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nations by . body of highly respectable citi- zens, called from various parts ofthe country. !. are not only useful, Us checks upon any iin- proper tendency to which all public establish ments are more or less liable. but they are satisfactory, when they bear testimony to the value of the system, and to the correctness of It's administration ; and practically advan- tageous by the suggestions they offer. That improvements may be made in sereral de- partments of the Military Academy, cannot be doubted. Nor can 1t be doubted that thorough examination by Congress of it's vari- ous concerns, whether administrative. finan- clal, or instructive, would be highly useful. and would tend to its permanent melioration. It's results, so far as these can be judged by the character, conduct and qualifications the officers ofthe army. about two-thirds of whom nave been educated at this institution, have been decidedly beneficial. The standard of requirement for the military profession, has been raised habits of discipline and subor- dlnation, necessary to learn, before the duty of command can be properly executed, have been acquired; elementary knowledge pe- cullarly adapted to military life has been more extensively and accurately taught, and we are better enabled to keep pace with those improvements which the nations of Flu

 

 portant branch of modern science.

 resolution passed the House of Repre sentatives, at the last session, requiring the Secretary of War to procure certain informa- tlon, having relation to the establishment of national foundry in the District of Colum- bla. The information which has been collec- ted Will be communicated in obedience to the resolutions but 1 am so impressed with the importance of the measure that am in- duced to bring It to your notice in this re- port.

 The United States have no establishment for the manufacture of cannon. The supplies waated, as well for the field of artillery of the. army and militia, as for the armament of the Notifications, are now procured from four pri. vate toundrles: one near Richmond, one at Georgetown, one opposite West Point, and one at Plttsbnrg which appear to have been established, at several periods, in the expec- tatlon that the products would be received by the government, as the public necessities might require, and at such prices as might, from time to time, be judged reasonable. As there IS no private demand for this manufac- tufe Tn oHr country It IS obvious that no per- son would make the requisite preparations which are understood to command considera- bic I@Festments, and the employment of skill ful Workmen, practically acquainted with this branch of business, unless expectations of a just relmbursements were held out Con tracts for limited periods have from time to time been made, providing for thedelivery of stipulated quantities.; but, as had the honor to communicate to you in my annual report of November Fist, 1881, the act of Congress of March 33d, iSG9, seems to present serious difficulties in the way of such an arrange ment, and since that time no formal contract has been made for the supply ofcannon. The proprletors of foundries have been annually informed, that if the appropriations would permit, and if cannon of designated qualities and size were fabricated, these would be pur- chased. In this manner the subject has lin- gered, without any action on the part of Con- gress, and without any authority on the part ot this Department, to make more efficient arrangements. During the present year, the appropriation for the armament of the forti- ications has been principally expended in procuring iron gun-carriages; and the foun- dries have not been employed in the fabrica- tion of cannon for the military branch of the service. 1t IS believed that this circumstance, by dsranging their operations, has been se.ri- ously injurious, and, if 1t again occur, 1t may induce some ef them to discharge the work men specally employed upon this business, and who may hereafter be collected with great difficulty. The government now de- bends upon thls temporary and uncertain ar rangement for the supply of this ndispensa- ble element of national defence. The cir cumstances which require change, 1 had the honor to submit four years since. They have lost none of their force during the period which has Intervened and independently of the considerations presented having relation to the uncertain condition of these establish ments, there are others bearing upon the quality ofthe material and the workmanship. which render Ii important that the govern ment should be it's own manufacturer of this article. The cost ofcannon, while thus kept within reasonable limit, is not an object, compared with the two qualities of strength and Ightness. With the exertons of the present manufacturers ofcannon, so far as the necessary facts are known to me, have rea- son to be satisfied. But 1t is sufficiently obvi- ous, that in a branch of business where slight difference in the material, and slight neglect in the process, may produce irrene- diable mischief, and where, from causes not easily ascertained, these defects may disclose themselves in the midst of the most active service, and after the guns have resisted all the usual proofs, the manufacture ofthe arti-. cle should be carried on where these neg lects are least likely to happen; where, in fact, there can be no interest to use any othef than the best materials, nor toemploy any other other than tine most skilful arti- sans. Time and experience are necessary to found and perfect an establishment for this purpose upon scale suited to our wants.