The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-11-27
,GnaasT 81 ia sh iSs dI RfElIH III. q ff the tsoldisf il The

etuuonbs leo the daily Hie oh bno ONN' eo
There are now thirty-hye army officers rsGn-
i nSdI,,o ass ss ,s.. to ,S staie nSS oSiesrs have been
detailed on Temporary duty during the past
year at State e~ncsmpments. All, concur IN re.
porting n steady Improvement In the framing
and efficiency orthe militia. Camps OF, %instrnc-
tion were held in thirty.one States, aud In sew;
with the militia, serving not only to furnish an
object lesson in matters of detail. put also 70
promote cordial relations between the regular
Within the past year effort has been made TO
2 2SSei" mSs been sG seapaTeS d a1SrMGf'Gt the S" amount
OF the actually serviceable articles OF mllltary
snppiis; h IN od th i,,1 hands H,h.t on would she f be- reGuired Il
they were to take the field: The returns re.
ceived indicate 30 serious n deficiency in almost
every item OF armament and equipment neces-
sary for field service that the general Govern
ment should no longer withhold the appropria-
tions necessary TO place the State forces on a
better footing to render efficient aid whenever
called into tho service OF the United States.
annually for tho support Of the militia, not
counting contributions from private sources and
tmn epent ~ nrb Hrm rsns sI' Hossrnment sppropri.
Rtes S4o0. 900, to be drawn in money or equip
mont. as the state authorities may elect. When
the States furnish the armorles aud defray all
expenses incidental to. keeping their forces In
training it is suggested that the United States
should provide them with the implements which
they will need in active, servioe-erms and field
equipment-as the supply on hand is totally in
adequate for serious and prolonged Held opera
lions.
Recommendations made last year are again
proved, viii materially benefit the militia with
out increase of expense.
Tho first is that the States be allowed to re-
turn such unserviceable, worn out, or obsolete
stores and weapons as have been advanced to
them by the War Department in past years. that
they be sold for what they will bring. ana the
proceeds credited to the sllotments to the re;
rpective States and Territories for arming and
The second is that the Secretary of War be
authorized to issue Springfield rides OF calibro
.45 to each state and Territory In exchange Tor
The third 10. that any State or Territory may.
n ad iSe asa 70 fSr the so sipTss sn The sI PIlitis, ,S pureh Sno
plies as the Secretary Of Wa may spproys;, J..
III ,ss7. The artillery arm, comprising 4.716
officers and men. Ia maintained in thirty.four
and men, is maintained in twenty.sixS States.
On the subject OF seacoast offences the report
but one high.powcr gun was mounted. By July
i next We will have in position seventy high
breech-ioadin mortars OF modern design. and
By the following July, on completion OF work
already az under way or provided ds dv fo !. l ;Srs guns ns
these guns takes the place of tho former %preten-
tious fort, and Ia vastly moro effective. An
eight-inch gun weighs fourteen and n half tons.
is 23M feet long. requires q powder charge
OF Ie6 pounds. and throws q projeotile weigh
gun weighs 80 tons. is a0h feet long, requires a
powder charge OF ESQ pounds and throws q
DTO1eCtle RDOuL LWelV0 mice. n 1S-lnCn KUN
weighs 81 tons. is 40 feet long. requires a
powder charge of $50 pounds and throws .
1;ooo,pG Saia pre ss Ian 1 nanbS. n n "a 4 A.. lal lana
requires q powder charge OF lo5 pounds and
throws a filled pro,ectile weighing 900 pounds
Tho total amount appropriated for seacost de-
fences, including cost OF sites, Notifications,
emit scheme. is $28, 457, 900. of which more than
one-third was carried by the act passed Mt tho
says that fSss'S his Drod ESe.s in ONCE at the head
OF tho War Department had. during many
gT Sssi, !, the f dislSnli ,as q sse a] ns,isnaf d tas easi,s
terest which has been awakened has
made moro liberal provision for the
4oOonplishme of the adopted scheme. There
year. he feels that It is no longer necessary to
repeat the arguments that have been reiterated
tic m 70 yh ..% great won" work 't shat YET 'r rem"ia. to be
done. 1t lie also his fortune to have the more
grateful duty Of exhibiting tho important re-
well as the splendid progress which Is now be-
Ing made toward the early completion of tho
The armament of troops with the new maya
zine arms was completed in May. and the
day under the appropriation made last yeas.
All the ammunition for small arms now made
msHpSacsur. and Of satisfactory quality
,nS 5sSs1ns 5sS S.d 81, l & eG 91ssIsSis a05 5SS.. IL e
CeA I'VE
the Misai.sippi and Missouri River Commission
was ST., O3s. 900. Including tho amounts ap-
propriated by the act OF June 3. 1895. there was
July /. sec, 100000. The Mississippi. River
Commission has decided to discontinu. the plan
to improve the river by bank protection and to
adopt the plan of dredging channels in shoai
places and maintaining, with State and local
cooperation. an effective leyee system. With
this change of policy the minority believe the
function Of tho Commission Is ended and the
work should be turned over to the Secretary OF
War.
AS no water has been drawn for use in the
Chicago Drainage Canal. no further facts can
be given ee to tho probable effect of abstraGting
10. 600 cubic feet OF water per second from Lake
| Michigan. The Importance OF nauguratinR a
series OF observations and g~augings which will
provide reliable data concerning the lake levels
and the probable effect Of tho Chicago Drainage
Canal and the deepening of connecting chan
nels, 10 again urged upon Congress.
Secretary Lamont says in closing his last an
nuAl report:
II have satisfaction in placing on record my
high appreciation of the character. ability. and
zeal OF the officers of our army. and the general
spirit Of loyalty and patriotic inspiration which
pervades its ranks. To these officers and men,
and to the heads Of the departments In the War
ONCE, all of whom have given faithful support
to the administration Of this department. |
mako the Acknowledgement which is their duo"