The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-12-08
MARINE DISASTERS.

from japan 70 the United states is
without any substantial foundation.
MARINE DISASTERS.
From the life saving service it is
reported that the number of disasters
to dOcumented vessels within the linn
its OF IT'S operations during the year
was 49, These vessels had on board
/ 4,5OS persons, of whom 1885 were saved
and Is lost. The value of such vessels
is estimated at SS,SS0 140, and of their
/ CarSoes S3,S46, $50, making the total
value of property imDerilled $12,726. 500.
OF this amount S11, 292, 707 was saved
and S1,4S2, $50 was lost SiXty-seven of
the vessels were totally wrecked. There
/ were besides 243 casualties to small
undocumented craft. on board of which
there were 1874 persons, of whom 5S7
were saved and lost
The value of the property involved
| in these latter casualties is estimated
at $119.265, of which $114,915 was saved
] and 81 $50 was lost The life saving
+ crews during the year also rescued or
assisted numerous other vessels and
warned many from danger by signals,
! both by day and night. The number
| of disasters during the year exceeded
/ that of any previous year IN the his
! tory of the service, but the saving of
/ both life and property was greater than
ever before, in proportion to the value
of the property involved and to the
number of persons imperiled-
! The operations of the marine hospital
service, the revenue cutter service, the
! steamboat inspection service, the light
/ house service, the bureau of navigation
and other branches of public work at
tached TO the treasury department, to-
gether with various recommendations
concerning their support and improves
ment. are fully stated in the report of
the secretary. to which the attention
of the congress is especially invited
THE ARMY.
The report of the secretary of war
exhibits satisfactory conditions in the
several branches of the public service
intrusted to his charge.
The limit of our military force as
fixed by law is constantly and readily
maintained. The present discipline and
morals of our army are excellent, and
marked progress and efficiency are ap-
parent throughout its entire Organiza-
ton. With the exception of delicate
duties in the suppression of slight In
dian disturbances along the south
western boundary. in which the Mex
lean troops cO-Operated, and the COM
pulsory but peaceful return. with the
consent of Great Britain. of a band of
Cree Indians from Montana to the
British possessions. no active opera
lions have been required of the army
during the year past
Changes in method of administration.
the abandonment of unnecessary posts
and consequent concentration of troops
and the exercise of care and vigilance
by the various officers charged with
the responsibility in the expenditure of
the appropriations. have resulted in
reducing to a minimum the cost of
maintenance Of our military establish
ment. During the past year the work
of constructing permanent infantry
and cavalry posts has BEEN continued
at the places heretofore designated
The secretary of war repeats his rec
ommendation that appropriations for
barracks and quarters should more
strictly conform to the need of the
service as judged by the department.
rather than respond to the wishes and
opportunities of localities
1t is imperative that much of the
money provided for such construction
should now be allotted to the erection
of necessary quarters for the garrisOns
assigned to the coast defenses, where
many men will be needed TO properly
care for and operate modern guns. 1t
is essential, too, that early provision
be made to supply the necessary force
of artillery to meet the demands Of
this service.
The entire army has now been
equipped with the new maya
zine arms and this policy de-
mands that all available pub
lie and private resources should be
so employed as TO provide within rea-
sOnable time a sufficient number to
supply the state militia with these
modern weapons and provide an ample
reserve for any emergency.
THE MILITIA.
The organized militia number 1888
men. The appropriations for its sup
Fort by the several states approximate
s., $780, 600 annually and 100000 is con-
tributed by the general government
Investigation shows these troops to be
usually drilled and inspired with much
militar-, interest, but in manY in
stances they are so deficient in proper
arms and equipment that a sudden call
to active duty would find them made
quatelv prepared for field service. /,
therefore, recommend that prompt
measures be taken to remedy this con-
ditiOn and that every encourag ement
be given to this deserving body of I'M
paid and voluntary citizen soldiers
upon whose assistance we must largely
Iely on in time of trouble.
COAST DEFENsEs.
During the past year rapid progress
has been made toward the completion
of the scheme adopted. for the aDrOtec-
ton and armament of Qualifications
along our sea coast, while equal prog
ress has been made in providing the
material for submarine defense in con-
nection with these works. 1t is pc
culiarly gratifying at this time to note
the great advance that has been made
in this important undertaking since the
date Of M annual message to the
Fifty-third congress, at the opening of
its second session, in December, 1898.
AT that time / informed the congress
of the approaching completion of 9
Pinch, 20 10-inch and "a S-inch high
power steel guns, and 10 Pinch rihed
mortars.
This total then seemed insignificant
when com0ared with the great work
remaining TO be done. Yet it was none
the less q source of satisfaction to
every citizen when he reflected that it
represented the first installment of the
new ordnance of American design and
American manufacture, and demon
strated our ability to supply from our
own resources guns of unexcelled
power and accuracy. At that date,
however, there were practically no car
riages upon which to mount these guns
and only 81 emplacements in condi-
ton 20 receive their armament Nor
were all these emplacernents in condi-
ton 20 receive their armament. Only
one high-Dower gun was at that time
in position for the defense of the entire
coast.
Since that time the number of guns
49, i