Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-12-07

Washington, Nov 29.-Thc annual
report of the secretary of war gives
the usual review Of the condition ana
operations of the army and in addi-
ton devotes especial attention TO the
progress of sea coast defense.
Secretary Lamont reports that il
may he assumed that the Indian war.
fare is practically II an end in the
United States and. in consequence, a
gradual concentration of the army Oh
the sea coast and the frontiers is pre-
scribed. Any considerable increase in
the numbers of soldiers would not
meet with popular favor. but the work
of fertilization at thirteen of our larg-
est sea ports renders Il conversion of
4 part of the infantry and artillery of
the army manifestly necessary.
The total strength of the army Sep
TENDER 30, 1898, was 2,144 officers and
25,7IS enlisted men, From various
causes the army lost 9,41G enlisted men
during the year and gained 9,074 re-
cruits The discipline. health and gen
eral condition of the army is reported
good.
The secretary recommends the re,
peal of the law fixing ten years as
the maximum period of enlistment and
favOrS Il reduction Of the first en-
liStment to three years instead of five.
The experiment of enlisting Indian
companies will be continued until it's
success or failure is proved
The adoption of new magazine
rifle is the most important step taken
for the infantry since the civil war.
limited number will be completed
within sixty days at the Springfield
armOry and the entire infantry force
will be equipped with new arms be-
fore the close of the coming year. A
gradual manufacture Of reserve supply
of arms sufficient for the militia is
recommended. The issue of new 3D.
steel field guns to the militia and in
limited numbers to colleges and schools
which manifest Il special interest in
military instruction is suggested.
TO keep pace with the manufacture
Of guns the secretary recommends am,
pie appropriations for emplacements
sites for Notifications in all accord
ance with the scheme adopted in 1888.
The expenditures for sea coast defense
for the year ending June 30, 1893, was
$: 1854 94.
The invention and manufacture of
American brown and SmOkeleSS pow
derI for heavy ordnance and fer the
magazine rife has made slow progress
and the secretary urges manufacturers
to solve the problem for their own
profit and national pride The report
pays much attention to the educatioR
Of officers and men in the army and
instructions to the militia and military
schools, holding that the short dura-
ton of recent wars demonstrates the
important part exact sciences play in
modern warfare.
The growing interest III military in
structiOn 1T colleges and schools is
reported and the secretary recommends
that military instruction by army Of
ficers be extended to high schools in
the large cities. The latest returns re-
port an organized militia Of 1887
in the states
The improvement of the harborS and
internal watelw ways of the country has
made excellent progress. Chief en-
gineerS have estimated that in the
Ontinuance Of these works in accord
ance with existing projects as adopted
by congress the sum of S3S, 770,61I
can be expended during the next fiscal
year. The average annual amount
actually expended for such work dur
ing the last ten years is about $1O,OOO,-
600 and it is believed this can well be
reduced for the present year. if judi
ciously allotted, to S7,o00,OOO, the sum
fixed in the department estimates.
The secretary recommends the cree,
ton of a memorial bridge from Wash
ington to Potomac heights both for
commercial and military purposes, and
especially as suitable approach to
the national cemetery at Arlington.
The work of the pension office in the
compilation and arrangement of rec
OrdS is so far advanced that the sec
rotary reports that a reduction Of $356,
900 can be made in the costs Of main
tenance the coming year. II is recon-
mended that congress take appropriate
action for the relief of the sufferers
in the accident at Ford's theatre build
ing.
The expenditures for the fiscal year
ending June 80, 1893, are as follows:
Salaries and contingent expenses,
81 ,992,5S1; military establishments.
S233 ,377 1913; public works, including
river and harbor improvements, $40
51S.632; miscellaneous objects, SCOTT
Obj. Total S51 ,966,674.
Appropriations for the fiscal year
ending June 80, 1894, are as follows:
Salaries and contingent expenses,
81, 045, 1876; military establishments,
S24, 5G3,9S1; public works, including
liver and harbor improvements, ST.
POI, 163; miscellaneous objects, $4,213,-
lS3. Total $4S, O23, $50.
The estimates for the fiscal year
ending June 80, 1895, are: Salaries
and contingent expenses, S1697.O16;
establishments so. 7O9. S95;
public works, including river and har-
DOR improvements, sd, 463,307; mis-
eelIaneous objects, S3,976,261. Total.
10 SAC 400