.