Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-12-05
A YEAR WITH THE ARMY.
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE SEC
RETARY OF WAR.

Expenditures for the MILITARY EstaD
Iishment, Public Works, River anc
HarbOr ImprOvements-The Strength
of the Army-A Review of the Various
Departments OF the SerVice-The New
Post at Atlanta, Ga.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 4.-The following
is synopsis OF the annual report OF the
Secretary Of War:
The expenditures for the fiscal year
ending June SO 1885, were as follows:
salaries and contingent EXPENSES 2,O72, SOC IS
Military establishment - Army 49, III,
and Military Academy -.- Be-. z5'94'4<o ~
Public works. including river and
harbor improvements .......... 10, l6I'Sgi o. o.
Miscellaneous objects. -.....-.'''' 4'o0S'o'@ "
Total. observation-disclosures. s45,s5O, $3.50 81
The above figures include the sum Of
S7l5.77S y credited TO the subsidized Pa
eric railroads for transportation services
rendered the War Department during the
fiscal year 1885 and prior years.
The increase of the expenditures for
1885 over those Of 1884 was mainly for
river and harbOr improvements.
The estimates g the fiscal year ending
June 80, 1887, amounted to $Sl, 1872, 423 81,
which | have reduced to the following
amounts:
Salaries and contingent EXPENSES 2,057, 765 90
Military establishment, army and
Military Academy ..-..., ...... Z5,OoU, 4S0 81
Public works. includingriVer and
harbor mproyements........... l6465,630 Is
Miscellaneous objects ............ 4OOO,292 ~
Total S4S, 204, 1888 IS
STRENGTH OF THE ARMY.
The Lieutenant General reports that
the army at the date of the last CONSOLE
dated returns consists of ?, l54 officers and
a70j enlisted men.
THE MILITARY ACADEMY.
The specific appropriations for the Mill
earv Academy for the fiscal year 1885
were 1915. S53 30, and the expenditures
were $500. 7l2 o.. These amounts do not
include the sums expended at the Acade-
my from appropriations for support Of
the army.
The Superintendent reports that there
were present Sept. l, 1885, 3l3 cadets, and
that the tone and discipline OF the corps
leaves little or nothing to be desired. The
total number of officers for duty at
the post. including eight professors and
two surgeons, is 81.
ADJUTANT GENERALS DEPARTMENT
The recognition by the general govern
nent of the value OF an efficient militia
has infused greater zeal in the personnel
of that force, a fact abundantly shown in
the reports of inspections made by officers
Of the permanent establishment at the re-
uuest of the Governors of several States.
IT is believed that additional encourage
lnent given by liberal legislation would
place this important arm of our national
defense on a igte pl NJ. The laws gov
erning its ~ .geNs organization have be-
come Obsolc's and are found insufficient
TO insure its proper instruction and eff
cheney.
In presenting his views relative to the
militia, the Adjutant General lays par
ticular stress on its detective armament.
At present nearly the entire militia of the
country is armed with rifled musket
different in caliber and less effective than
that in use in the army, and for which no
ammunition is now manufactured. The
necessity for a change in the arm, making
il uniform with that now in use in the
army, was manifest on recent occasion.
when it was thought probable that the
militia Of several of the States bOrdering
on the Indian Territory might be called
into active service to aid in putting down
a threatened Indian trouble of more than
usual magnitude.
l concur in the opinion that a cOnsoli-
dalton Of the 119 garrisoned military
posts into smaller number, with cor
responding increase of garrisOns, would
improve the efficiency of the army, and
promote economy, and 1t is being done as
rapidly as the appropriations will allow.
to the importance Of trained cooks and
bakers.
The character of the men enlisted is inn
proving. Heretofore, while great atten-
tioD. in his opinion, has properly been
paid to the ''phy sique' of the recruit too
little has been given to his mental and
moral fitness.
JUDGE ADVOCATE GENERALS DEPART
MENT.
1t appears from the report of the Acting
Judge Advocate General that the number
of trials by general courts-martial during
the year has been 2,32S, an increase over
last year Of As, and the number of convic-
tions for desertiOn was GA. The appoint.
Inent Of Judge Advocate General Is
recommended, the present Judge AdVo-
cate being suspended from duty, and his
disability will not be removed before he
reaches the age for retirement.
AT the beginning Of the last fiscal year
there remained in the Treasury as bal
ances, applicable to expenses of prior
years the sum OF $1.193.962 "a. There
was appropriated for the year the sum of
$9,9ll,056 "a. The balance undrawn on
June 30, 1885, was $566,075 90, required
TO meet outstanding Indebtedness. For
the improved water supply at military
posts, for drainage, sewers, wharves, etc.,
the sum OF S243, O95 was authorized,
The cost ofrepairs to old buildings, etc.
has reached the sum OF $266, 49,. There
have been authorized, under the direction
of the Secretary Of War, ninety-seven new
buildings. erected at a cost OF 1928, 556.
One thousand four hundred and thirty
cavalry and artillery horses were pur-
chased during the year, at an ayerag e
cost Of Sl42 % per head; also 20 draft
horses, at an average cost OF 1856 "a; 24i
mules, at an average cost of Sl5S 95; and
oxen, at an average coat of $50 per head.
There were on hand June 30, 1885, 6, 7l0
cavalry and artillery horses, 3S3 team
horses, and 5,54S mules and 6 oxen.
There were at the close Of the fiscal
year - nation>l cemeteries, containing
322, SOL interments. The work Of furnish
ing head-stones for graves at private, vii
]age and city cemeteries is nearly COM
pleted. The appropriation is nearly ex-
hausted, but applications continue 10 be
received, and II the work is 10 be con-
tinaed IL is recommended that a further
appropriation by Congress- be made for
the purpose, which should include pro-
vision for the graves OF soldiers of the
Revolutionary and other wars prior 10
1861.
The annual appropriation for care and
maintenance OF the national cemeteries
has been uniformly 500. 600, a sum reason
ably sufficient were it not for the extra
expense which the construction OF road
ways specially authorized by Congress
has entailed.
NEW ARMY BTIIDTyG NpW ,roRr CrrN,