Washington, and for the many strangers visiting the national capital. It is believed that an annual appropriation of $6,000 would be sufficient for the purpose indicated. A large well has been provided for the purpose of increasing the water supply of the post. The annex to the barracks building, which at the date of my last annual report was in course of construction, has been completed and is now occupied. A brick extension to the stables at the dairy has also been erected. The reports of the commissioners and the Inspector-General exhibit in detail the fiscal affairs of the Home, and a recapitulation is deemed unnecessary. STATE CLAIMS, UNDER ACT OF JUNE 27, 1882. Congress by the act of August 4, 1886, 24 Statutes, 217, authorized the detail of three officers of the Army to assist the Secretary of War in examining and reporting upon the claims of the States and Territories mentioned in the act of June 27, 1882, 22 Statutes, 111, and an appropriation was made by the sundry civil act of August 4, 1886, 24 Statutes, 249, for payment of the expenses thereof. A board was convened by special order of October 6, 1886, composed of the followingnamed officers: Maj. James Biddle, Sixth Cavalry; Maj. Henry J. Farnsworth, inspector-general; Capt. Edward Hunter, First Cavalry. The War Department having no available quarters in which the Board could be established and the voluminous papers in the claims deposited, suitable rooms have been obtained and the work has begun on the claim of the State of Nevada, the first in order. In September last the second installment of the claim of the State of California was received, and the claims now before the Department for its action are as follows: Nevada..... Texas... Oregon California (first installment). Total...... $372,003 11 1,842, 443 78 369,459 19 64,591 51 2,938, 623 22 5,587, 120 81 BUILDING FOR STATE, WAR, AND NAVY DEPARTMENTS The construction of the west and center wings of this building has gone on rapidly during the past year. The roof is nearly finished, and the interior iron work so far advanced that the plastering can be carried on during the coming winter. It is believed that the wings will be ready for occupation in January, 1888. Appropriations are necessary during the ensuing session for furniture, carpets, file cases, and shelving for the new wings, so that they can be promptly occupied when completed. An estimate of $130,000 has been submitted for the purpose, and the necessity for that amount is set forth in detail in the Book of Estimates. MONUMENT AT WASHINGTON'S HEADQUARTERS AT NEWBURG, N. Y. On June 16, 1886, a perspective view, plans, and specifications of the design selected and approved by the joint select committee on the New burg centennial for the monument in that city were transmitted to this Department by Hon. Lewis Beach, chairman of that committee. Under the operations of the joint resolutions of July 1, 1882, and March 3, 1883, a contract dated June 25, 1886, was entered into with Maurice J. Power, the designer of the monument, for its completion by October 17, 1887, and work began on the foundation of the structure August 17, 1886. PEDESTAL OF THE STATUE OF PRESIDENT GARFIELD. On February 6, 1886, Mr. J. Q. A. Ward, the contractor for erecting the pedestal of the statue of President Garfield, asked an extension of his time to May 1, 1887. This extension, for the purpose of more careful studies or designs for the figures on the pedestal, was granted. The commission, under authority conferred by the act of July 7, 1884, had selected the site at the intersection of Maryland avenue and First street southwest. As legislation is pending in the Forty-ninth Congress devoting this site to a statue of Columbus or Lafayette, it may become necessary to select another site for the statue of President Garfield. STATUE OF GENERAL LAFAYETTE. The commission for the purpose of "erecting a statue to the memory of General Lafayette and his compatriots," of which the Secretary of War is chairman, acting under the law approved March 3, 1885, met soon after the passage of that act, when it was decided that designs for the work should be invited from five sculptors of acknowledged ability in their profession, two of whom should be citizens of France and three of our own country. Of the French sculptors the commission designated M. Bartholdi, and requested through the Department of State the services of the French Government in selecting the other sculptor to represent France. This action was, however, courteously declined, as the minister felt it in delicate to name a sculptor to be placed in competition with the one selected by the commission. One of the American sculptors declined to compete on account of numerous engagements and disinclination to enter into public competition for any work. The commission then requested, through the Department of State, the services of two other French sculptors, which, by the kind offices of our minister to France, were obtained. The commission now have the models submitted by four sculptors and have information of the shipment of the model of the remaining competitor, so that in all probability the contract for the execution of this work will soon be made. The designation of the site for the statue has been deferred until the model is selected, as the selection of the site must depend to some extent upon the character of statue to be erected. REMOVAL OF THE RAWLINS STATUE. By the act of Congress approved May 17, 1886, the