Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1884-12-05
THE WAR DEPARTAaE NT.


In the expenses of the war departm the
secretary reports decrease Of more than
$9, 900 900, Of which reduction of SIS, 6OO,-
600 was effected in expenditures for rivers
and harbors and So, 700, 900 in expenditures
for the Guartermaster's department. Out
side OF that department the annual expenses
for all the army bureaus proper Except
probably the ordnance bureaus) are sub
stantally 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 he subjected to administrative
discretion, and it is reported by the secre-
such discretion in reducing the num-
Der Of draught and pack animals in
the army, the annual cost of supply
ing and caring for such animals is now
81, 1Oe ,OS5.90 less than it was in 1882.
The reports OF military commanders show
that the last year has been notable for it's
freedom from Indian outbreaks. In defiance
of tie presidents proclamation of July /,
1884, 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 6re-p,oof build
ing for the army medical museum and the
library Of the surgeon generals office re-
ceiyed the approval OF the senate. A similar
bill, reported favorably to the house of rep
resentatives by one of it's committees, is still
pending before that body. It is hoped that
during the coming session the nlea SUI
may become 8 law, and thereafter imne-
date steps may be taken to secure place OF
safe deposit for the valuable collections now
in state Of insecurity. The funds with which
the works for the impro vements Of rivers
and harbors were prosecuted during the past
year were derived from the appropriations
Of the act of Aug. 2, 1882, together with
fnr.y hsrlo hon n
vious appropriations. The balance Of the
treasury subject to requistion July !, 1888,
was $10,O21 $40. So The amount appro-
priated during the fiscal year 1884 was
$13, 1876, 346 27 and the amount drawn from
the treasury during the fiscal year was
SIS, OBS, 7O3. 81, leaving balance of So, -,
$50 SO in the treasury subject to requlsition
July J.. 1854.
sEACoAST DEFENsEs.
The secretary Of war submits the report OF
the chief OF engineers as to the practicable
ity of protecting our impoIuaa cities on the
seaboard by Notifications 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 ;tbortive; and when
the possible results OF delay in making such
preparations is seriously considered, delay
seems inexcusable. For the most important
cities, those whose destruction or capture
would be q national humiliation, adequate
defenses, inclusive of guns. may be made by
the gradual expenditure OF 60,O0o,OOO
sum much less than a victorious enemy
could levy as contribution. An appropria-
ton of about one-tenth of that amount is
asked to begin the work, and I concur with
the secretary OF war in urging that it DC
granted. The war department is proceed
ing with the conversion of ten-inch smooth
bore guns into eight-inch rifles. by Inning the
former with tubes Of forged or of cold
wrought iron Fl tx guns win be thus con.
verted within the year This, however. does
not obviate the necessity of providing 10 cam
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 ap
pointed April 2, 1883 in pursuance of tn.
act of March 3, ! 553, was transmitted t.
| congress in special message Of Feb. 8, 1854
In my message of March 26, 1854, ] calleC
attention to the recomm endation of til,
board that the governmentshould encourag.
the production at private steel works Of til,
| required material for heavy cannons, ant