The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-12-08
Life Saving and Marine Service.

n NA@@E latter casualties - estimated al
sli0,26 Of whiea Sill. 955 was saved and
81 80 was lost.
The life saving crews during the year
also rescued or assisted numerous other
vessels and warned maay from danger by
signals both By day and night. The num-
Der OF disasters during the year exceeded
that or any previous year IN the history
OF the service. but the saving Of both life
and property was greater than ever before
In proportion 10 the value OF the property
involved and 20 the number OF persons i'm
periled.
The operations Of the marine hospital
service, the revenue cutter service. the
steamboat inspection service. the light
mouse service, the hure al OF naviga ton,
and other branches Of public work at
tacned 70 the treasury department to-
geT Their with various recommendations con-
corning their support and Improvement.
are fully stated In the report OF the secFe-
tary. 70 which the attention OF congress is
especially invited.
Regular Army and Militia.
The report of the secretary of war ex-
hDIts satisfactory conditions in the seE-
eFal branches OF the public service. The
limit OF our military force as fixed by law
Is constantly and readily maintained The
present discipline and morals Of our army
ale excellent. and marked progress and ef-
hcleEcy are apparent throughout its en-
IRE organization. With the exception Of
delicate duties in the suppression of slight
lnutan disturbances along our southwest
ern boundary. Ia which the Mexican troops
co-operated and the compulsory but
pea ceTul return. with the consent Of Great
britain, OF band OF Cree Indians from
Montana TO the British possessions, no ac-
tive operations have been required of the
army during the year past. Changes in
method Of administra lion. the abandon
ment or unnecessary posts and consequent
concentration OF troops and the exercise
or care and vigilance by the various Off
Gers charged with the respon sibility In the
expenditure OF the appropriations. have
Ftfssf
cost Of maintenance Of our military es-
adjustment. During the past year the
work Of the construction of permanent IN
fantry ana cavalry posts has been con-
unued at places heretofore designated
The secretary of war repeats his recon-
mendation that appropriations for bar
conlcim TO the need Of the service as
judged by the department. rather than 10
respond to the wishes and importance of
Localities. IL Is Imperative that mucn of
should now be allotted 10 the erection Of
necessary quarters for the garrsons as
signed 20 the coast DEF nses. where many
men will be needed to properly care for
and operate modern guns. IL i 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
magazine arms and policy demands that
all available public and private resources
should be so employed IS to provide within
supply the state militia with these weap-
ons and provide an ample reserve for any
emergency.
The organized militia numbers f12. so
men. The appropriations for It's support
by the several states approximate s., 500
90 annually and S400, go Is contributed by
the general government. Investigation
shows the troops TO be usually well
drilled and inspired with much military
interest, but In many instances they are
50 dehcient In proper arms and equipment
that sudden call to active duty would
ind them lnadsquately prepared for field
service. / therefore recommend that
prompt measures be taken 10 remedy this
condition, and that every encoura cement
and voluntary citizen soldiers, upon whose
assistance we must rely largely in time of
trouble.
Defenses Greatly Strengthened.
During the past year progress has been
made toward the completion of the
scheme adopted for the protection and
armament OF Notifications along our sea
coast while equal progress has been made
IN providing material for submarine de-
tense in connection with these works Ii
Is particularly gratifying at this time to
note the great advance that has been
made In this important undertaking since
the date OF my annual message 10 the
Ftfty-third congress al the opening OF It's
second session In December, 1898. At that
time Informed congress OF the approach
ing completion OF nine Finch, twenty 10
inch ana thirty-four s-iuch high power
steel guns and seveuty-five l2-inch rifsd
mortars This fetal then seemed lnsig-
nlhcant when compared with the great
work remaining 70 be- done. yet 1t was
meme the less source OF satisfaction TO
every citizen when he reflected that II
represented the first Installment of the
new ordnance OF American design and
American manufacture. and demonstrat-
ed our ability 20 supply from our own re-
sources guns Of unexceled power and sc-
curacg.
At that date. however. there were prae-
ECaly no carriages upon " hich TO mount
these guns, and only Ihirty-one emplace-
meats for guns and slxty-fouT for NOR
tars. Nor we're ali these emplacements
in condition 10 receive their armament
only one high power gun WAS at that tine
In position for the defense OF the entire
coast
sInce that tims the number OF guns
actually completed ASS been increased 90
tWenty-Cne Pinch Ufty-six 1n-tneh and
ton there are Ia process OF construction
cSs lb-inch cyuani . gun, dfty-six Io-ineh
tWenty-seven s-tnch h.gh power guns. ana
ssX,v-siN 19-inCh rifle mortars, in oil as
guns and Wortsrs.
During the same year Immediately pre-
St4t1E y-e n esss e. referred go, The fra
retern sun carriage had been completes
a0t eleven more we're tn process of cen
strurt.Uu- All but enc we're OF the non
lisa appearing type. These. however wert
no- such as - require the protection nee
she Intense IRE - mosern machine rapid
hfe ard als power guns. The IureatlV
genius 80 ordnance and civilian ewnarf.
has been axes in dRvisinR carriages rhe
sfcu.t o1El8ta lais fault. resulting Il Fl
beloved tE the s9ut9n az this 1ifdcu
problem eirre fE5 the cuw uFr of ctsr
carrl8Ecs constructed or building Has bee
raised to s. toal % -. a. vhseh ninety ars
% the disappearing tyEse. ana tae mar hsr
ef mortar carriages 20 twelve. whHa ths
rtEesJ.- ave sTptacen7ea-s RNich were pro
F81e8 for prior rs f3at fIme have bser sr
cree s-t -- go h8i5t ans bHl|3luE
Tais i~>~oved sttuatioa Is largely f4s
go ttf resent generous resrcrse ~ con.
Efrss 20 .ae rscnsf.Ei enaa tie0s o. tse wa
af78r-rert Thus So shsl soon havs
rcnr ete aEcrEf one-flt % tha go-nn~e-
1en@tFe sfstcm tas nfs- stsp IN wA.ca
% l}e-E-iaer = ts1
vrhen g.. Ia er8erzt~o3 tast a ~rzze.-s
eIs-act Etht go5 &aiF furnishes plat
s'EU toF Sac heavy modern hfuh ucweg
E1n. but Ass Sc every particular serves
t1a Hugpase ara takes eEe % sra - taf
for. 81 farmer tAvs the tuna--snca ~ 49,
WORK acccu.P-l saed is hettsr coupre-
asr1ei.
CD 1ae hope thss the work xi'I ~ prose-
0ate3 w3th 20 less visor ln Che future. ghs
rata Hy 3rtc4 = allowed. wl8 IT, PRO
visited ard ett5 er oGtt GG G8l.dluE ~ the
sh1 o2 saa n&eas year sach sH. sfnHs
EuEs martags aa1 carriages aaz err
3 acs-r Euis e. N4s represent 10. lar from
oBs-f nl-& 90 t1e rotaE srUTk 10 be Enns
ieazes. thus a1or4saE uTosql-ct thzs TIE
snz}re wovk wit4 be saasta1tiaGy CON
Es-eft0 Hlt1&n SIX Fears Ia cess tfGse t1aa
Ea&-r BON vcr. Ee ssal hAVe stGaine1 s
nsArks4 deETes q security. TIE exp~nss
aaa results CT ire past year eszoas1EAss