Milford chronicle., 1888-12-07

section 5 Of the said act, were submitted 70
the secretary Of war for reference TO the
board, by the ordnance department on the
same date
These plans and Specifications having besn
promptly approved by the board and the
secretary of war, the necessary authority to
publish advertisements, inviting proposals.
in the newspapers throughout the country,
was granted by the secretary on Nov. u, and
on Nov. Is the advertisements were sent out
to the different newspapers designated The
bids for the steel forgings are to be opened
on Dec 90 1883, and for the mortars on Dee.
10, 1855
A board Of ordnance officers was convened
at the Watervliet arsenal on Oct 4, 1883, to
prepare the necessary plans and specifications
for the establishment Of an army gun fac
tory at that point The preliminary report Of
this board, with estimates for shop buildings
and officers quarters. was approved by the
board Of ordnance and fortidcations Nov.
and s. The specifications and form of adver-
tisement aud instruction to bidders have been
prepared, and advertisements inviting pro-
posals for the excavations for the shop build
lig and for erecting the two sets of
officers quarters have been published
The detailed drawings and specihca-
tions for the gun factory building
are well in hand, and will be finished
within three or four months, when bids viii
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 fertilization, bids for fur
nishing the same will be invited. The ma
chimes and other fixtures will be completed
as soon as the shop is in readiness to receive
them, probably about July, 1880.
Under the provisions of the army bill, for
the procurement Of pneumatic dynamite guns,
the necessary specifications are now being
prepared and advertisements for proposals
will issue early in Docembsr. The guns will
probably be OF IS inches caliber and fire
projectile that will carry charge each OF
about five hundBed pounds Of explosive gela-
tine with full caliber projectilea The guns
will probably be delivered in from six to ten
morths from the date of the contract, so that
al the guns Of this class that can be procured
under the provisions of the law will be pur-
hased during the year 1889.
I earnestly request that the recommended
tions oontaised in the secEetary's report, all
Of which are, in my opinion, calculated to
increase the usefulness and discipline Of the
army, may receive the considers tioE Of the
>ongf ess. Among these the proposal that
there should be provided plan for the ex-
animation of officers to test their fitness fol
promotion is of the utmost Importance. Thii
reform has been before recommended in the
reports Of the secretary, and its expediency
is 50 fully demonstrated by the argument he
presents in its favor that its adoption should
no longer be neglected.
The death of Gen. Sheridan in August last
was national affection. The army then
lost the grandest of its chiefs. The country
lost brave and experienced soldier, wis'
and discreet counselor, and a modest and
sensible man Those who in any manner
came within the range of his personal asso
citation will never fail to pay deserved and
willing homage to his greatness and the glory
of his career; but they will cherish with
more tender sensibility the loving memory
of his simple, generous and cOnsiderate ma
ture.
THE APACHE INDIANS.
The Apache Indians, whose removal from
their reservation in Arizona followed th
capture of those of their number who en-
gagged in a bloody and murderous raid during
a part of the years 1885 and 1886, are nov
held as prisoners Of war at Mount Vernon
barracks, in the state of Alabama. TheI
numbered IN the S1st day of October, the dat
of the last report, S3 men, 40 women, q
boys and 50 girls, in all 3S2 persons. Tn
commanding officer states that they are II
good health and cOntented, and that they ar
kept employed as fully as is possible in tn
circumstances. The children as they arriv
at suitable age are sent to the lndial
schools at Carlisle and Hampton. Las
summer some charitable and kim
0pnn
to these Indians, for the purpose of instruct
ing the adults as well as such children a
should be found there. Such permission wa
readily granted, accommodations were pro
vided for the teachers, and some portions o
the buildings at the barracks were mad
available for school purposes. The good wor
contemplated has been commenced, and til
teachers engaged are paid by the ladies wit
whom the plan originated.
am not at all in sympathy with those be
nevolent but injudiciOus people who are cor
stantly insisting that these Indians should +
returned to their reservation. Their remOva
was an absolute necessity if the lives an
| property of citizens upon the frontier are
be at all regarded by the government Thei
! continued restraint at a distance from tn
scene of their repeated and cruel murders an
outrages is still necessary. 1t is a mistake
philanthropy, every way injurious, whic
| prompts the desire to see these savages II
turned to their old haunts. They arein thei
present location as the result of the best jude
ment of those having official responsibility /
| the matter, and who are by no means lackin
in kind consideration for the Indians.
number of these prisoners have forfeited thei
lives to outraged law and humanity. Exper
ence has proved that they are dangerous an
cannot be trusted This is true not only {
those who on the war path have heretOfor
actually been guilty Of atrocious murder, bu
of their kindred and friends, who, while the
remained upon their reservation, furnishe
aid and comfort to those absent with blood
intent
These prisoners should be treated kindl
and kept IN restraint far from the locality {
their former reservation; they should be sui
iected to efforts calculated to lead to the
improvement and the softening Of their say
age and cruel instincts, but their return
their old home should be persistently resisted
The secretary, in his report, gives graph
history Of these Indians, and recites, wit
painful vividness, their bloody deeds and IL
unhappy failure of the government to MAJ
age them by peaceful means. 1t will
amazing if a perusal of this history wi
allow the survival of a desire for the retuT
of these prisoners to their reservation upo
sentimental or any other grounds.
OUR NAVAL FORCES.
The report of the secretary Of the nav
demonstrates very intelligent managemer
in that important department, and disclos'
the most satisfactory progress in the work {
reconstructing the navy made during Il
past year. OF the ships in course of col
struction, five-viz; the Charleston, Bait
more, Yorktown, Vesuvius and the Petrel-
have in that time been launched and are RAJ
idly approaching completion; and in additio
to the above the Philadelphia, the San Frai
cisco, the Newark, the Bennington, the Coz
cord and the Herreshof torpedo boat are a
under contract for delivery TO the depar
ment during the next year. The progre
already made and being made gives goo
ground for the expectation that these eleve
vessels will be incorporated as part of IL
American navy within the next twelN
4