The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-11-21
SOLDIERS AND GUNS.
Enlistment of Indians in the
Army a Great Success.
COAST FoRTIrIcATIoN BEGUN.
The Sums of the Cities No Longer Fur
uish Recruiss-Aba abandonment OF
Little Military Posts.

dsv The secretary says .nss - ~ -
coast deiense, sites for foFtinea.ious hase peea
coast Us "a engineering work has been begun
Ps...s.s.s for mortars and empl acements Tor
On O :, New York, Boston, san Francisco,
T.rosou Roads and Washington CITY.
-. fru nroyement Of the enlisted force
IMnsfbods Of recruiting have been adopted.
~ carried on more in small towns aid rufaA
eammantles, and the recruits are ne neiu On Pr,
tstinu and their antecedents careIuiiy ih4uhso
49, The ration has been increased by the ad-
6ItIou o! one pound OF vegetables oallY. sol.
diers are now entitled 20 q discharge al the eho
OF three years OF faithful service, anu are per
,n,ttsd 10 purchase their discharge at any time
Asystein of examination OF officers Tor pro-
motion has been established, and their promo
ton, with the exception 81 ons ;b Las spmY
fs,s retired list has been relieved ~ appropriate
legislation An efficiency record OF oihcefs las
hesu kept enabling their selection Tor special
cuty 70 be made on that basis.
In pursuance OF policy oil concentrating tue
froop. in larger posts, about one-fourth OF the
number of posts occupied In 1889 have been
Abandoned, aud the reservations turned ovtr TO
The interior department. The employment OF
contract surgeons, in addition to the regular
,nsdieaI corps, has been nearly dispensed with.
The licenses Of most post traders have been re-
yoksd. The enlistment of Indians has been
succesSsully undertaken. The detail OF officers
"a colleges has been increased and new rules
sdoptcd The Rebellion records have been pub
fsaed much more rapidly under increased ap-
propfissions and reorganization OF the work.
The military and hospital records OF the late
war have been brought together in the record
and pension division, the settlement OF pension
claims has been expedited, aud the preservation
OF these valuable records for effective use IS
we'll toward completion. When finished COO
clerks can be discharged or transferred to other
dspsrtments
several pages are devoted to the subject Of en-
IiSfment of Indians as regular soldiers. The
secretary says:
The results have been very satisfactory:
Seven companies, three OF cavalry aud TOUR OF
Infantry, have been recruited 10 their iuli COM
plement, and seven others partially, and the re-
ports indicate that the organization oil these Will
be completed at an early day. have nad an OPP
portunity TO personally inspect some OF THESE
Indian cavalry troops, and have received full
reports showing the condition OF others. IN
coed conduct, drill and military bearing, atten-
ton to duty, observance OF courtesles, aud care
Of horses. arms aud equipment clothing, bar
racks, mess rooms and Kitchens, they are at
least equal TO soldiers OF other races OF no
greater experience.
For example, Troop l.. OF the First cavalry, re-
cruited from the Crow tribe, though none OF its
members had had more than i've months ser
vice, furnished as early as September Ii last its
full quota of non-commlssioned officers, trump
eters and priyates for guard, fatigue, and other
post duties aud, on recent two weeks prac-
tice march OF the command to which il belongs,
demonstrated It's capacity for the performances
OF the various duties OF the expedition. The
colonel OF the First cavalry recognizes that the
men OF this troop possess In high degree the
characteristics and traits essential in light
cavalry, and considers them valuable acquisi
ton 20 bis reglment satisfactory reports have
also been received Of the progress OF the Indian
Infantry companies
Nothing uniavorable has been brought to the
attention of the department regarding the
utility as military organizations OF the Indian
companies OF either arm, but SO far there is
every reason to believe that much more than
was expected OF the experiment will be real zed.
They are treated in all respects like other sold
lers, and the same duties are required of them.
They are dressed the same, fed the same, taught
10 cook and eat their food in the same manner,
and In every respect they strive earnestly 10
equal, and II possible, Guido their white COM
rades. All commands are gwen in English, aud
though few of them understand the language
they learn the sound OF their orders quickly
and make rapid progress in drill.
