The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1895-12-07
THE q. 8 ARMY.
Annual Report OF Secretary 81
War Lamont
Usnditisn Of the Regular Army and the
National Guard Reviewed--sea Coast
Defsnses The Drainage Canal
Records aud Pensions.


Dsfsnsss The Drainage Canal
| Records aud Pensions.
| Washsnston. Nov. O-In the annual ~
| port Just issued OF Daniel q. Lamont.
| secretary OF war. the total expenditures
| Of his department for the year ending
June 80 1895 are stated as SSz ps7. 1904. theap-
| propriations for the fiscal year ending June
| 10. 1896. are S4a. f66.57i.7b. and estimates for
| the fiscal year ending Juno 30. 1891. are
placed at <5l.9i5.6lAi6 Following are the
more interesting portions OF tho report:
| The full strength OF the army author
lied by 'aw Is now given as 2.l26 total OIL
| GERS and 1S.7o8 total enlisted men, Changes
| established IN tho method OF recruiting
during this past two years hive consider
ably reduced the cost Of that service.
while perceptibly increasing the effective
strength OF the army
Tho Post Exchanges
| The receipts from the "a port exchanges
In operation were sl.5is.4bb. the expenses
u.lss.2 ss. leaving a balance OF ss,s.222. Of
which S1Ss,SS7 were returned ss dividends
| Many OF the exchanges new have libraries,
| gymnasiums. and appliances for out-of-
| doors sports. The receipts OF the canteens
have been reduced from rs per cent. six
| years ago TO 40 per cent during the present
| year.
BY far the most essential need or our
army to-day is tho adoption OF tho three
battalion formation. The reasons for this
change and a way TO provide II were stated
In the report OF the department for 1894.
The totnl cost of the publication or the
official records OF the rebellion from 1874.
when tho work was begun, 20 the close OF
the last fiscal year. was s2.lbS.OIS.1O. or
which Sl.0;b. e52 80 was for printing. and tho
balance for the expense or compilation.
The actual product by this expenditure IA
i.so0 sets OF the 96 books In print and the
accompanying maps and plates. also a
large mass OF uncompleted work In conneo-
ton with the books yet 10 be printed.
state rroops.
The efforts OF recent years 70 bring the
army into closer relations with the nation
al guard OF the states may now be regarded
AZ having established perm anent union
between the two forces. advs ntageous 10
both. During the year 80 officers. six more
than In thu previous year. were permanent
ly detailed at state headquai ters. and 4s
states secured for temporary duty tho
services OF army officers State encamp-
ments OF troops were held by ~ states. 10
which Is additional officers were assigned
as instructors and inspectors.
The nun Der or pupils az schools and col
leges receiving military instruction from
officers OF the army has more than doubled
within the last four years. and the stead
lily Increasing interest OF the outh OF tho
land In military affairs Is apparent. Last
year 80 officers a larger number than IN any
CORNER year. were detached for this duty.
The stuusnts attending schools and coll
iegcs at which military instruction was
regularly impaired during the year num-
bcred S5-csS. OF whom 2S.723 were capable
military duty.
sca-Coast Defcnses-
In your annual message transmitted to
congress In December. 1856. attention was
directed TO the urgent necessity for seacoast
defense IN these words: THE defenseless
condition CT our sencoast and lake frontier
II perfectly palpable: the examinations
made must convince - all that certain OF
our cities should be fortified and that work
on the most important OF those fortinca-
lions should be commenced at once. The
absolute necessity, judged by all standards
OF prudence and foresight. Of our prepara-
ton for I'm effectual resistance against
the armorcd ships and steel guns and NOR
tars or modern construction which may
threaten the cities on our coasts Is 80 APP
parent that l hope effective steps will DO
taken In that direction Immediately"
Since that time tho condition OF these
defenses has been under grave considera-
ton by the people and by this department
It's inadeQuacy and impotency have been
30 evident that the intelligence or the coun-
try long since ceased to discuss that
humilinting phase or the subject, but has
addressed itself 20 the more practical un-
dertaking or urging more rapid progress
In the execution OF the plan OF defense de-
vised by the Endicott board In 1856. with
subsequent slight notifications.
At only three OF the rs ports under con-
alteration have completed features or de-
Tense been established. New York has two
l2-inch guns and 16 i2-inch mortars, San
Francisco has one Pinch gun and IL l2-
inch mortars. and Boston has ie Finch
mortars In position.
The report OF the chief OF engineers. for
warded herewith. exhibits In detail tho
condition OF the various river and harbor
improvements ordered by congress. The
total expenditures for these purposes dur
ing the year ended June 80 last exclusive
OF those made by Mississippi and Missouri
river commissions. were $3.50, 9s4.s7 ard
the unexpended balance Unavailable appro-
priations on the first day OF September
last was 81. .sSo59.
The Chicago Drainage Canal.
The completion OF the drainage canal OF
the sanitary district OF Chicago. which IL
expected I'm the near future. and its
probable effect upon the depth OF water In
elake hnrbors having catised much appre-
hension, the importance OF the matter led
20 It's reference TO board OF engineer
officers for investigation as 10 1.-THE prob
able effect of the operation OF the Chicago
drainage canal upon the lake and harbor
levels, and upon tho navigation OF thu
great lakes and their connecting waters"
In the Judgment o the board tho only
way 10 ascertain the approximate us
charge OF the lakes In TO measure them for
periods long enough TO eliminate accidental
fluctuations and TO cover all stages. and Tor
that purpose II recommends a series OF
gauglnEs al important. TO DO carried out
as soon an precticahle
Record and Pension once.
The records OF the personnel OF the revoiu-
tionary army. on which work was begun In
September. 1894. have been indexed and
arranged for use The progress made In
indexing and arranging similar records
or tho war or 1912 insures the completion OF
this work by the end OF the year. Inquiries
requiring reference to these records are
increasing. az patriotic associations have
revived interest In tho early wars OF tho
republic. The total number OF cases OF all
kinds disposed OF was "a. l2e. OF which i52.
07b were pension cases. The approaching
completion OF the index-record card sys-
tenn has permitted a reduction of 10 clerks
I'm the force OF tho Office this year. In addl- |
ton 10 the reduction Of 400 last year tho |