umes and about 5,000 pamphlets, making the total number in the collection about 60,900 volumes and 68,700 pamphlets.

The printing of volume IV of the Index Catalogue has been completed and the addition distributed. The manuscript of volume V is in an advanced state of preparation, and the first part of it is now going to press.

The use of the library by the medical profession of the country continues to steadily increase. It is believed that this library has now become of such importance and utility and is so widely consulted that it should have the means of placing on its shelves as soon as published every new medical work, great or small, in all languages. To do this, and to supply books required to make its files complete in those subjects with regard to which there is the greatest demand for information, will require an annual appropriation of $10,000, and estimates for this amount have been submitted.

The attention of Congress is again called to the great importance to the Army, to the medical profession, and to the nation of providing a suitable fire-proof building for the safe deposit of those valuable collections, the destruction of which would be an irreparable loss.

The Surgeon-General states that, by contract made with Providence Hospital, Washington, D. C., under the act of Congress approved March 3, 1883, appropriating $15,000 for "the support and medical treatment of 75 transient paupers, medical and surgical patients," there have been granted during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1883, 558 permits for the admission to this institution of patients of this classan average of 46.5 patients per month. In addition to this number it has been found possible, within the limits of said appropriation, to care for a monthly average of 84.75 patients of the same class, who are bedridden, infirm, and helpless, who have gradually accumulated in years past, and who, but for the favorable terms of the contract, would be thrown upon the charity of the public.

Since the date of last report six medical officers of the Army on the active list and three on the retired list have died, and one assistant surgeon has resigned; fourteen vacancies in the grade of assistant surgeon exist October 1, 1883, in the Medical Department of the Army. The names of thirteen approved candidates found qualified by an Army medical examining board for appointment of assistant surgeon will be submitted to the Senate when Congress assembles in December next.

PAY DEPARTMENT.

The report of the Paymaster-General shows that his department during the past year has properly accounted for $15,490,310.54. He urgently recommends the repeal of that part of the act of April 20, 1874, which provides that no officer detailed for the purpose of inspecting the accounts of the disbursing officers of the Army shall be in any way

connected with the department making the disbursement. It is the opinion of the Paymaster-General that this proviso prevents the use for purposes of inspection of officers who, from their intimate acquaintance with the character of the accounts to be inspected, are best qualified to detect any irregularities.

The Paymaster-General again recommends the repeal of the law which forbids payment of mileage to officers for so much of their travel as is over land-grant roads. I concur with him in this recommendation. The provision in question applies only to officers of the Army. Mileage is given to an officer not only to pay the mere cost of transportation, by rail or otherwise, but to cover that expense and his other necessary traveling expenses. Other traveling expenses are just as much over land-grant roads as over other roads; and it is, therefore, recommended that the provision be either repealed, or that over land-grant roads transportation be given, and in addition a reduced rate of mileage to cover incidental expenses.

Attention is also invited to the need of legislation on the subject of paymasters' bonds. A paymaster is required to give a new bond at least every four years; but it is understood that the accounting officers of the Treasury hold that each bond covers all the transactions of an officer under his current commission; and it is represented that for this reason officers experience difficulty in obtaining sureties upon their bonds. I concur with the Paymaster-General in his opinion that the liability of a surety should have some definite limit, and that the remedy which has been enacted in the matter of bonds of collectors of internal revenue and of postmasters should be extended to paymasters. In this connection, it has been brought to my attention that paymasters and other disbursing officers of the Army who are by law, required to give large bonds for the faithful discharge of their duties, and to renew such bonds at stated periods, meet with peculiar difficulties in procuring such bonds. Ordinarily, an officer of the Government who is required to give a bond performs his duty in the neighborhood where he is well known, and where it is not difficult for him to procure proper sureties. A disbursing officer of the Army is permanently separated from his home, and in the course of his official life enters upon his duties at many stations where he is an entire stranger to all but his brother officers. The difficulty in procuring satisfactory sureties upon official bonds, and indeed the difficulty of procuring them at all, under such circumstances, is apparent. It would be of great advantage to such officers if they were permitted by law to furnish as security the obligation of some approved guaranty company organized for the purpose of indemnifying employers in this manner. At a small cost to themselves, officers would be saved much repeated embarrassment, and I confidently believe that the security to the Government would be much increased. Doubt is entertained whether, under existing laws, the Secretary of War is authorized to accept as surety any such com

pany, and I have therefore declined to do so. I recommend, however, that the existing laws on this subject be so amended as to authorize the head of a Department to accept corporate as well as individual sureties upon official bonds.

ENGINEER BUREAU.

Attention is specially invited to that portion of the report of the Chief of Engineers which refers to the defenses of our sea-coast and lake frontier. The views of the Engineer Department as to the necessary measures to secure the harbors of the United States from maritime attack have been clearly set forth in former annual reports, especially those for the years 1880 and 1881. While our defense for many years must depend upon the completion of barbette batteries designed for modern guns and upon our system of torpedoes, the use of armor has not been overlooked, and plans have been prepared for the application of the turret system to some of our most important harbors. Our sea-coast, with its great cities and important harbors, is defenseless to-day against the attack of a modern iron-clad, and it is humiliating even to imagine the mortification, loss of life, property, and prestige to which we would be subjected should war come suddenly upon us, as, the history of nations shows, may happen at any time.

