New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1888-12-12
ARMY AND NAVY.
Quotation From the Secretaries Re-
ports-Death OF Gen. sheridan-The

1Or SJne uscaI year ended June 81. 1888,
amounted to $41. i 60. 1oz.o7. of which sum
So, I5S,5l6. 63 was expended for public works,
including river and harbor improvements. .The
board of ordnance and Fertilization" provided
for under the act approved Sept. % last, was
convened Oct. SO. 1888, and plans and specifca-
tions for procuring forgngs for 8, 10 and r.
inch guns under provision of section A, and also
fer procuring 10 inch breech-lcading mortars,
cast-iron. hooped with steel. under the provi-
s1ons of section of the said act were submitted
to the secretary OF war for reference the board
by the ordnance department. Of the same date
These plans and specifications having been
promptly approved by the board and the secre-
tary of war, the necessary authority to publish
advertisements inviting proposals throughd
the country was granted by the secretary On
Nov IL and on Nov. ID the advertisements were
sent out to the different newspapers designated.
The bids for the steel forging are to be opened
on Dec. 20, 1888. and for the nortars on Dec.
10, 1888. A board of ordnance officers was con-
Vened at the Wabervllet arsenal on Oct. 4. 1888,
to prepare The necessary plans and specifications
for the establishment OF an army gun factory at
that point. The preliminary report of this board.
with estimates for ship building and officers,
quarters was approved by The board of ordnance
and fortifi cations Nov. and s. The sDecifica-
tions and form OF advertisement and instruc-
tions to bidders have been prepared, and adver.
tisements inviting the proposals for the eXcava-
tion for the
SHIP BUILDING
and for erecting the two sets of officers auarx
ters have been published. The detailed ORA
ings aud specifications for the gun factory build
three or four months when bids will be invited
for the erection of the building. The list OF
machines, etc. is made out. and it is expected
that the plans for the large lathes, ETC., will be
completed within about four months, and after
approval by the board of ordnance and fcrtitica-
tion bids for the furnishing of the same viii be
invited. The machines and other fixtures will
be completed as soon as the shop is in readi-
ness to receive them-probably about 1890.
Under the provisions Of the army bill for the
procurement OF pneumatic dynamite guns the
necessary specifications are being pre-
pared, ard advertisements for proposals
viii issue early in December. The guns
and fire projectile that will carry charge eacE
of about five hundred pounds of explosive gsa#
atine with full caliber projectiles. TIE guns
will probably be delivered in from six to ten
months from the date of the contract, SO that all
the guns OF this class that can be procured un-
der the provisions of the law will be purchased
during the year 1889. I earnestly request that
the recommendations contained in the secre-
tary report, all of which are in my opinion call
OF the army, may receive the considerat OF
the congress. Among these the proposal that
there should be provided a plan for the exa1nina-
tlon OF officers, TO test their fitness for promo
lion, is of the utmost Importance This reform
has been before recommended in the reports Of
the secretary. and its expediency is so fully
demonstrated by the arguments in its favor that
Its adoption should no longer be neglected
THE DEATH OF GEN. SHERIDAN
IN august last was a national attiiction.
army then lost the grandest of its chiefs IL
country lost q brave ard experienced soldier, a
wise and discreet commander and modest and
sensible man. Those who in any manner came
Within the range of his personal association will
never fall to pay deserved and willing homage
to his greatness and the glory of his career, but
they Will cherish with more tender sensibilitv
Inc loving memory OF the simple, generous and
considerate nature
The Apache Indians, whose removal from, their
reservation in Arizona followed the capture of
those OF their number who engaged in
bloody and murderous raid during a part of the
years 1889 and 1886, are now held as prisoners
OF war at Mount It Vernon barracks in the State
or Alabama. They numbered on the 31st.day
OF October, the date of the last report, SO men,
ITO women. 70 boys and SO girls in all $50
persons The commanding officer states
that they are in good health and
contented, and that they are kept employed as
fully as is possible under the circumstances.
are sent to the Indian schools at Carlisle ana
Hampton. Last summer some charitable and
kind people asked permission to send two teach
ers to these Indians for the purpose of instruct-
ing the adults, as well such children as should
be found there. Such permission was readily
granted, accommodations were provided for the
teachers, and some portions OF the buildings at
the barracks were made available for school pur-
peses The good work contemplated has been
commenced. and the teachers engaged are paid
by the ladies with whom the plan originated. 7
am not at all in sympathy with those benevolent
bnt injudicious people who are constantly in
sisting that these Indians should be returned to
the reservation Their removal an absolute
necessity if the lives and property Of citizens
upon the frontier to be at ali regarded by the
government. Their continual restraint at a
distance from some of their repeated and cruel
murders and outrages is still necessary LISA !
mistaken philanthropy. every way injurious.
which prompts the desire to see thes@
sayages returned to their old hannts. Th&s
are IN their present location the resuk5
OF the best Judgment of those having official
responsibility in the matte and who are by no
means lacking in kind consideration for the In
dlans number OF these prisoners have for
fe1ted their lives to outraged law aud humanity.
Experience has proved that they are DANGEROUS
and pon r,nt hat fnH ft,ic
those who, on the war path, have heretofore
been actually guilty of murder but of their
kindred and friends who, while they remained
upon their reservation, furnished aid ard COM
tort to those absent with bloody intent. The
prisoners should be treated kindly and kept in
restraint far from the locality of their former
reservation, aud they should be subjected to
efforts calculated TO lead TO their Improvement
and 20 the softeniMg of their savage and cruel
instincts. but their return to their old home
should be persisteut!y resisted. The secretary,
in his report gives graphic history of these
indians and racites with painful vividness their
bloody deeds aud the unhappy failure of the
government to manage them by peaceful meaHs.
1t will be amazing If perusal Of this histtty &
VII! allow the survival OF a desire of the return
OF THESE prisoners to their reservation upon SEN
tfmen tal or other. grounds.
TIE NAVY.
The report of the secretary of the navy DEM
onstrates very intelligent management in that
Important department, and discioses the most
satisfactory progress in the work OF recon struct-
ships IN course OF construction five, viz The
Charleston. Baltimore. Yorktown. Yesuyius and
the Petrol have in that time BEN launched and
are rapidly approaching completion. aud in adj
dit1on to the above the Philadelphia, The San
Francisco. the Newark, the Bennington, the
Concord and the Herreshof torpedo boat are all
under contract for delivery to the department
during the next year. The progress already
made and being made gives good ground for the
sexpec' alton that these eleven vessels will be n-
Fcorporated as part of the American navy within
the next twelve months. The report shows that
notWithst anding the large expenditures for new
construction and the additional labor invof-
the total ordinary current expenditure of ~
department. for the three years ending Junesss
1888. are less by more than 20 per cent than
such expenditures for the three years ending
June 80, 1854 The various Steps which have
been taken 10 improve the business methods OF {
The business department are reviewed by the SEQ
retary. The purchasing of supplies has been
consolidated and placed under responsible bu-
reau head This has resulted IN lhe curtailment
OF open purchases, which in the years 1884 81 s
amounted to over so per cent of the purchases
OF the department, to less than l per cent SO
that at the present. time about 80 per cent eff the
Total departmental purchases are made by con.
tract and after competition. As the expenditure;
on that account exceed an aver &c of 80. ooo, 0Oe