Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1884-11-29
CAPITOL HOTEL,

lation to provide for this long and GO.
riously felt want may be completed,
that immediate steps may be taken to
secure a safe deposit for these valuable
collections, now in constant peril from
the dangers which surround the pres
ent unsuitable building.
PAY DEPARTMENT.
The paymaster-genera shows in his
report that his department has during
the last year duly accounted for Sl5.-
$50, 1855 He 8gain recommends, with
my concurrence, the repeal of the law
forbidding payment of mileage 10 Off
GERS for travel over land-grant roads.
AS mileage ia given to an officer not
merely to nay his railroad fare, but TO
cover other travelling expenses, and az
officers OF the army are the only pub
lie officers against whom discrimina-
ton is made in this regard, | recon-
mend legislation to correct IL.
ENGINEER BUREAU.
The chief Of engineers presents in
his annual report review Of the
modern requirements for the defense
of our important sea-coast cities, and
in his comprehensive discussion shows
not only the urgent necessity OF begin
ing the defensive works which cannot
he improvised, hut their email cost In
comparison with our national re-
sources Steel forts aud turrets to re-
sist guns which ran send projectile
weighing ton through sixty feet of
sand, and which must Themselves have
like guns, with steam machinery to
load and manipulate them, cannot be
! built in the short time which would he
| given us by an enemy for preparation
after the cessation of diplomatic inter
course; and, as is said by the chief OF
engineers, 1.-THE contribution which
could he levied from New York alone
would probably pay four or tivefold
| the cost Of all the Notifications OF the
| important harbOrs Of the country
trust that the earnest attention OF con-
gress may he invited TO this subject,
and that adequate appropriations may
be made 10 carry out the views of the
chief Of engineers
/ invite special attention to the esti.
mate submitted for the commence
ment ofthe system Of works designed
for the defense Of the harhors Of Port.
land, Boston, New York, Philadel
phia Baltimore, Hampton Roads, and
San Francisco; for the modification
aud continuation Of construction o
existing forts and batteries, and fol
the continuation of the purchase o
submarine mines.
The funds with which the works fo'
the Improvement of rivers and har
bors were prosecuted during the pas
year were derived from the appropria
tons OF the act of August >, 1852
together with such few balan
ces as were on hand from
previous appropriations. The balanc,
IN the treasury subject to requisitior
July l 1883 for Improving hay bora arc
rivers WAS $40 02l $40 So. The amount
appropriated during the fiscal yea
1884 was 81 $40 634 81 ana the amount
drawn from the treasury during thu
fiscal year was IS, Dos, 703.54, leaving
balance Of 81, | , $50 50 in the treasury
subject to requisition July l, 1884
A report of the progress made be
tween December !. 1852, and Decembe
81, 1883, by the Mississippi river com
mission In carrying out the work in
trusted toit WA transmitted TO con
gress January S, 1884 The subsequent
progress Of that important work will
be made the subject Of q speOinl com
municAtlon to congress- at an early
, period OF the ensuing session.
The examinations and surveys re
duired and provided for in the rive
and harbor act o. August Q 1882, hAv
= been completed. Reports Of their re
suits were transmitted from time h
a time To congress during ils last session
4 OF The 147 localities enumerated fo