Some of the companies which have only been
enlisted for three or four months, would make
creditable appearance at any encampment or re-
view. When IL il considered that "A short time
ago many of these Indian soldiers were "bianket
Indians, that few of them ever had on q suit of
clothes, slept under u ROOF, ate at table. used
knife and fork, wore shoes, or had their hair
cut, the transformation is indeed remarkable.
The habit for a few years OF wearing good
clothes, eating good food well cooked by them
selves, and living in clean and comfortable quar-
tiers, and the lesson that these comforts are
earned by their own good conduct. will not be
They are receiving instruction In English and
In the methods OF civilized lite that will help
them TO help themselves when discharged.
They will DO impressed with the power of the
government aud the folly aud futilty of dis
obedience Of its authority.
Twenty eight army posts, about one-fourth of
the entire number June !. 1889, have been aban-
doned since that date. Ten or twelve moro can
be abandoned as soon as suitable shelter for the
troops is provided AZ more central points. The
troops should be assembled by regiments, or at
least hats ast In f.,.flt
and convenient points as rapidly as IL can be
done consistently with adequate protection
against possible Indian depredatIons. Even for
this purpose IL has been found by experience
that troops stationed at convenient railroad
ceniers are more available than those at posts
nearer the scene of trouble but not on the rail-
way Besides the economy of transportation
supplies: etc, much greater percentage of men
II available Tor service from "a large post than
from small one. Fewer are employed outside
OF their legitimate military duty, aud the dis
eipline and drill of tho command ia improved.
The present method of allotment OF the an
nuai appropriation of 100000 for arming and
eauipping the militia, which is prescribed by
the act OF February IL, 1857 and which gives 10
each state an amount proporttonate 10 it's con-
Rresstonal representation, IL not such as 10 pre-
duce the best results. The aid given different
states is very disproportionatc. The amount of
government AID received by some states is not
more than half that received by Others that
maintain double the number of men in their
National Guard.
There is no induoement for the maintenance
a greater number OF militia than il actually
required by the law, but rather the reverse, If
economy be consulted The allotment AS now
made is no, based upon what the states do in re.
turn Tor the Appropriation, but what they ought
% do. IL would be better 10 help those who
help themselves. II the appropriation or even
one-halt of 10, was distributed upoE the basis OF
the effective force of the National Guard main.
tanned by the several states. IL would better ac-
eomplish its purpose OF encouraging that organ
isatlon.
BY the detail OF officers and troops 10 the var
ions annual encampments throughout the
country the war department has rendered the
National Guard OF the several states such as
sisiaaee az was IN its power. The association Of
teis torres, necessarily the main Dependence of
vac country ia any great war, with tue regular
aAs IL OF great advantage TO both organixa-
npas In this and every other way possible the
t.esfa government should cooperate with the
S ss'es IN the maintenance and education OF the
National Guard
AAAostADrs oF EXPENDITURES, APPRorRIA-
TIoNs AND ESTIMATES.
hTpeafitures for year ending June 80, 1897
Eisries aid contingent expenses, $ 2,l50,646 IS
support OF the army and military
academy .-. ps sl4 100 "a
Public works, including river and
:. tarpoE Improvements ........ i6eSi as aS
s'seSAtAdso1s op!ects .-....,....... S.sSs.4s9 10
i0'AA ,..-......,.., 5i,s5o. 76s Is
Appropriations for year sai,ac y,as a. -.
Salaries and contingent expense. & y a,, sea M
support 81 tie army aud inlIlts-y --'->N W
$500 -..... 2i.sls, 40 IS
harhos Improvements ..... SE,ss,, -,
49, 100000 a.o9s,a5S ~
iosA' .-.-.'.'--,,. sS9,lss.4a5 %
Esttnd'ss for gear esGtaq Jaae 50. ,N.s
salaries aud contingent expenses soa<s - -
supper; OF the army aud military 40 ~
ssssaelny -. ,-.-......-.. 26,9. 10 n
~ = W As .,.--..-..,. l6.AN.,sS %
s0e'i%hSS"s S''-VNs ----..-.-.-.-. 3.5S1. ~ -
Ae'ai -,.-...---.. $45g-5,Gs3s 81