St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-12-09
The signal Service.


the work of the signal service has
been prosecuted during the last year,
with results of increasing benefit to the
country The field of instruction has been
enlarged with a view of adding to its useful
ness. The number of stations in operation
June 80, 1885, was 489. Telegraphic reports
are received daily from 100 stations. Reports
are also received from IS Canadian stations
375 volunteer observers, 81 army surgeons at
military posts, and foreign stations. Inc
expense of service during the fiscal year,
after deducung receipts from military tele-
graph lines, was $780,, 592.97. In view of the
fact referred to by the secretary of war that
work of this service is ordinarily of a scien-
tific nature, and the further fact that 1t is as
Stunning larger proportions constantly and be-
coming more and more unSulted to the liked
rules which must govern the army, am in
clined to agree with him in the opinion that
it should be separately established.
If this is done the scope and extent of its
operations should, as nearly as possible, be
done as prescribed by law and always capa-
bic of exact entertainment.
THE MILITARY ACADEMY
of West Point is reported as being in high
state of efficiency and well equipped for the
satisfactory accomplishment of the purposes
of it's maintenance. The fact that the class
which graduates next year is an unusually
large one has constrained me to decline to
make appointments to second lieutenancies in
the army from civil life, so that such vacancies
as exist in these places may be reserved for
such graduates, and yet it is not possible that
there will be enough vacancies to provide po-
sitions for them all when they leave the mill
tary school. Under the prevailing law and
usage they are not assigned to duty and never
actively enter the military service. 1t is sug-
gested that the law on this subject be changed
so that such of these young men as are
not at once assigned to duty after graduating
may be
RETAINED AS SECOND LIEUTENANTS
in the army. if they desire it, subject to as
signment when opportunity occurs, under
proper rules as to priority of selection. The
expenditures on account of the military acad-
envy for the last fiscal year, exclusively of
the sum taken for its purposes in the appro-
priations for the support of the army, were
$3.50, OF. The act approved March 3, 1855,
designed to compensate officers and enlisted
men for the loss of private property, while in
the service of the United States, is so indefi-
mite in its terms and apparently admits so
many claims, the adjustment of which could
not have been contemplated, that if it is to re-
main on the statute book it needs amend
ment.
There should be general law of congress
prohibiting the construction of
BRIDGES OVER NAvIGABLE WATERS
in such maner as to obstruct navigation, with
provisions for preventing the same. 1t
seems that under existing statutes the gov
eminent cannot intervene to prevent such a
construction when entered upon without Its
consent, although when such consent is asked
and granted upon condition, the authority to
insist upon such condition is clear. Thus it
is represented that while the officers of the
government are with great care guarding
against the distractions of navigation by a
bridge across
THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER AT ST. PAUL,
large pier for bridge has been built Just
below this place, directly in the navigable
channel of the river. If such things are to
be permitted, a strong argument is presented
against the appropriation of large sums of
money TO improve the navigation Of this and
other important highways of commerce.