The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1884-12-04
THE WAR DEPARTMENT.
nECREASEn rypENSeS

In the expenses OF the war department the
secretary reports a decrease of more than
So 900 900, of which reduction of SO 600.
600 was effected in expenditures for rivers
and harbors and So, zoe, 900 in expenditures
for the quartermaster's department. Out
side of that department the annual expenses
for all the army bureaus proper Except
probably the ordnance bureaus) are sub
stantially 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 be subjected to administrative
discretion. and it is reported by the secre-
tary OF war that as a result of exercising
such discretion in reducing the num-
Der of draughr and pack animals in
ing and caring for such animals is now
81 los OSo. 30 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 l,
1884, certain intruders sought to make set
Elements in the Indian Territory. They
were promptly removed by q detachment Of
troops During the past session of congress
bill to provide suitable fire-ploOf 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 comm ttees, is still
pending before that body. 1t is hoped that
during the coming Sc ssion the m3a sur
may become law, and thereafter imme-
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 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 hand from pre-
vious appropriations The balance of the
treasury subject to requisiton July 1, 1883,
was $1OO21 $40 So. The amount appro-
prlated during the fiscal year 1884 was
$13, 90 ,346. "a and the amount drawn from
the treasury during the fiscal year was
So 22S 7O3 81, leaving balance of S3, r.
$50. 63 in the treasury subject to requlsition
July 1, 1884
sEACoAsr DEFENsEs
The secretary of war submits the report of
the chief OF engineers as to the practicable
ity OF protecting our important cities on the
eeaboard, by fortificatOns 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 abortiye; and when
tho pvssitie results of delay i'll making such
preparations is seriously considered, delav
seems inexcusable. For the most important
cities, those whose destruction or capture
would he national hum, iation, adequate
defenses, inclusive of guns NAV be made by
the gradual expenditure of $4,000. 900,
a sum much less than victorious enemy
could levy as 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 CO d
wrought iron. Fl ty guns will he thus con-
verified 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, 1883, was transmitted to
congress in special message of Feb. 8, 1854.
In my message OF March 20, 1884, l called
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
material. No action having been taken,
the board was subsequently reconvened
to determine more fully the plans and esti-
mates for CARVING out it's recommendations
1t has received information 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 guaranteed order of sufficient mag
nitude. accompanied by positive appropria-
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
governm nj to construct its own ordnance
upon it's own territory, and SO to provide the
ornaments demanded by considerations Of
national safety and honor.
THE NAVY.
THE NEW CRUISERS