The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-12-03
Aud the Postmaster General Tell OF
the Years Work.
The Attention of Congress is Called
to the Defence,e5s
Condition Of the Sea Coast and the
Lake Frontiers.
mously. Especially IN tho South
Lands Restored TO the Public
Domain-Ponsione Granted.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 2. -Secretary Endi-
colt has made report TO the President of
the administration Of the War Department
during the fiscal year endtd June 30 last.
The total expenditures were Sal, 1876, l07;
the appropriations for the current fiscal
year amount to $50, 679, 0s4, and the esti.
mates for the fiscal year ending June 80,
1890. aggregate Si4, 632, 5O7, as follows
Salaries and contingent expenses, 81, 07S,-
800; military establishmont-support Of
the Army and Military Academy, S25,-
203, 7Ss; public works. including river and
harbor improvements, Sl3,TS5, 23i; miscel-
laneous objects, So, 5s5,0O0
The estimates for river and harbor Inn
provements represent the probable cost Of
such improvements II approved by Con-
gress. The Secretary gives brief review
OF the trouble with tho Chiricahua Apache
Indians from the Mexican war for the
present time and discusses the various
plans suggested for their future treatment.
lie reviews the report OF the Board OF
Visitors to the Military Academy, aud in
dorses their recommendations for new
buildings, a new gymnasium, separate
building for tho department OF natural
and experimental philosophy, and tho
purchase Of the Kinsley estate.
The Secretary says that nll the States
and Territories now have an active militia,
sufficient, under the regulations. 10 ent,tle
them to receive ordnance md quartcrmas-
tors stores from the Unitsd States, except
ing the State OF Arkansas and the Terri
81 Al. H. Ill. fNul
IL is hoped that very soon practical in
struction In seacoast deienscs aud the
handling OF heavy artillery may be given
10 the militia, and the Officers Of the army
may be relied upon 10 give Jealous and
cordial assistance.
"By generous supply iof ammunition
for target practice 10 colleges where army
officers are serving Ms instructors" tho
Secretary says, III Is possible that COM
petitiyo contests In rifle sl,toiing might. In
time, become as popular With some OF
these inland collegs ms host i.ging now IL
at the universities Of our soaboard."
Convinced from iortne- n nor.s and
personal inspection OF the Workings OF the
system that good results must flow from
lis adoption, the Secretary says no has
directed that In preparing plans for some Of
the new military posts, provided for by
Congress provision should bo made for
messing the troops by commands instead
OF by companies.
The Indians are now confined ut Mount
Vernon barracks, Ala, aud many appeals
have been made for their release. In 70.
gard 20 their disposition, the Secretary says:
Various plans have been suggested; the
most promising one by Gen. Armstrong 10
place them on farm near Fort Monroe,
but there were serious objections urged
from many quarters, aud IL was deemed
impractcable. IL IN very desirable 90 So
cure some place where TIA, climate Ia suit.
able and opportunity may DO had 10 in
struct aud employ them Ia agriculture.
Meantime, the work Is making progress
aud they are as contcntcd and happy ~
they can be anywhere outside Of Arizona,
for Il Ia 90 bc remarked that they cling 20
that spot and would resolutcly resist and
would be very unhappy II moved 10 any
other permanent home"
The Secretary renews the recommenda.
uon contained In his last annual report In
regard 10 examination for promotion, and
says that the necessity for such examina-
ton grows m1re aud more evident
Descrtions from the army continue In
large numbers, as In previous years, but
from Investigations recently made u APP
pears that ~ per cent Of the dcsertions oc-
cur before tho expiration OF the second
year Of service.
In discussing the various panssuggostcd
10 prevent desertiOns, tho socrgtary says
''It Is worthy Of consideration whethcrtho
officers In command Of troops ut military
posts or the captains Of companies should
not be authorized 10 Impose punishment
for minor oiIensca. But Ia grant
ing such authority II will be noccs-
sary 10 specify the extent and character
OF the punishment for each 0licnso,
otherwise there would b. no uniform rule,
nor would Il be- wise 10 fcposo ~ large a
discretion upon q single officer"
Tho attention Of Congfcss IS again In.
vited 30 the dcicnselcfi condition Of the
scacoast and lake frontiers, and liberal and
immediate action II recommended looking
10 the effective defense 81 our principal
scap0rts.
The Secretary says - would appear
now more important then ever that such
action should be taken hi the second scs.
sion oi the present Congress, In view Of
the fnct that the last session gave appropfi.
ations for the construction oi heavy ord
nance. without heavy platforms, strong
armorcd protection, aud Jthor permanent
cmplacemenls, these guns and morian,
when finished, will be u comparatively
little use.
"Tho building Of modern gun and NOR
taf batteries requires longer periods OF
time than the construction Of the arma-
monL II would appear the part Of Wis.
dom that the preparation Of these two inn
portant compononis Of q well equipped de-
tense should proceed simultaneously. For
the beginning u the construction Of such
deienscs an appropriation OF s2,siO,OOO rs
asked for"
Two hundred Thousand dollars Is asked
for the repair and preservation Of existing
works; for the purchase Of torpedoos ana
submarine mines and Tie necessary APP
planes Tor operating chem; Zoe expert
muniing 10 lind the best OF the many
torpedo inventions and lor continuing the
construction Of the necessary cascmalcs,
cable galleries, etc, Tor working the sub
marine mino aud torpedo systems, l,3g1,-
OJ0 IL recommended. The construction
Of a torpedo shed iorihe storage Of torpedo
material for use in San Francisco hatbor,
10 cost about ~, 900, IA fccommendod.
Attention u called lo the report upon
the construction Of ronds aud bridges In
the Yellowstone National Park, and 10