For many years no appropriations have been made for continuing the construction of our forts; and the barbette batteries, designed for the country's defense, are incomplete and rapidly going to ruin. It appears to be not only a matter of prudence but of absolute necessity that these works, so long delayed, shall at once be commenced and pushed to a speedy completion.

Attention is invited to the necessity for electrical rooms and cable galleries for the most important of our sea-coast works. However well developed our torpedo system may be, it will be comparatively useless so long as our instruments for firing submarine mines and our connecting cables are unprotected from the enemy's artillery. There should certainly be no further delay in constructing these comparatively inexpensive, but absolutely necessary, adjuncts to the system of torpedo defense.

The balance in the Treasury July 1, 1882, to the credit of appropriations for improving harbors and rivers was $4,738,263.58. The appropriations by the acts of June 19, 1882, August 2, 1882, and March 3, 1883, were $18,751,335, and the sum of $373,592.24 was drawn from indefinite appropriations for constructing jetties in the South Pass, Mississippi River; operating and care of various canals; and removing sunken vessels obstructing navigation. The drafts (including $500 transferred to the Interior Department) by requisition during the year were $13,841,541.27, leaving a balance of $10,021,649.55 in the Treasury July 1, 1883, and on the same date there was in the hands of officers or on deposit to their credit the additional sum of $2,362,254.10. Since

that date and up to November 1 there has been drawn from the Treasury $4,966,811.27.

For information relating to the improvements in progress I beg to refer to the report of the Chief of Engineers, which contains a detailed account of the steps taken to carry out the provisions of law and of the progress and condition of these works.

Respecting the surveys for the improvement of rivers and harbors called for by the act of August 2, 1882, the preliminary examinations have been completed, as required and provided for in that act, to ascer tain and determine which of the localities enumerated are worthy of improvement, and in what cases the work is a public necessity. The reports of the results of these examinations in each case will be made the subject of a special communication to Congress. Such surveys as have been found to come within the provisions of the act have been undertaken and are in progress. The reports thereon will be submitted to Congress from time to time during the ensuing session as they are received.

Preliminary arrangements are still incomplete and in progress under the direction and supervision of Mr. M. J. Adams, the inventor, for making a practical test of a flume for increasing the depth of water of the Mississippi, for which the sum of $20,000 was provided by act of March 3, 1879, and a further sum of $8,000 by act of August 2, 1882. A report of the progress made between October 10, 1881, and December 1, 1882, by the Mississippi River Commission in carrying out the work intrusted to it was transmitted to Congress December 29, 1882. The subsequent progress of that important work will be made the subject of a special communication to Congress at an early period of the ensuing session.

The final report of the survey of the northern and northwestern lakes has been printed. The results of this survey are embodied in sixtyseven engraved charts, which are furnished under proper regulations to all vessels navigating the lakes.

Office work has been continued in completing the maps and reports connected with the survey of territory of the United States west of the 100th meridian. There are thirteen atlas sheets now ready for publication. It is expected that the office work connected with this survey will be completed by December 31. The small appropriation asked for the next fiscal year for surveys required for military purposes, and for the publication of maps for use of the War Department, is earnestly recommended.

Improvement of the South Pass of the Mississippi River.

The last annual report of this Department brought the history of this work to September 9, 1882. During the four quarters ending September 9, 1883, there was no failure of maintenance of the channel. From 4132 w- -2

September 10, 1882, to September 9, 1883, both dates inclusive, four quarterly payments for maintenance, amounting to $100,000, and two semi-annual payments of interest on the $1,000,000 retained, amounting to $50,000, were made, the total expenditure for the improvement to the latter date being $4,850,000.

Attention is called to the failure of any provision for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1884, to meet the cost of the examinations and surveys required by law to ascertain the depths of water and widths of channels maintained at the South Pass. The amount available for this purpose June 30, 1883, was $6,048, barely sufficient to continue these examinations and surveys to December 31, 1883.

ORDNANCE DEPARTMENT.

There were manufactured at the National Armory at Springfield, Mass., during the year ending June 30, 1883, 33,621 small-arms.

The three systems of magazine guns mentioned in my last annual report as having been recommended for trial are still in process of manufacture. It is believed that a sufficient number of each kind for trialin the field will be ready early next spring.

Great attention has been given by the Ordnance Bureau to carry into effect the appropriation made in the act approved March 3, 1883, for making, converting, and testing rifled cannon. A number of contracts have been made, which are in process of execution. It had first to be considered whether or not gun steel in suitable masses and of the requisite quality could be procured in this country. In order to receive all possible information on this point, a very full circular letter, of which a copy is given in the report of the Chief of Ordnance, was sent to the principal steel works in the United States. The replies received showed that the plant or the experience in this country cannot as yet produce the steel forgings for tubes and jackets for so large a gun as one having an 8-inch caliber. Those required for such guns and for guns of larger caliber have, therefore, been contracted for in England. Smaller steel forgings have been undertaken in Philadelphia, and the tests thus far made of them show that they are fully equal in quality to the best European manufactures.

It is not possible to make a satisfactory abridgment of the very interesting information given by the Chief of Ordnance in his report respecting the construction of the various kinds of guns now going on, and for information respecting them reference is made to his report.

Under the provisions of section 1 of the act making appropriations for the naval service for the year ending June 30, 1884, a board, composed of officers of the Army and Navy, was, on the 2d of April, 1883, constituted by the President, to examine and report which of the navy-yards or arsenals owned by the Government has the best location and is best adapted for the establishment of a Government