Democratic Sentinel, Volume 4, Number 42, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 November 1880 — Army Reports. [ARTICLE]

Army Reports.

GEN. SHERMA.N’« BEPOBT. Gen. W. T. Sherman, in his annual report to the Secretary of War, recommends, aim ng I other things, that the army be increased to i 30,000 enlisted men, and says that he agrees ■ with Gen. Sheridan in saying that the present army is overworked ; he favors providing suiti able armaments for the forts which guard tho i chief harbors of the country, and thinks that • in view of the extension of railroads in the I Western States and Territories, particularly the completion of the Pacific x»ads, many of the minor posts in these regions might I be abandoned, and recommends that tho soldiers be concentrated at strategic points • along the national frontier, and at points where ! railroads intersect, so that they could be moved to threatened points at the shortest notice. ; He recommends the abandonment of small ■ seacoast forts, and the establishment of strong garrisons at Portland, Boston, Newport, New York, Port Royal, Key West, San Diego, San Francisco, Tort Townsend, Philadelphia, Hainp- ; ton Roads and Pensacola. Gen. Sherman has ■ a good woril to say for the Military School at ; West Point, and the Artillery School at Fortress ■ Monros. He holds that the investigation of the Whittaker case fully vindicated the autbor- ' ities at the former place. QUABTEBMASTEB GEN. MEIGS* BEPOBT. Quartermaster Gen. Meigs, in his annual report, gives the total earnings, on account of , military transportation of the bonded Pacific ; railroads as follows : Union Pacific, $6,959,- | 974 ; Central Pacific, $1,321,276 : Kansas Pacific, : $2,287,832; Sioux City, and Pacific, $34,389. the debt of the United States to land-grant railroads on account of the Wa r Department-is m- ■ creasing. A general order of the War Department is being printed, regulating the business I of military transportation over land-grant and j bonded railroads, and the adjustment of accounts therefor in conformity with the latest i legislation, decisions of courts and opinions of I the Department of Justice. The cost of wagons and stage transportation of military supi plies for the year was $86,163.65, and this cost |of water transportation $160,874.69. Tho debt due June 30, 1880, by railroads which at i the close of the war purchased railroad material from the United States, was $1,068,4)11.72. SUBGEON GEN. BARNES’ BEPOBT. ■ Surgeon Gen. Barnes in his annual report ’ thinks an appropriation of $250,000 will be re- ! qnired for the use of the medical department ! for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1882, for tho i purchase of medical and hospital supplies, for 1 the expenses of purveying depots, for pay of j employes, for pay of private physicians 'and I mu ses employed in emergencies at posts or stations, and for other miscellaneous expenses lof the medical department. Gen. 'Burns i earnestly recommends an appropriation for a ' new fire-proof building, adequate for user, of a ! medical museum and library. The cost of such • building he estimates at $250,010.