Answer. So far as my knowledge and experience go, I am unable to perceive that any reduction of pay and allowances of the officers of the Army can be made without detriment to the service.

Question 2. What reduction in strength or expense can be made in either arm of the military service-cavalry, artillery, or infantry?

Answer. For ten years past my time and attention have been so absorbed by the duties of the Engineer Department that I am not sufficiently familiar with the wants of the other branches of the military service to justify me in expressing an opinion concerning them.

Question 3. What reductions can be made in the Corps of Engineers, Ordnance Department, Subsistence Department, Medical Department, Pay Department, AdjutantGeneral's Department, Inspector-General's Department, Bureau of Military Justice, or either of them?

Answer. This question is answered with reference to the Corps of Engineers only, as my acquaintance with the details and requirements of the other branches of the service mentioned is not sufficient for an authoritative opinion. In my judgment no reduction whatever can be made in the Corps of Engineers, either in the number of its officers or enlisted men. The following are some of the data bearing upon this subject.

1st.-Organization of the Corps of Engineers.

The Corps of Engineers as now organized is the result of the union in 1863 of two separate corps of the Army, namely, the Corps of Engineers, and the Corps of Topographical Engineers. The first as a separate corps was revived in our Army in 1802. The second had its origin as a branch of service in the war of 1812. For further history of these corps I would refer to my testimony before Military Committee, in Report No. 33, House of Representatives, 40th Congress, 3d session, pp. 58, 59.

Section 1151, Revised Statutes, authorizes 109 officers and a battalion of five companies of sappers, miners, and pontoniers for the engineer branch of the service.

There are actually on the rolls at this time but 107 officers, with one sick, leaving effective 106 officers only. The battalion has been reduced under the action of the law reducing the Army to 25,000 enlisted men, to four organized companies, to consist of fifty men each, in all two hundred enlisted men.

Herewith are several tables relating to the organization of the Corps of Engineers: Table No. 1, showing the number of engineer officers authorized by law and in service from 1817 to 1876, with strength of Army for same period.

Date.

Table No. 1, showing the number of engineers, &c.—Continued.

*Topographical engineers merged into Corps of Engineers March 3, 1863, vol. 12, p. 743.

On an average, twenty-five officers from other arms of service were, in addition, from January, 1817, to January, 1873, detailed on engineer duty every year.

Table No. 2, showing the number of field-officers of engineers, and number of field-officers of infantry, artillery, and cavalry in the Army, in the year 1838 and in the year 1876.

Table No. 3, showing the average years of service in the Army of field-officers, as compiled from Army Register of 1876.

Engineers..

39.8

30.0

17 8

29.2

Average of infantry, artillery, and cavalry

Average for infantry, artillery, cavalry, adjutants, inspectors, judgeadvocates, quartermasters, commissaries, and paymasters.

2d.-Duties and occupation of the Corps of Engineers.

There are intrusted to the Corps of Engineers, by law and regulations, the constructions and surveys for fortifications; the constructions and surveys for improvements of harbors and rivers; the constructions of light-houses; the constructions and surveys for public buildings and grounds in the District of Columbia; the survey of the lakes; military and geographical surveys and explorations in the western Territories. Any other duties which may be given by Congress or the order of the President of the United States.

The following statement shows in detail the duties upon which each officer of the Corps of Engineers is now engaged:

Statement showing rank, duties, and address of officers of the Corps of Engineers and of Unite States civil engineers, January, 1876.

Brig. Gen. Andrew A. Humphreys, commanding Corps of Engineers. Member of commission to examine into canal-routes across the isthmus connecting North and South America. Office of the Chief of Engineers, Washington, D. C.

Col. John G. Barnard, member of board of engineers for fortifications. Member of Light-House Board. Army building, Houston and Greene streets, New York City. Col. Henry W. Benham, in charge of construction of Forts Winthrop, Independence, and Warren, and work on Long Island Head. Box 209, Boston, Mass.

Col. John N. Macomb, in charge of improvement of the Upper Mississippi and Illinois Rivers, and Des Moines and Rock Island rapids of the Mississippi River; the survey for the improvement of that portion of the "Mississippi route” designated by the Senate Select Committee on Transportation-Routes to Seaboard, as improvements upon a system to be provided so as to give from 44 to 6 feet depth of water at lowest stages from Falls of Saint Anthony to Alton; and the survey of so much of the northern route as is designated "the Hennepin Canal" from some point on the Mississippi River near Rock Island to the Illinois River at Hennepin. Rock Island, Ill.

Col. James H. Simpson, in charge of improvement of Osage River and Mississippi River between the mouths of the Illinois and Missouri Rivers, and between the moutis of the Missouri and Ohio Rivers; the survey of that portion of the Mississippi route lying between Alton and the mouth of the Ohio River, as designated by the Senate Select Committee on Transportation-Routes to the Seaboard. 417 Pine street, Saint Louis, Mo

Majors.

Total feldofficers.

Col. Israel C. Woodruff, on detached service, engineer third light-house district. P. 0. box 4032, New York City.

Col. Zealous B. Tower, member of board of engineers for fortifications, Army building, Houston and Greene streets, New York City.

