The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1883-11-22
NATIONAL AFFAIRS:
A Resume Of Some Interesting Bureau
Reports.
Some Figures Anent the Army and
Navy Of Uncle Sam.
THE ARMY.
FEEDING THE BoYs IN nLur.

FHEDINu THE BOYS IN BLUE.
| Tho rsport of thb CSmmssary uenoral q
tho army for tho fiscal year ended June 90
1ss3, shows that tho total resources for that
year were s3,ss,,.0o, nnd the totn, cxpendi
lures S3,sso.30s, leaving balance OF s,aa.a0
The additional 3 per cent. on cost + still
charged on NIL sales TO officers and enlisted
men Except sales OF tobacco to the lnt,er,. In
accordance with the decision OF the secretary
OF War. The clause requiring the ritrn
charge was omitted from tho Appropriation
bill for the year ending June 80. 1891.
During the year lis newspaper advertise
ments and 81 circulars for proposals were re-
ported and 2,"i1 contracts made. The aver
age con'racs price per pound for fresh ccf
iar the year 1883 WIS 1911 cents per louEd,
and for 1854 1901 cents.
The losses In the transportation Of sub .is'-
cnce stores, for which no one was found
responsible, during the ycnr amounted 10
Sla,3s0. The total losses by storms. fire.
accidents and thcfts were $780,. The SUBJ
eistcnce stores condemned during the year
involve net loss OF sli,G6l. Attention Il
invited TO the necessity of providing GOOD
cooks und bakers for the army.
TRANSFORMATION, Ere.
The report Of the Qnartcrnaster General Of
the Army shows that the total resources were
s15,05l,s56, the expenditures sl3 .5B,5.,. The
construction Of ninety new buildings. such Us
barracks, quarters. stables, stnrcheuses,
puardhouscs. etc, have been authorized nj
All estimated cost Of Sli1.1ss. Repairs TO eA-
isting buildings have been authorized ut an
Estimated cost Of ST., 800 An apnropti II on
OF S1a500o ~ urged to replace the building
used rs Il reerHiting-aerot and traininr-settooi
for recruits at Davids Island, n. Y. Tie eN-
penscs for transportation amounted to So
1881.
The expenses OF military transportation
comprised that provided over bonded Pacific
rail- oads, SS4i,1t4, which is credited Oh the
debts OF these railroads, and that provided
over lana-grant railronGs. TO which 80 per
cent. of tariff rates Is paid under act OF ton
gross OF June 30, lss3, making special APP
preparation Of $4,000 for ihnt purpose. The
unsettled accounts OF the Union Pacific, Kan
sas Pacific, Central Pacific, and Sioux City
ard Pacific roads amount 10 sl,5os, Ids. The
earnings of these railroads on account of
military transportation from their first open
ing to June 30, 1ssa, amount 10 Sl3.25i. lo,.
Special attention Is called to the
debts of the southern railroad companies to
tie United States for purchase OF railway
material In 1865 and 1865. The report says
that of fifty railroads SO indebted the nc
c UNITS OF forty-six have been closed and
settled. The four railroads still in debt to
the United States have made no cash pay
ments for several years, and the indications
are that the present unsettled aud unsatis-
factory condition OF affairs " i'll continue in
definitely until Congress shall it1erpose. II
Is recommended that the Quartcrmass err
Generals office be relieved Of this ca re
business.
ORDNANCE.
The report Of the Chief Of Ordnance shows
that 80. GEL arms were manufactured mt the
National armory during the year. Contracts
have been made for converting fifty tcn-inch
Rodmans into eight-inch rifles and making
four large hreaeh-loading rides. IL has hecn
found that steel hoops for banded guns man
uiactu.cd In this country are fully equal i'll
quality to the best hoops of Euroreau manu-
factnre. II is recommended that the CONVEX
son OF ten-inch smooth-barcs into eight-inch
rifles he continued. that over 300 fiitecn-inch
smooth-hores be improved so tho heaviest
charges may be used, and that CONGRESS en-
courage the formation of volunteer org aniza-
tions in every state, district and city by
making liberal appropriations fer armng the
same.