Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1884-11-29
our ARMY.
contInued flom ThIrh 20.

Continued from Third Page.
examination or survey in the act, Il
were reported as not worthy Of I'M
prOvement, and the results Of theil
preliminary examination were such al
10 prevent their survey under the act
The examinations and surveys 70
quired and provided for in the rivel
and harbor act OF July 8, 1884, have
been undertaken and are in progress
The reports thereon will be submitted
to congress from time to time, durnl
the ensuing session, as they are re
celyed.
Action was taken during the yeai
upon such plans aud locations as were
submitted by parties interested Of
bridges proposed TO be built under the
authority Of congress, subject to the
approval of the secretary Of war.
II has been the rule In cases where
congress has not authorized the con
struotlon Of "A bridge, or has not re-
| quired the secretary Of war 10 approve
the plan, ETC., ola bridge as a condi-
! ton TO It's being built. that he neither
authorizes nor forbids its construction;
but, II satisfied that any intended
structure Of that kind, or any other,
will seriously impair the navigation
Of the channels Of navigable waters of
the United States, he endcavors
through the department OF justice to
prevent its erection,
The arrangements which have been
In progress under the direction and
supervision. IA requii ed by law, OF the
inventor, Mr.. NJ. j. Adams, for maxi
ing u practical test Of flume for in
creasing the depth OF water Of the
Mississippi, for which the sum OF
$780, 900 was provided by the river and
harbor act Of August ?, 1882, have
been suspended by him before COM
pletion for want of funds, the unex-
pended balance being ON June 30,
1884, 1880.
The uillce Of survey OF territory Of
the United States west OF the Tooth
meridian was closed February 30 1884
The thirteen atlHs sheets referred 10 in
my last annual report have been pub
lished, making in all l6l maps and
atlas sheets, covering an area OF 1885,.
SDl square miles.
There WAS transmitted to congress
at its last e-slon detailed report by
the commissioner of the Third Inter.
national Geographical exhibition and
congress at Venice, Italy, with the
recommendation that the report aud
accompanying illustrations he ordered
to be printed In quarto form, with the
view to its wide distribution. This re-
port contains IA description and discus
sion Of the geographical exhibits from
twenty-five countries, and those acts
Of the congress- most interesting To the
United States, AZ we'll AS the scope and
progress NJ the discussion and action
concerning the determination OF "A
single initial meridian
The small appropriation asked for
the next fiscal year for surveys re-
quired for military purposes, and for
the publication OF maps for the use Of
the war department, is earnestly
recommended
IMPROVEMENT or THE SOUTH PASS OF
THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER.
In my last annual report the history
ol this work WA continued to include
September o, 1888
During the four quarters ending
September ., 1884, the channel of the
pass has been uninterruptedly main
tanned, with the required dimensions
From September 10, 1888, to Septem-
Der o, 1884, both dates inclusive, four
quarterly payments for maintenance,
amounting B. Sl0O,000 and two semi.
annual payments Of interest, amount
ing tO $40 900 were made to Mr.. Eads,
making the total expenditure for the
Improvement To- the latter date q, 000,-
900.
ORDNANCE DEPARTMENT.
The report oi the chief OF ordnance
exhibits in detail the progress which
has been made and the difficulties met
curing the year in the construction of
experimental guns of the power re-
qulred in modern times for the srma-
ment OF Notifications.
The report Of the "gun foundry
board appointed In accordance with
the act OF congress was made To the
president February 10, 1884, and was
by him transmitted To congress Feb
ruBry Is, 1884. The conclusions
reached by the board after full investI.
CATION OF the subject here and abroad
are;
The establishment of government
gun factories for both the army and
navy, and the making IA permanent
and liberal appropriation by congress
for the specific purpose OF providing
artillery ofmodern types, this appro.
priauon being n permanent one, &c
act IA u stimulus TO private steel man.
ufaoturers To enlarge their plant and
make gun steel, the government being
n large purchaser. A special estimate
for permanent annual appropriation
10 carry out this r. commentator o.
the board was submitted by me but
congress took no action thereon.
The condition of our coast defense,
Ia matter OF grave concern aud call,
for immediate action, and / indulg,
the hope that before the end OF the en-
suing session congress will show :,
the country its appreciation of thes,
national wants by "A liberal and perma
nent annual appropriation.
Pending the giving by congress o
means 10 arm the coast with guns o
the best character, the department h
proceeding with the conversion o
l0.inch smooth-bore guns into S-incl
rifles, by lining either with a coilet
wroughtiron or a forged steel tube
and fifty guns will be thus converted
within the year.
About 1000 small-arms were mad
at the national armory In the last fisca