Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-11-22

outstanding that will require an expendl-
ture of over SIT 100000 during the fiscal
year ending June 81. 1859; of over S14U
900 during the fiscal year ending June 30,
1900; SJ,1oO.UO0 during the fiscal year end
ing June 80 1901; SI6OU0 during the fiscal
year ending June 30. 1902, and S345.UO dur
ing the fiscal year ending June 80, 1903
THE practical completion of the deep
water channel through the great lakes
marks the beginning of new era, and It's
benefits to the future commerce of the
great northwest, and. indeed, the whole
country, can be realized to some extent
by the marvellous development of the COM
meTce through the lakes in recent years.
THE work of securing the right OF way
for the ship canal connecting Lakes Union
and Washington with Puget sound free OF
cost to the government is in progress. 1t
is thought to be desirable and important
that IN increase in the size of the locks
and depth of channel in the canal suffi-
Gent to accommodate commerce and yes
sells of the United States navy should be
made, and the Secretary of the Navy mas
accordingly been requested to furnish in
formation as to the decth and width that
would he required to afford accOmmoda-
ton to the vessels of he navy. l cannot
too strongly recommend the construction
of this canal. Lake Washington is a large
sheet of fresh water with excellent banks.
1t is very deep and. OF course, entirely
free from tides. The necessity on that
great coast of fresh water where sea-goins
vessels can be repaired, and freed from
farnac:es is nest APPARENT"
EGshinEton's Water Supply.
In his report the chief of engineers
speaks of the Washington water supply
as follows:
THE subject for the pressing necessities
for providing the city of Washington with
an increased supply of water is again pre-
senteG for the consideration of Congress.
and tae matter is one which cannot, with
justice to the citizens of the capital, be
much longer delayed. The estimates for
the work will be found in my annual
pert. and it is recommended that favora-
HE action be taken by Congress during it's
present session.
Secretary Alger's comment is exceeding
ly brief.
"An increased water supply for the city
of Washington he says. lis an urgent
necessity, as stated by tine chief of engi-
Teers.
Hall of Records.
The Secretary refers to the following
marks of the Guartermaster general in
regard to Il hall of records:
Attention is again called to the neces-
sity of a suitable fire-proof building to
contain the records of all the executive
departments. The oongested conditions of
the space for storage of valuable papers
in the War Department calls for early
action. This subject was considered Il the
second session of the Fifty-fourth Con-
gress, hut no legislation resulted 1t is
hoped that Congress will give
further consideration to this important
matter at its comirg session.
The location of this building is of great
Importance. and should be within conve-
nient access to all the executive depart
Icenta.''
The Secretary comments follows:
The departments are crowded with files
of official papers TO the detriment of the
working force and the serious inconven-
lGnn nf no lie hIISi liz,
buildings erected for Office purposes should
not be used for storage. The files not in
current use should be stored elsewhere. A
hall of records becomes more and more
necessary each year l fully concur with
the views of the adjutant. general and
general upon this subject
The expenditures for the fiscal year ended
June 80. 1897, were $500, 1877; the appro-
priations for the fiscal year ending June
81. 1893. were So s32. AT, and the estimates
for the fiscal year ending June 80, 1899, are
S.3G 225S, 446.
Health of the Army.
On other subjects the Secretary says:
'"The statistics relating to the health of
the army are interesting. The general i'm
preston that white troops excel colored
troops in point of health is shown to be
to the facts.
THE surgeon general recommends a re-
turn TO the former practice of providing
rted men in each organization. This on &C
count of the unsanitary condition of their
present quarters at many posts. While
there is force in his suggestion, the enlist
ment of married men Is discountenanced
because of the frequent liability to change
of station, and to build quarters as recon-
mended would add largely to the expense,
and indirectly encourage that which is not
favored by the military authorities.
THE legislation to relieve paymasters
and other officers from amounts disallowed
by the auditor under a recent decision of
the controller relative to travel over GER
tain roads known as 30 per cent railroads
Is earnestly recommended.
10 the remarks of the paymaster gem
eral as 10 deficiencies in appropriations and
the reasons for the increase in his esti-
mates l,ask careful and favorable consid-
Grafton To his criticism of the present
system of payments and his views as to
clerks to paymasters, 1 invite attention.
pe report of the War Records office ar
Iords the gratifying intelligence that with
ne close OF the present fiscal year the en-
tire series OF records relating directly to
oatties and campaigns will have been print
ed and distributed. 1t is recommended
snat authority be granted to distribute the
incomplete sets of the work. Of which there
are atout $4,000 volumes now stored in the
department, occupying Space much needed
Tor other purposes.
The work of carding the rolls of the
revolutionary war ard the war of 1912 has
deNoiVed much additional labor unon the
record and pension office, as has also the
compilation of the records of the reyol1-
tohary var, under the provisions of the
act OF August 16. 1894 1t is gratifying to
De able to state that notwithstanding this
TABOR the current work of the office has
been fully kept up. thus attesting the ex-
cellcnce of the system observed in that
office. go ~
Military Balloons
The chief signal officer, in continuance Of
experimental work with military balloons.
asks an appropriation Of $4,000 for the
purpose This is an object which needs in
vestigation. and the amount asked for
is not large, I commend it, as also the es-
innate of $4,000 for cable systems for the
harbors Of New York, Boston and San
Francisco.
Il cannot too strongly urge that the
amount OF the estimates of the chiefs of
ordnance should be appropriated The pro-
viding OF adequate seacoast defenses, while
expensive now, will cease as soon as the
requirements ere fulfilled, and 1 believe II
will be wise economy to push forward
that great work to the fullest extent.
Col. Burlington and Capt Crozier. the
inventors of the disappearing gun carriage
adopted by the ordnance department. have
generously donated their invention to the
government and they should receiye aena