Lieut. Col. Horatio G. Wright, member of board of engineers for Fortifications, Army building, Houston and Greene streets, New York City.

Lieut. Col. John Newton, in charge of construction of Forts Montgomery, Columbus, Castle William. South Battery, Governor's Island, Wood, Hamilton, and additional batteries, mortar battery at Fort Hamilton, and fort at Sandy Hook; manufacture and supply of mastic; improvement of the Hudson River and East Chester Creek, New York, Otter Creek, Vermont, and Passaic River, New Jersey; removal of obstructions in the East and Harlem Rivers, including Hell Gate, New York; harbor improvements at Burlington and Swanton, Vt., Rondout, Portchester, and Plattsburg, N. Y.; examinations and surveys at Echo Harbor, New Rochelle, N. Y., and for breakwaters at Rouse's Point and Port Henry, Lake Champlain; the survey of so much of the third subdivision of the northern route, designated by the Senate Select Committee on Transportation-Routes to Seaboard, as extends from Troy, on the Hudson River, to New York City. Army building, Houston and Greene streets, New York City.

Lieut. Col. George Thom, in charge of works for improvement of Rivers Saint Croix, Machias, Narraguagus, Sullivan, Union, Penobscot, Kennebec, Royals, Saco, Kennebunk, Me., Cocheco, N. H., and Merrimack, Mass., of harbors of Camden, Portland, Richmond's Island, Wells, Me., Gloucester, Salem, Boston, Hingham, Duxbury, Plymouth, Wellfleet, and Provincetown, Mass.; construction of sea-walls of Great Brewster, Deer, and Lovell's Islands, Boston Harbor; examinations and surveys of Ipswich River and Harbor, Mass., Belfast Bay and Harbor, and harbor Matinicus Island, Me. Portland, Me. Lieut. Col. John D. Kurtz, in charge of construction of Forts Delaware, Del., and Mifflin, Pa., battery at Finn's Point, N. J., and work opposite Fort Delaware, piers at New Castle and Lewes, Del.; harbor improvements at Wilmington, Del., and on Delaware River and Bay; improvement of the South and Shrewsbury Rivers and Cohansey Creek, N. J., Delaware and Broadkiln Rivers, Del., and Schuylkill River, Pa.; examinations and surveys of north and south branches of the Shrewsbury River, N. J.; piers at Marcus Hook and Lower Pier, Chester, Pa. 1328 Chestnut street, Philadelphia, Pa. Lieut. Col. Barton S. Alexander, senior engineer charged with general supervision and inspection of all matters under the command of the Chief of Engineers within the Pacific territory; member of board of engineers for fortifications on the Pacific coast. San Francisco, Cal.

Lieut. Col. William F. Raynolds, on detached service; engineer fourth light-house district. 532 Walnut street, Philadelphia, Pa.

Lieut. Col. Charles S. Stewart, in charge of construction of fortifications at Fort Point, Point San José, and Angel Island, San Francisco, and at San Diego, Cal.; removal of obstructions off San Francisco Harbor, and improvement of San Diego Harbor; member of board of engineers for fortifications on the Pacific coast. San Francisco, Cal. Lieut. Col. Charles E. Blunt, in charge of improvement of harbors of Port Clinton, Monroe, Toledo, Sandusky City, Huron, Vermillion, Black River, Rocky River, Cleveland, Grand River, Ashtabula, Conneaut, Erie, Dunkirk, and Buffalo, on Lake Erie, and construction of Fort Porter, N. Y., and of Fort Wayne, Mich.; engineer tenth light-house district. Buffalo, N. Y.

Lieut. Col. James C. Duane, in charge of construction of Forts Gorges, Preble, Scammell, Popham, Knox, and battery at Portland Head, Me., and Forts Constitution and McClary, and batteries on Jerry's Point and Gerrish's Island, Portsmouth Harbor, N. H.; engineer first and second light-house districts. Portland, Me.

Lieut. Col. Robert S. Williamson, on detached service; engineer twelfth light-house district. San Francisco, Cal.

Lieut. Col. Quincy A. Gillmore, in charge of construction of Forts Wadsworth, Tompkins, and its batteries, N. Y., Macon and Caswell, N. C., Moultrie, Sumter, Johnson, and Castle Pinckney, S. C., Jackson and Pulaski, Ga., Clinch and Marion, Fla., and temporary charge of Forts Monroe and Wool, Va.; improvement of the bar at the mouth of the Saint John's River, Fla., Charleston Harbor, S. C., Savannah River and Harbor; member of board to test the strength and value of all kinds of iron, steel, and all other metals submitted to it. Post-office box 1647, New York City.

Lieut. Col. Thomas Lincolu Casey, in charge of the first and second divisions, Office of the Chief of Engineers, Washington, D. C.

