The tone of the rank and file, says the 're­

port, needs elevation extremely, 'and every

means should he resorted' to tending to effect

it. The habits of employing soldiers as labor­

ers is extremely detrimental to the service

They feel degraded becrtuee they ere deprived

of both the emoluments and the sturdy intle-

pendouce - of the laboring Man, who feels that

his vocation is honorable because it is inde­

pendent nod free. The soldier who enters the

service with some degree of military espies­

_ lion,. caw b t_resent_ms _a _Wrong- the - order­

which oh eft him from his ' legitimate voca­

tion to k ant of a mere operative deptived of

l a

his fair wages. .

Referring to the subject of a railrend to the

Pacific,the Secretary says it is the opinion of

competent judges that the route from El Paso

to the Colorado, besides being the shortest of

all yet surveyed, possesses decided .aidvantages

over others in several important' particulars..

The consummation of the project, - however,

freed from all, other ffifficulties would, he

"states, require immense sums of money and a

great length of time ; besides, other military

roads very urgently require special and prompt

opening and occupation: A line of stockade

posts upon two of the proposed routes would

furnish safe and rapid -.transportation of the

mails, and perfect protectionto a telegraphic

line from one ocean to the other.

Two exploring and aurveyffig expeditions

have been fitted out to explore the Nor.liwest

beyond the waters of the Upper Missouri to­

wards the Black Hills and the Colorado of the

West, both of which the Secretary entertains

strong-hopes will res u lt in discrover,ingthe hest

means by which the transportation of army

stores can be effected tbAhanterior of New

Mexico and Utah. . - , .

The employment of the thirty-five camels

for transportation purposes through the bar-.

ran - anti difficult country of the great mountain

range separating the Mississippi Talley from

tilie - Paciflo-Ocean-is-likely-to-answer-the high—

est expectations entertained Of them for min ;

Lary uses. The feasibility of procuring abun­

dant supplies of good water, by means of ar­

tesian wells, In tracts of country which would

be otherwise impassible, is also adverted to.

The • salif - of - iteyerOl 'mflitdry

„reservations has­

taken place, under a law passed - at the lasi

session of Congress; . •

The Military Asylum at Harrodsburg, ffen 7

-dnky : Was not eoldl--for--the-cimple-reason­

that the price offered for it was inadequate.

The next subject treated of • in' the report is

that of a national fouisdry, which is strongly

recommended as, one of„the most valuable

means of developing the mineral wealth; and

resources of the country. The arms fribricat,

ed,in themational armories' are said` td be of

'the most superine.qnality.. '. ,• . •• ' ... -.

• Referring to the national defencee,•ffie.Sq r

cretary of Wei tiithreiliat national _

May

considered 'as impregnable - froni any atteek

from • the . etio-whertAbe--fortification's - -tiow-ib

progress shall be.finished. --The fortifications

will_be,hettar,.the t guns_heavier and wore,nu

In

.

=oue:than those of Sebastopol.

•AfU[lal Report . of .the