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Show REPORT OF THE SECRETARY CF WAR. Wiia.-inpton, 30. The an mini report re-port oi the decrcuiry of War sliow the feLiiiitiit-ti for military purposes for the y.'iir ending June 30th, ls7-l, to he c-i3,5Jo,37S. The es-timnU's fur the t.une purpose for the ve:ir ending June wt), lbTo, U SrV4,4107t tlin cx-Ctss cx-Ctss over the current year being o44. The appropriation for milium purposes for the vrar ending June 30, lb73, was $oLT,917rV17l. In addition to the usual estimates already made, the following are submitted for euch aelion as Cont-rej may deem proper: Armament of forts, $1,4-19, "".; estimated esti-mated fur engineer purposes, $-J0,4o0.-3'Jvi. The Secretary retommerds butter but-ter facilities to obLim field musicians be alionletl by the passage of an act authoring tbe enlistment of boys not under li2 years of age, with the consent con-sent of their parents or guardians, lie di.yn his oilier directing oflicers, active or r tired, to refrain from visiting Washington during the sessions ol Congre-N with a view to influence leg-Ulatiun, leg-Ulatiun, wiil be strictly enforcd, so far as he lias the power, lie also says further legislation is necessary to define de-fine the scope, of the provision of the net regulatii g tho p iy of officers' eomiuut tions. lie reccoinmends an allowance of ten dollars per month be made to lieutenants of the line detailed detail-ed as assistant quartermasters. OfoO railroads which purchased material from the Departme-t at the close ol the war, to the amount of $7,500,000. 30 have paid in full. The remaining 20 are still indebted about $470,000. He recommends the passage of a. law which will enable the Department to collect from the Postoflice Department Depart-ment the postal earnings of the several sever-al delinquent railroads; and also recommends rec-ommends an appropi iation to continue tbe experiments of artesian wells at Fort D. A.Kussell, believing that asc-ries asc-ries of AliTESIAX lVKLL-a To the people of Colorado, Wyoming, Wyom-ing, Dakota aud Montana, will be ot importance in the development of their material resources. He also recommends that an act be passed authorizing the issue of tobaceo as part of the rations of enlisted men; that the medical corps be opened to appointment ap-pointment and promotion; that there be an increase of paymasters from I'ourty-lour to fifty-two; that new appointments ap-pointments and promotions be allowed. al-lowed. The work on the sea coast defenses and fortifications has been advanced with as rapidly consistent with economy and clliciency. The works of the four principal harbors now contain quite a number of platforms plat-forms ready for their armament ol guns of the largest calibre. The harbor har-bor defenses in course of construction are recommended to be brought t to completion. The Secretary invites the attention of Congress to the bridging bridg-ing ot the navigable waters of the United States, and suggests such general gen-eral legislation as is necessary for the prrs rvation of the channels of commerce. com-merce. He recommends the repeal of the law authorizing tbe construction construc-tion of a bridge across- the Arkansas river at Little Rock, for the reason that a bridge constructed according to its terms would materially obstruct navigation. The survey of the lakes has been continued with success during dur-ing the .season. The Springfield system sys-tem of breach-loaders will be henceforth hence-forth used as muskets and carbine in tbe army. An appropriation o $.300,000 is asked for the maiiulactun of about 300,000 ARMS OF AN AGCElTliD SYSTEM For a reserve supply in case of war. It is recommended that the appropriations appro-priations for arming and equipping the militia be increased in proportion to the increased popufition, since the parsing of the act of 1S0S. Cities on sea coast sites, it is stated, are in a very defenseless condition, and the accrctarycalls the earnest attention of Congress to this fact, suggesting that a million and a half dollars, tbe estimate of the chief of ordnance, be appropriated to put them in a state of defense, and says this sum will onlyl provide defences with one sixth thej complement ot guns requireu ior em- cient fortifications. The purchase ol proving ground for experiments in heavy guns is advised, also an appropriation appro-priation of seventy-five thousand dollars dol-lars lor the manufacture and trial 01 twelve inch cast iron rimmed cannon. A large powder depot, it is recommended, recom-mended, should be established in some region where neither private nor public interests would be endang-, endang-, creel, and away from tbe influence ot the salt air; and, for the purchase ol a s'.lo and the commencement ol magazines, a hundred thousand dollars dol-lars should be appropriated. I" trie same connection, it is recommended that the smaller arsenals be sold and hu-jrr ones be built from the proceeds. pro-ceeds. The secretary concludes by 1 i.i.Mnpnflinf that ledslation should be renewal giving the Secretary of War authority to appoint a competent person to ai range and prepare for publication official documents relat-in relat-in to the operations of the army during dur-ing the war. |