The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1888-12-08
THE WAR DEPARTMENT.
Recommendations for the improvement
of the Efficiency of the Army.


The secretary Of war reports that the army Of
the date OF the last &C nsoidated returns consist
ed OF 2. 2.ss9 officers and "A, ,549 enlisted men, The
actual expenditures Of the "a ar Department for
the hsCal year ended june so, 1855, amounted to
Sal los -IV7g7, Of VIII ch sum 50 l-s, 5l655 was ex
pended for public works, including river and
harcOr improvements.
The board Of ordinance and fortfcaton"
provided ioE under he act approved September
= get, was convened October So lass, and
plans and specifications for procuring fOrgiBgs
Tor :, 10 and Pinch guns under provision Of
section and also for procuring IL inch brseCh-
loading mOrtars, Ca5t-iTOH, hOOped vita steel
under the provision OF section OF the said act,
were submitted to the secretary of WAY Tor refer
ence 70 the board Dy the ordnance department Of
me same date These plans and specifications
having been promptly approved bS the board
ana the secretary Of war; the necessary authority
70 publish advertisements, inviting proposals iu
the DeWsp4pers throughout the county wss
granted by the secretary on November L, and
On NOFem Der tS the advertisements we're sent ont
tq the d dihereLt Newspapers designated. The
bids Tor the eel forging are 10 be opened on De-
Cember %, 1888 and Tor the mOrtars on December
l5, 1s6S
A board Of ordnance officers wax convened At
lhe at+rylet arsenal on October !. lsss. 10 pre-
pare the necessary plans and specifications fO7
the establishment Of az army gun factory al that
point. The preliminary report Of this board
Win estimates for ship buildings and officers
quarters was approved by the board Ct ordnance
ana iorlHcations Nos. and ?. The speclh-
cations aud form Of advertisement and ilstruC-
tions 10 bidders have been prepared and sdyer-
iisements inviting the proposals. for the eKcava-
ton FOR the shop building ami for erecting the
two sets OF officers quartered have been pub
llsHed. The detailed drawings and specidca-
Jlons for the gun factory building are well in
hand and will be finished within
three OF four months when bids viii
be Invited for the erection Of the building TIE
list Of machines etc, Is made out and il IS ex-
pected that the plans for the large lsthes, etc.
VII be eomoleted within about four months and
after approval BY the board Of ordnance, and
iortLfcstion bids Tor the furnishing the same viii
be invited. The machines sud other fixtures
VIII be completed as soon as the shop IS iH readi-
ness 70 receive them, probably about i-aN. Tn
der the provision OF the army bin FOR The pro
cGreuent Of pneumatic dynamite guns the neCes-
seTy specifications are now being prepared and
advertisements Tor proposals VIII !ssIe early in
December. The guns VIII probably be Of l5
inches caHbre and fire a pToieCtiie that viii car
r charge, each, Of about i've hundred pounds
% explosive gelatue with fail eaibre pr0jecli.es
ne guns VIII PROBABLY oe dellVersd in from SIX
% Ten months from tie date Of the contract, so
that all the guns OF this class that can be pro
cured under the provisions Of the law VIII be
purchased during he year lsS9.
earnestly request that the concentrations
contained N the secretaTy's report, al Of which
are, II my opinion, calculated TO increase the
usefulness and discipline Of the army, may re-
ceive ths consideration Of Congress. Among
those TIE proposal shat there should Os provided
Plan fsr ths examination Of 0s1 ce7s 30 test tuelr
fitsss for promotion Is of the utmost importance
This reform has beeu before recommended N he
reports o. the secretary, aDd Us * gs1tsEcy Il
80 fully demonstrated ~ the arg 2 iLsst re- present
ed in It favor that is adopian should 40 longer
be neg lected.
The death o. Gen. sheridan in August last vss
3 national sfIicuon. The army then lost tie
grandest Of its chiefs. he country lost 3 brave
and experienced soldier, q Wlse and discreet
counsellor, and modest AID sensible nan.
hose wEo Il any manner came within the
range Of his perzoral sss1ctatto1 Vii never fail
- pay deserved and willing homage 10 his great
ness and the EloFg Of rs career but tneg Eili
cherish with more tender seusibla1y tie l0FIng
memory OF his simple. generous aud c0zaslGarate
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