The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1884-12-12
THE WAR DEPARrMrNr.
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In the expenses of the war department the
secretary reports decrease Of more than
$9. .OOO, 600, Of which reduction Of $5, ,6OO,-
600 was effected in expenditures for rivers
and harbors and 81, zoo. 900 in expenditures
Tor the qnartermaster's department. Out
side Of that department the annual expenses
for all the army bureaus proper (except
probably the ordnance bureaus) are sub
stantially fixed charges which cannot be ma
terially diminished without . change in the
numerical strength Of the army. The ex-
penses in the quartermaster's department
can readily be subjected to administrative
discretion. and 1t is reported by tho secre.
tary OF war that as result Of exercising
such discretion In reducing the num-
the army, the annual cost Of -''.aulp supply y
ing and caring for such animals is now
81, los, ,OS5. 90 less than it was in 1852.
The reports of military commanders show
that the last year has been notable for its
freedom from Indian oqtbreaka In defiance
OF tEe presidents proclamation Of July 1,
Elements in the Indian Territory. They
were promptly removed by detachment Of
troopa During the past session of congress
bfl! to provide suitable fire-p1oof build
ing for the army medical museum and the
library OF the surgeon generals of1ce re-
ceived the approval of the senate Asimilar
bill, reported favorably to the house Of rep
resentatives by one of its committees is still
pending before that body. II is noped that
during the coming session the mea sur
may become q law, and thereafter imme-
diate steps may be taken to secure place OF
safe deposit for tho valuable collections now
IN state of insecurity The funds with which
the works for the improvements Of rivers
year were derived from the appropriations
Of the act Of Aug 2, 1882, together with
such few balances as were on hand from pro-
vious appropriations The balance of the
treasury subject to reputation July I, 1883,
was $1O,O21 ,64O.55. The amount appro.
pristed during the fiscal year 1884 was
$l3, 108. BAG 27, and the amount drawn from
the treasury during the fiscal year was
$6, ,226, 7O3. ID, leaving balance OF 50, ,112,-
5sO % in the treasury subject to requidtion
sEAcoAsr DEvn,srs
The secretary Of war submits the report Of
the chief OF engineers as to the practicable
tty of protecting our important cities ON the
seaboard, by Notifications and other de-
fenses able to repel modern methods of at
tack The time has now come when such
defenses can be prepared with confidence
that they will not prove ab0rtive; and when
the possible results of delay In making such
preparations ts seriously considered, delay
seems inexcusable. For the most important
cities those whose destruction or capture
defenses. inclusive Of guns. may be made by
the gradual expenditure OF Geo, 600, ,OOJ.
sum much less than victorious enemy
could levy as contribution. An sppropria-
tion Of about one-tenth Of that amount IL
asked to begin the work, and I concur With
the secretary Of war in urging that 1t be
granted. The war department 10 proceed
ing with the conversion Of ten-inch smooth
bore guns into eight Inch rifles. by lining the
former with tubes of forged or Of cold
vertea within the year: This, however, does
not Obviate the neceasity of providing maana