The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-12-04
THE WAR DEPARTMENT.
synopsis of the Report of Robert I. Lin
coin, Secretary OF War.

4 acte WYNN 6ET M Ut-rsis
synopsis of tho Report of Robert I. Linz
coin, Secretary OF War.
| WASHINGTON, November 29.-Following
| are extracts from the annual report OF
Jeeretary OF War Lincoln:
| WAR DEPARTMENT, November q, 1884.
! To the President:
have the honor to submit the following
annual report OF the administration of this
Department.:
EXPENDITURES, APPROPRIATIONS AND EsrI-
MATES.
The expenditures by requisition under the
direction of the Secretary of War during the
hscal year ending June 80, 1884, were as fol-
Salaries, contingent expenses ard
y postage. - Q4i
Military establishment-army and
military academy my.-.-,........ S5640672 e
Public works. including river and
| naroor improvements. 10662, Sc. 50
! miscellaneous objects ............ 3Sj6,66S.34
Total. ..-.......................$ .$4s,aS ,s7s.2l
which included the sum of <I.5S6, ,Cs5.72 not
| drawn from the Treasury, but credited.
nncer ! the act of March 3, co Statutes,
ssO, to the subsidized Pacific Rail-
| roads for transportation services rendered
inc war Department during the fiscal year
the surplus fund June 30. 1884. was si.OI0.-
| 9+eI3. the appropriations for the fiscal
| year ending June b. 1855, are as follows:
Salaries, contingent expenses,
| ana postage. .............. ....-.. 2OSS ga e
Military establishment army
and Military Academy y....... s4749IsS5C.
| Public Works. including river
and harbor improvements. l56S7, ,4S5.Oc-
Miscellaneous objects 3,052:3IS.i7
The estimates for the fiscal wear ending
Sute M, 40, a. revised Oy me are as follows;
/ Salaries, contingent expenses
,,a and postage. s,IIS,SI5Oc
and Military Academy -. 264 57777 A..
| Public Works, including river
| ana ha-bOr improvements, and
new sea coast fOrtiEcations... lS4g7. .4eO Is
| MlsceIiaheoGs ObJectS-..........- S,sU5,l41.6l
$5OS5O,5OO5s
STATE CLAIMS.
The following claims have been received at
| this Department:
| Kansas, September s, lSS2. .......... S3t9 3O9j
Nebraska. November -, lSS3........ .I,54I43
Nevada, June j. 1884 ............- 312USII
Texas. first installment, July 8, 1881 6aI,iUOa9
Oregon, November 5, 1854. .......... SS5g, ,4jg Is
THE ARMY.
Lieutenant General p. II. Sheridan. COM
mandIng the Army, reports that since the
| date OF the last report OF his immediate pre-
decesSOr, General W. 4. Sherman, the Army
has enjoyed almost complete rest from ac-
tive field operations, but that its other
upon the frontiers of Canada and OF
Mexico, ard stations near Indian Agencies,
the protection of Indian reservations, and.
the guarding Of the Indian Territory from
intrusion, have been important and labOri-
Gus. The reports of military commanders
show an unprecedented quiet among the
Indians, there having been reported during
the year no disturbance TO cause the firing of
a single muskct. The renewed invasion of
what is called the Oklahoma country, in the
Indian Territory, by intruderS determined to.
settle upon lands there, in defiance of laws.
and of Executive prOclamatiOnS, has re-
quired movements of of considerable num-
berS of troops; but the intruderS have been.
again removed beyond the limits of the ter
rltory, and a new military district has been
organized called the District of Oklahoma
under command of Colonel Edward Hatch.
of the Ninth Cavalry, with view of prevent
ing Il recurrence of this trouble. InfOrma-
! ton received ut the War Department indi-
Gates that the persistent leader of these in
truderS IS an adventurer who has found q,
profitable source of money making in or.