Secretary of War was authorized and directed to have the statue of Maj. Gen. John A. Rawlins removed to a new site in the city of Washington, and the sum of $500 was appropriated for the purpose. In pursuance of this authority he selected the public reservation known as "No. 33," between Eighth and Ninth streets west, at the intersection of Pennsylvania and Louisi ana avenues. This selection was approved by a committee of the Society of the Army of the Tennessee. The removal of the statue to the new site was completed October 11, 1886. THE GRANT RELICS. The swords and military and civic testimonials lately belonging to General Grant, which were given to the United States by Mrs. Grant and the late William H. Vanderbilt, were delivered to the Director of the National Museum on the 5th instant, in accordance with the provisions of the joint resolution of Congress approved August 5, 1886. They remained in the custody of this Department until that date, awaiting the preparation of cases for their reception in the National Museum. RECORDS OF THE DEPARTMENT. The constant use of the rolls and record-books in the Department, especially those in the offices of the Adjutant General and the Surgeon General, is rapidly reudering them illegible, and it is manifest that measures for their preservation must speedily be provided. Of three methods suggested, viz, printing, copying, or lithographing, I regard the first named as preferable. To copy them would be but a temporary expedient, and lithographing is expensive and undesirable. The cost of printing is doubtless greater, but a volume, when published, would be accessible to a larger number of clerks, thus enabling the current work to be more expeditiously performed, and admitting of a reduction in the clerical force at an earlier date than otherwise would be possible. Printing is therefore the best and most economical method, and I accordingly recommend that provision be made by Congress for the employment of a force of compositors to set up such work as may be necessary, the Public Printer to transfer the plates to the custody of the War Department after having printed a sufficient number of copies of each volume for the official and exclusive use of this Department. I also recommend that in the meantime, in order to execute any work for which there may exist an urgent necessity, the Secretary of War may be authorized, in his discretion, to employ after office hours such portion of the present clerical force as he may deem necessary, at a rate of compensation based upon their present salaries. The familiarity of the present clerical force with the records enables them to render better and more expeditious service than could possibly be obtained from new and inexperienced persons. The compositors should be employed under the direction of the Secretary of War, inasmuch as the records, which are constantly under reference, could not be spared from the Department without seriously retarding the current work. Neither would it be judicious to permit the records to pass from the custody of the Department, as they contain information which could be successfully used in the fabrication of claims against the Government. CONTINGENT EXPENSES OF THE ARMY. The appropriation "for all contingent expenses of the Army not provided for by other estimates, and embracing all branches of the military service" has been reduced from the sum of $30,000 appropriated in the act of 1885, to $15,000 in the act of 1886, and is now so small that only the most important matters, or those involving small amounts, are approved for payment from that appropriation in order that there may be money on hand to provide for unforeseen contingencies. The result of this prudent policy has enabled the Secretary of War for several years, in the absence of any special contingency, to return part of this appropriation to the Treasury, as will be seen by the following statement: Amount of appropriation for Army contingencies carried to the surplus fund: June 30, 1833 June 30, 1884 June 30, 1886 .... $531 37 10,501 03 15,905 94 21,353 53 Much embarrassment will result, however, when a contingency arises involving an amount which the Department will be unable to meet with this reduced appropriation, and I believe that it will be good policy and in the end more economical to provide a larger sum for Army contingencies, as the appropriation is by its terms under the immediate control of the Secretary of War, and is only expended in accordance with his orders in each case and upon his responsibility. The above table shows it is not used extravagantly. I accordingly recommend that the sum of $30,000 be granted for this purpose, which is the sum appropriated for the fiscal years ending June 30, 1885, and June 30, 1886, while prior to these years it was $40,000 and upwards. ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF WAR. Another year's experience in administering the Department has confirmed the views expressed in my annual report for 1885 that provision should be made for an Assistant Secretary of War. The constant in crease in the business of the Department renders it necessary that such an officer should be appointed. It is believed that salaries more com. mensurate with the arduous and responsible duties performed should be awarded to the principal officers in the office of the Secretary of War, and the estimates submitted are commended to the favorable consid eration of Congress. WILLIAM C. ENDICOTT, |