The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1894-12-07
The Message
h c0ntiaaed IAN JIrsl paoe. ]

rort1 Iess ,nal on tlS ~ day Of October. 1881.
The capital stock paid In was e6J s,67l 3is being
tp.G5Bi9i less than ~ the same time In the
previous year, and the surplus fund and
undivided profits, less expenses and taxes
paid. amounted TO 1884, t2I .0s2 TO- which Wns
fiGQs0,5So less than on October II. 1898
The circulation was decreased st.7Ii.b6L The
obligations Of the banks TO each other were
increased tliT90s.3A, md the Individual de-
posits were va 2gi.te9 less than an at the cor.
responding date in the previous years Loans
and discounts were el6I .eJ6pa more than 1t
the same time the previous year. and check.
and other cash items were p63 more
The total resources OF the banks NJ the date
mentioned amounted to g.. f7Jlg.s,bSSS as against
ts,l0o bs3.-sLsd In 1893.
From the report Of the secretary OF war II
appears that the strength Of the army
fcerss and :b.iGS enlisted men. Al
though this Is apparently very slight de-
crease compared With the previous your. the
sctual cticstive force has been Increased 70 the
equivalent Of nearly two regiments through
the reorganization OF the system Of recruiting
and rho consequent release TO roSlmental duty
u tue tatge force q men hitherto serving ~
the recruiting departments Tho abolition Of
these departments II Is predicted. will further
more affect an annual reduction npproximat-
ing f9S0OOO In tho direct expenditures besides
promoting generally the health. moral and dis
cipiine Of the troops
The execution OF the policy Of concentrating
the army ~ important centers OF popu-
lation and transportation foreshndowed
IN the Inst annual report Of the Sec
rotary, has resulted In the abandonment
~ fifteen Of the smaller posts which was eff
fected under plOn which assemblies orRnni-
zatiops OF the same regiments hitherto widely
separated. This renders our small forces
more readily effective for my service which
fag
the extent Of the territory under protection
without dlmln shiny tho security heretofore
Afforded TO an locality. improves the disct-
plinu. tr1iaiaS and esprit de corps Of the
arlny. besides considerably decreasing tho cost
Of It's maintenance. Though the forces of tho
department Of tho east have been somewhat
Increased. more than thrce-fOurths of
the army Is stu stationed west OF
the Mississippi. This carefully matured policy,
which secures the best and greatest service in
the interests OF the general welfare from the
small force comprising our regular army,
should not be thouehtiessly embarrassed by
the creation Of now and unnecessary posts
through acts Of congress to crafty the ambi-
ttons or interests Of localities.
While the maximum legal strength OF the
army Is :b'0OO men the effective strength
through various causes is but little over 10000
men. The purpose OF congress does not. there
fore, seem 10 he fully attained by the existing
the army Is In my Judgment
demanded b. recent events the
policy Of sea coast fortineEtion, In the pros
ecution OF which We have been steadily en-
gagged Tor some Yeas, has so far developed US
TO suggest that the effective strength OF the
army be nov made OF least equal To the legal |
strength. Measures taken by the'department
during the year, MS indicated, have already |
considerably augmented the effective force, |
nud the secretary OF war presents plan. which |
] recommend TO the consideration Of congress,
to attain tine desired end. Economies effected |
In the department in other lines OF its work |
win onset to great extent the |
expenditure involved in the proposition sub
mttted Among other things this contemplates
the adoption OF the three battalion formation |
OF regiments. which for several years has beGn |
indorsed by the secretaries OF war and tho |
generals commanding the army. Compact in |
itself, II provides skeleton organization |
ready 70 be filed out in the event OF war, which
is peculiarly adapted 10 our strength and re-
quirements: aud the fact that every other ma
ton, with single exception, has adopted this |
formation TO meet the conditions OF modern
warfare. should alone secure for the recon-
an early consideration.
u IS hardly necessary to ecaIl the fact |
s,tai in onsdienee @ the com hands Of the