ganizing colonies to go into the terri
tory. As | have heretofore stated, the
only penalty for the ofenSe committed
by him and those whom he deludeS into Join
ing these colonies is the fine which mpy he
imposed under section 2l4S of the revised
statutes, and the fine cannot be cOllected;
and | renew my accommodation that an
amendment OF the statute be made providing
for Imprisonment. as il is believed that such
IL punishment would prevent his veXatiuuS.
raids, and save very large expenditure now
incurred in the movement of troops en-
pl0yed IN executing the law. The artillery
school at Fort Monroe and the cavalry and
infantry school at Fort Leavenworth are
continuing their work, from which il is be-
heved that very great good results to the
army.
MILITARY ACADEMY.
The Superintendent of the Military Acade--
my at West Point reports that there were
present at the Academy September I. 1884,
3l4 cadets, and that there had been an i'm
prOVement in the tone and discipline of the
corps 1t is believed by the Secretary of War
that the rigid enforcement of the provision
of section 1.35 of the Revised Statutes,
which prohibits the return to the Academy,
except upon the recommendation of the
Academic board, of any cadet found def
nj N SfII los nr hAS mt nil to-
exercise Il beneficial influence at the Acade-
my. Many instances of the disregard of the
provisions of that law in former years un-
doubtedly impaired the force of discipline.
SUBSISTENCE DEPARTMENT.
The report of the COmmiSSary General of
Subsistence shows total of expenditures
during the last fiscal year amounting to 3d.
2lI,2-s ABB. There is included in this sum the
amount of subsistence funds embeZZled by
an ohcer OF the army who deserted the ser
vice, and, it is believed, fled to Mexico. The
sum cmbezZled by him was $l,9)5-15; and it
may not be improper to remark in this place
that this is believed to be the only sum of
money lost to the public treasury by the dis
honesty of any person in the military ser
vice during your administration In that
time there have been three other in
stances of dishonesty on the part of
officers of the army, each having funds
of different bureaus, but in each case the
money embeZZled was fully restored to the
before the trial of the officer in
volyed, and each officer was promptly dis
missed from the military services by SEN
tence of court martial
MEDICAL DEPARTMENT.
The Surgeon General reports that the total
number OF deaths in the army in the last
fiscal year was 272, of which l93 were from
disease, and % from injuries. No casualties
from actual warfare are reported.
PAY DEPARTMENT.
The PaymaSter General shews in his report
that his department has during the last year
duly accounted for Sl5,lS l6U.o6. He again
with my concurrence, the re-
peal of the law fOrbidding payment of mile
S.fAf1 fTv. LAM mt
roads. As mileage is given to an officer not
merely to pay his railroad but TO cover
other travelling expenses, and as officers
of the army are the only public office
ers against whom q discrimination is made
in this regard, recommend legislation to-
correct il.
ENGINEER BUREAU.
The Chief of the Engineers presents in his
annual report review of the modern re-
IuirementS for the defense of our important
sea coast cities, and in his comprehensive,
but brief discussion. shows not only the
Urgent necessity of beginning the defensive
works which cannot be improvised, but their
small cost in comparison with our National
resources. Steel forts and turrets to resist
runs which can send prOjectile weighing a
on through sixty feet of sand, and which
themselves must have like guns, with steam
machinery to load and manipulate them, can
rot be built in the short time which would be
yiven us by an enemy after the occasion of
diplomatic intercourse; and, as is said by
he Chief of Engineers, The contribution.
which could be levied from New York alone
would probably pay four fivc-fold the
.ost of all the fOrtificatiOnS OF the important
iarbors of the country" trust that the
.arnest attention of Congress may be invited
o this subject, and that adequate appropria-
ions may be made to carry OUT the views
If the Chief of Engineers. The danger
O the efficiency of the tornado sys-
EN- without the construction of Electrical
ooms and cable galleries has been dwelt
Ipon in my previous reports.
When Edison. genius and inventor