wreck of the steamer Scotland, entrance to New York Harbor, and that cn Winter Quarter Shoal, off the coast of Virginia. For expenses of buoy age the estimate is $350,000, an amount which it is hoped will be sufficient, notwithstanding the greater number of buoys yearly required as aids to navigation. For maintenance of lights on the western rivers the estimate is $150,000, an increase of $25,000 upon the amount asked for last year. This estimate is thought quite small in view of the number of lights now placed and yet to be placed on these waters; and it may be found necessary, in paying the salaries of the keepers of these lights, to use money from the general appropriation for salaries of light-keepers. The board cannot too strongly urge the appropriation for the light at American Shoal, Florida Reefs. Upon the establishment of this lighthouse, together with the one now building on Fowey Rocks, but one more will be needed to complete a system of lights for this dangerous coast, which was commenced in the early days of the board, and which will render the navigation in this vicinity comparatively safe. The board has not submitted estimates for all the lights that, in its opinion, are necessary to render navigation safe, but having in view the neces sity for economy in the expenditures of the Government, has made the estimates for special works smaller than for many years before. All those works that, in the opinion of the board, can be delayed for a time without manifest detriment to the service, though they will have to be built at no distant day, have been left out, in order that the aggregate of the estimates may be placed at the lowest practicable figure. The board has to lament the loss, by death, of one of its officers, Commander W. N. Allen, United States Navy, inspector of the first lighthouse district, who died at Portland, Me., on February 18, 1875. The death of this officer has deprived the Light-House Establishment and the country, of the services of one who was universally recognized as a man of ability, who was conscientions and energetic in the discharge of his duties. It is thought that the time has now come when it is proper to supply light-houses, particularly those at isolated points, with a limited quantity of reading-matter. By so doing, keepers will be made happier and more contented with their lot, and less desirous of absenting themselves from their posts. If the Government will provide for the keeping of books at light-stations as other light-house property is kept, and also provide a small number of books as a nucleus, it is believed the quantity will be swelled at individual stations, from private sources, to respectable dimensions. Libraries are supplied to the light-houses of England and France, and it is said that they exert the happiest influence upon the personnel of the service. Our establishment should do as much. The board bas therefore inserted in its estimate for supplies the words "books for light-stations," and if they are allowed to remain and the board is thus authorized, it will supply to the more prominent and more isolated stations a few books during the year, if it finds that it can do so without. trenching upon the funds needed to purchase the usual articles of supply. CONDITION AND OPERATIONS OF THE LIGHT-HOUSE ESTABLISHMENT DURING THE FISCAL YEAR 1874--'75. Light-houses, light-ships, fog-signals, day-beacons, and buoys belonging to the United State Light-House Establishment on the 1st July, 1875. Light-houses.. ATLANTIC COAST, INCLUDING FLORIDA REEFS, Light-houses finished and lighted during the year ending July 1, 1×75 312 Light-ships in position Day or unlighted beacons.. Buoys in position.... Light-houses Light-houses finished and lighted during the year ending July 1, 1875. Fog-signals operated by steam or hot-air engines PACIFIC COAST. Light-houses Light-houses finished and lighted during the year ending July 1, 1875 32 Fog-signals operated by steam or hot air-engines.. Day or unlighted beacons Buoys in position... NORTHERN AND NORTHWESTERN LAKES. Light-houses.. 12 31 86 195 Light-houses finished and lighted during the year ending July 1, 1875... Light-houses finished and lighted during the year ending July 1, 1875.. List of light-houses finished and lighted between July 1, 1874, and July 1, 1875. 622 Indian Island.. On the southerly point of Indian January 15, 1875. Block Island(southeasterly) On southeast end of Block Island .... On Twin River Point, about 5 miles November 18, 1874. north of Twin River, west shore of Lake Michigan, Wis. List of light-houses finished and lighted between July 1, 1874, and July 1, 1875-Continued. Name of station. Poverty Island....... Big Sable On the south end of Poverty Island, September 1, 1874. entrance to Green Bay, Lake Mich igan. At Big Sable Point, on the south August 19, 1874. White Fish Point and Grand Isl- Portage Lake Ship Canal.. At the entrance to Portage Lake Ship November 20.1874. Onter Island.. Rock Harbor Point Fermin... Piedras Blancas. Point Adams Western rivers... Canal, south shore of Lake Superior, On the most northerly point of Outer On west side of entrance to San Pedro On the main-land, at the eastern en- On the point northwest of the en- There have been established on the October 20, 1874. August 15, 1874. December 15, 1874. December 15, 1974. February 1, 1975. Between December 4, 1874, and June 30, 1875. List of lights of the different orders crhibited by the light-house establishment, corrected up to July 1, 1875. List of light-houses discontinued between July 1, 1874, and July 1, 1875. When discontinued. Savannah River. Obstructions On a pile on obstructions, starboard side of October 15, 1874. light. channel, opposite northwest end of Elba Island. North Cut beacon, Milwaukee.. On the north pier, at the harbor of Milwaukee, Wis. On the north point of the entrance to Yaquina Bay, Oregon. Yaquina..... Jannary 31, 1875. October 1, 1874. In submitting this report it gives the board pleasure to state that every district of the extended coast of the United States is in good working condition, and has been constantly improved during the past year, and that no effort has been omitted to bring the light-house system of this country into as perfect a state as the circumstances will admit. Respectfully submitted. J. G. WALKER, JOSEPH HENRY, Chairman. Major of Engineers, U. S. A., Engineer Secretary. REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR. NOVEMBER 22, 1875. Mr. PRESIDENT: I am gratified to be able to state that since my last annual report a marked improvement has taken place in the morale of the service. The Army is now reduced to twenty-five thousand men. Recruiting was resumed in November, 1874, for the purpose of keeping up the standard number, and under a careful system in the selection of the men the class of recruits now received is of a superior quality. The number of desertions has been largely reduced, being about two thousand one hundred less than during the previous year, while the number of re-enlistments has increased nearly threefold. The state of contentment thus shown is due, in a great measure, to the excellent system of pay established, which is now graduated by length of service, and affords the soldier an opportunity to deposit his savings with the Government and receive interest for the same until the end of his term. The Adjutant-General, under whose immediate charge the recruiting of the Army is placed, has raised to the highest standard of excellence the discipline at recruiting depots, and the recruits are now well instructed and drilled before being sent to join companies in the field. I renew the recommendation for the enlistment of music-boys over twelve years of age, in order to furnish field-music to companies, and hope that suitable legislation may be had during the next session of Congress to supply this want. Attention is invited to the accompanying report of the AdjutantGeneral upon the operations of the military prison, so far as they have progressed. The controlling reason for the establishment of a military prison has been that soldiers convicted of military offenses merely should be separated from the degrading influences to which they are subjected when confined with ordinary convicts. There have been 362 prisoners received during the year, and there are now 225 in the estab lishment. Those prisoners have been employed in various ways on the prison-building and about the post, thus saving the expense of employ ing labor. It is hoped that an appropriation will be made for starting workshops, for it is confidently believed that the prisoners may be made |