The Mineral argus., 1884-12-11
THE WAR DEPARTMENT.
DECREASED

In the expenses of the war department the
secretary reports a decrease of more than
$4,000, 900, of which a reduction of SIS, 600
600 was effected in expenditures for rivers
and harbors and So, 700, 200 in expenditures
for the quartermasters department. Out
side of that department the annual expenses
for all the army bureaus proper Except
probably the ordnance bureaus) are sinh.
~stantially ike charges which cannot be ma
terially diminished without a change in the
numerical strength of the army. The ex-
penses IN the q~uartermaster's department
can readily be subjected to administrative
discretion, and it is reported by the secre-
tary of war that rs a result of exercising
such discretion in reducing the mum.
Der of draught and pack animals il
the army, the annual cost of supply.
ing and caring for such animals is now
81, Jos, OS5. 30 less than it was in 1882
The reports of military commanders show
that the last year has been notable for its
freedom from Indian outbreaks. In defiance
OF the presidents proclamation of July l,
1881 certain intruders sought to make set
Elements in the Indian Territory. They
were promptly removed by a detachment Of
troops. During the past session of congress
a bill TO provide a suitable tire-pIoof build
ing for the army medical museum and the
library of the surgeon generals Office re-
ceived the approval of the senate. A similar
bill, reported favorably to the house of rep
resentatiVes by one OF its committees, Is still
pending before that body. IL is hoped that
1@NALE AH1 bAAAAA SSH as nltdEAIG
may become a law, ana thereafter imme-
date steps may be taken TO secure a place OF
safe deposit for the valuable collections now
in a state of insecurity. The funds with which
the works for the improvements of rivers
and harbors were prosecuted during the past
year were derived from the appropriations
OF the act of Aug. 2, 1882, together with
such few balances as were On hanu from pre-
vious appropriations The balance of the
treasury subject to requisition July L. 1888,
was $1O,02l ,649.5 90. The amount appro-
priated during the fiscal year 1854 was
S13, l96,346.2 and the amount drawn from
the treasury during the fiscal year was
Po,22S, 1O3. "a, leaving a balance of SIS, 112,-
0Su. 63 in the treasury subject to requisitiOn
July 1, 1854.
EAcoAsT
The secretary of war submits the report of
the chief of engineers as to the practicable
ity of protecting our important cities on the
seaboard, by fortitications and other de-
lenses 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 abortive; and when
the possible results of delay in making such
preparations is seriously considered, delay
seems ~pexcusable. For the most important
cities, Shose whose destruction or capture
would be a national humiliation, adequate
defenses, inclusive of guns. may be made by
the gradual expenditure of 100000, 900,
a sum much less than a victorious enemy
could levy as a contribution An appropria-
ton of about one-tenth of that amount is
asked to begin the work, and / concur with
the secretary OF war in urging that it be
granted. The war department is 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
wrought iron. Fifty guns will be thus con-
verted within the year. This, however, does
not obviate the necessity of providing means
for the construction of guns of the high
est power, but for the purposes of coast de
Tense and for the armament of war vessels
The report of the gun foundry board APP
pointed April 2, 1888, in pursuance of the
act of March 3, 1888, was transmitted to
congress in a special message of Feb. 8, 1884.
In my message of March 20, 1884, 1 called
attention to the recommendation of the
board that the government should encourage
the production at private steel works of the
required material for heavy cannons, and
that two government factories, one for the
army and one for the navy, should be estab-
lished for the fabrication of guns of such
No action having been taken,
the board was subsequently reconvened
to determine more fully the plans and esti-
mates for carrying out its recommendations.
1t has received which indicates
that there are responsible steel manutactur-
ers in this country who, although not pro-
vided at present with the necessary plant
are willing to construct the same and TO
make bids for contracts with the govern
ment for the supply of the requisite material
for the heaviest guns adapted to modern war
fare, if a guaranteed order of sufficient meg
nitude. accompanied by a positive appropra-
ton extending over a series of years, shall
be made by congress All doubts as to the
feasibility of the plan being thus removed,
| renew my recommendation that such ac-
ton be taken by congress as will enable the
government to construct its own ordnance
upon its own territory, and SO TO provide the
ornaments demanded by considerations OF
safety and honor.
THE NAVY.