ing or in a separate structure," I have to say that if the "International Centennial Exhibition" is likely to prove as successful as its friends seem to anticipate, the several Executive Departments of the Government should have now, or obtain hereafter, the funds necessary for defraying the incidental expenses of transporting, handling, and caring for all the available articles and objects of interest in the several branches of the public service, could it be determined not to limit the space required for the exhibition of all such objects as illustrating the history and progress of those branches. I am satisfied (after having seen the plans and drawings of the main and other buildings, and heard full explanations as regards the distribution of space) the commissioners representing the Executive Departments of the Government will require much more space than can be set apart for them in the main building, without seriously interfering with private foreign and domestic exhibitors, and hence, to meet the wants of the Departments and make the combined exhibition of the Government a success, a separate structure seems to me to be indispensable. If, however, it be deemed or found impracticable to provide the necessary funds for erecting a separate building, the board must be restricted to the selection, from each branch of the service of a few of the most desirable and interesting objects for exhibition, a result which would, it is believed, be very unsatisfactory to the country. I am informed that the several undermentioned Bureaus of the Navy Department will require the amounts of space indicated, viz: Bureau of Ordnance, 3,000 square feet. Bureau of Provisions and Clothing, 800 square feet. Bureau of Construction, 320 square feet. Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, 20 square feet. Bureau of Navigation, 1,000 square feet. Bureau of Yards and Docks, space not determined. Bureau of Equipment and Recruiting, space not determined. The several Bureaus of the Navy will exhibit as follows: ORDNANCE. Heavy guns and carriages; boat-guns and carriages; rifles, smallarms, and naval equipments generally; shells, fuses, primers, &c., &c. PROVISIONS AND CLOTHING. Samples of Navy ration and of Navy clothing, with methods of preparation and preservation on board ship. CONSTRUCTION. Models of ships, boats, &c.; samples of woods and of iron used in shipbuilding; spars; launching-ways, &c. MEDICINE AND SURGERY. Samples of surgical appliances in use on board ship; medicines, storage of same; publications, &c., &c. NAVIGATION. Maps, charts, surveys, publications relating thereto; compasses, binnacles, sounding-gear, siguals, &c., &c. H. Ex. 125--2 YARDS AND DOCKS. Models, drawings, &c., of docks, quays, derricks, moorings, &c., &c. EQUIPMENT AND RECRUITING. Samples of rigging, sails, (canvas,) anchors, cables, cooking-utensils, wire-rope, distilling-apparatus, &c., &c. STEAM-ENGINEERING. Models of ship's engines, boilers, and machinery in general; ditto of boats. Very respectfully, THORNTON A. JENKINS, Col. S. C. LYFORD, U. S. A., Chairman Executive Deputy Centennial Board. BETHLEHEM, PA., November 24, 1874. SIR: Referring to my application as a member of the board on behalf of the Executive Department, to prepare a harmonious arrangement of the various articles to be exhibited by the said Departments at the International Exhibition of 1876, and to the question whether the Executive Departments should exhibit in the main building or in a separate structure, I have to submit that if the "International Centennial Exhibi tion" is likely to prove as successful as its friends seem to anticipate, the several Executive Departments of the Government should have now, or obtain hereafter, the funds necessary for defraying the incidental expenses of transporting, handling, and caring for all the available articles and objects of interest in the several branches of the public service, could it be determined not to limit the space required for the exhibition of all such objects as illustrating the history and progress of those branches. I am satisfied (after having seen the plans and drawings of the main and other buildings, and heard full explanations as regards the distribution of space) the commissioners representing the Executive Departments of the Government will require much more space than can be set apart for them in the main building without seriously interfering with private foreign and domestic exhibitors, and hence, to meet the wants of the Departments and make the combined exhibition of the Government a success, a separate structure seems to me to be indispen sable. If, however, it be deemed or found impracticable to provide the neces sary funds for erecting a separate building, the board must be restricted to the selection, from each branch of the service, of a few of the most desirable and interesting objects for exhibition, a result which would, it is believed, be very unsatisfactory to the country. I am informed that the several undermentioned Bureaus of the Navy Department will require the amounts of space indicated, viz: Bureau of Ordnance, 3,000 square feet. Bureau of Provisions and Clothing, 800 square feet. Bureau of Construction, 320 square feet. Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, 20 square feet. Bureau of Navigation, 1,000 square feet. Bureau of Yards and Docks, space not determined. The several Bureaus of the Navy will exhibit as follows: ORDNANCE. Heavy guns and carriages; boat guns and carriages; rifles; smallarms, and naval equipments generally; shells, fuses, primers, &c., &c. PROVISIONS AND CLOTHING. Samples of Navy rations and of Navy clothing, with methods of preparation and preservation on board ship. CONSTRUCTION. Models of ships, boats, &c.; samples of woods and of iron used in ship-building; spars, launching-ways, &c. MEDICINE AND SURGERY. Samples of surgical appliances in use on board ship; medicines, storage of same; publications, &c., &c. NAVIGATION. Maps, charts, surveys; publications relating thereto; compasses, binnacles, sounding-gear, signals, &c., &c. YARDS AND DOCKS. Models, drawings, &c., of docks, quays, derricks, moorings, &c., &c. EQUIPMENT AND RECRUITING. Samples of rigging, sails, (canvas,) anchors, cables, cooking-utensils, wire-rope, distilling-apparatus, &c., &c. STEAM-ENGINEERING. Models of ship's engines, boilers, and machinery in general; ditto of boats. Very respectfully, THORNTON A. JENKINS, The Hon. SECRETARY OF THE NAVY, Washington, D. C. The above suggestions are approved, with the remark that if the Government are to take part as exhibitors this expenditure is necessary. GEO. M. ROBESON, The condition of the armament of our fortifications, and the necessity for immediate provision by Congress for the procurement of heavy cannon. JANUARY 20, 1875.-Referred to the Committee on Military Affairs and ordered to be printed. To the Senate and House of Representatives: In my annual message of December 1, 1873, while inviting general attention to all the recommendations made by the Secretary of War, your special consideration was invited to "the importance of preparing for war in time of peace by providing proper armament for our sea-coast defenses. Proper armament is of vastly more importance than fortifications. The latter can be supplied very speedily for temporary purposes when needed. The former cannot." These views gain increased strength and pertinence as the years roll by, and I have now again the honor to call special attention to the condition of the "armament of our fortifications," and the absolute necessity for immediate provision by Congress for the procurement of heavy cannon. The large expenditures required to supply the number of guns for our forts is the strongest argument that can be adduced for a liberal annual appropriation for their gradual accumulation. In time of war such preparations cannot be made, cannon cannot be purchased in open market, nor manufactured at short notice; they must be the product of years of experience and labor. I herewith inclose copies of a report of the Chief of Ordnance and of a board of ordnance officers on the trial of an 8-inch rifle converted from a 10-inch smooth-bore, which shows very conclusively an economical means of utilizing these useless smooth-bores and making them into Sinch rifles capable of piercing 7 inches of iron. The 1,294 10-inch Rodman guns should, in my opinion, be so utilized, and the appropriation requested by the Chief of Ordnance of $250,000 to commence these conversions is urgently recommended. While convinced of the economy and necessity of these conversions, the determination of the best and most economical method of providing guns of still larger caliber should no longer be delayed. The experience |