Major a thaniel Michler, in charge of works for defense of the mouth of the Columbia River, and improvement of the Willamette, Umpqua, and the Upper Columbia Rivers; examinations and surveys of Columbia, Skaget, Yamhill, Snohomish, Chehalis, and Snake Rivers; demarkation and survey of military reservations on San Juan and adjacent islands in Puget Sound; examinations and surveys of Puyallup River, Wash., at mouth of Nehalem River and Alsea River and bar, Oreg.; and for route for a canal

to connect Shoalwater Bay with the Columbia River; engineer thirteenth light-house district. Portland, Oreg.

Major John G. Parke, in charge of the third division, Office of the Chief of Engineers, Washington, D. C.

Major Gouverneur K. Warren, in charge of construction of defenses of New Bedford Harbor, Mass., Narragansett Bay, R. I., improvement of harbors of Edgartown, Wareham, Hyannis, and Fall River, Mass., Wickford and Newport, R. I.; improvement of rivers Taunton, Mass., Pawtucket and Providence, R. I., Pawcatuck, R. I. and Conn., and Connecticut, Conn.; construction of breakwater at Block Island, R. I.; examina tions and surveys of New Bedford and Nantucket Harbors, Mass.; examination and survey of Little Narragansett Bay, R. I. and Conn. Newport, R. I.

Major George H. Mendell, in charge of construction of fort on Alcatraz Island and of defenses at Lime Point, San Francisco Bay, breakwater at Wilmington Harbor, Cal. ; removal of Rincon Rock, in the Harbor of San Francisco, and improvement of Oakland Harbor and Sacramento and Feather Rivers, Cal.; examination and survey of Monterey, Cal.; member of board of engineers for fortifications on the Pacific coast; member of advisory board of Commissioners on the harbor-lines of San Francisco. San Francisco, Cal.

Major Henry L. Abbot, commanding engineer depot and post of Willet's Point, and battalion of engineers; in charge of construction of Fort Schuyler and fort at Willet's Point, N. Y., and of experiments with torpedoes. Whitestone, Queens Co., N. Y.

Major William P. Craighill, in charge of construction of defenses of Baltimore, Md., and Washington, D. C.; improvement of Susquehanna, Patapsco, Chester, Wicomico, and Elk Rivers, Md.; James and Appomattox Rivers, Va.; Great Kanawha River, W. Va., and Cape Fear River, N. C.; of the harbors of Baltimore, Cambridge, and Crisfield, Md.; examination and survey of Elk River, W. Va.; the survey of that portion of the "central route" designated by the Senate Select Committee on Transportation-Rontes to the Seaboard, as "a connection by canal or freight railway from the Ohio River or Kanawha River, near Charleston, by the shortest and most practicable route, throngh West Virginia, to tide-water in Virginia," and "the improvement of the Kanawha River from its mouth to Great Falls, so as to give six feet navigation at all seasons.” Union Bank Building, Baltimore, Md.

Major Cyrus B. Comstock, in charge of survey of northern and northwestern lakes. Detailed to report upon the depth and width of a channel secured and maintained by jetties constructed by James B. Eads, at mouth of Mississippi River. Detroit, Mich. Major Godfrey Weitzel, in charge of improvements of Falls of the Ohio River, and Louisville and Portland Canal, of Saint Mary's Falls Canal, and Saint Clair Flats Canal; Saint Mary's, Clinton, Saint Clair, Sebawaing, and Saginaw Rivers, Mich.; of harbors Cheboygan, Au Sable River, and Black River, Harbor of Refuge on Lake Huron, and removal of obstructions from Detroit River; examinations and surveys of Thunder Bay River, Lake Huron, and Clinton River, Mich., and for breakwater at mouth of Au Sable River, Lake Huron; survey of the National Park on the island of Mackinaw engineer eleventh light-house district. Detroit, Mich.

Major Orlando M. Poe, on detached service; aid-de-camp on the personal staff of the General of the Army, with the rank of colonel; member of Light-House Board. Washington, D. C.

Major David C. Houston, in charge of harbor improvements at Milwaukee, Racine, and Kenosha; improvement of Fox and Wisconsin Rivers; the survey of that portion of the "northern route" designated by the Senate Select Committee on Transportation-Routes to the Seaboard as the Fox and Wisconsin Rivers improvement, by which 5 feet depth of water will be secured during the entire season from the Mississippi River to Green Bay. Milwaukee, Wis.

Major George H. Elliott, in charge of the fourth and fifth divisions. Office of the Chief of Engineers, Washington, D. C.

Major Henry M. Robert, in charge of harbor improvements at Ontonagon, Eagle Harbor, Marquette, Menomonee, Green Bay. Ahnepée, Two Rivers, Manitowoc, Sheboygan, Port Washington, and Harbor of Refuge at entrance of Sturgeon Bay Canal. Milwaukee, Wis.

Major William E. Merrill, in charge of improvement of the Ohio, Monongahela, and Wabash Rivers, and explorations of routes for the extension of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal to the Ohio River, by the north and south branches of the Potomac River; examinations and surveys of Alleghany River, Pennsylvania, portion of Monongahela River, West Virginia, and Louisa Fork of Sandy in Virginia and Kentucky; engineer in fourteenth light-house district. No. 82, West Third street, Cincinnati, Ohio.

Major Walter McFarland, in charge of construction of Forts Ontario and Niagara, N. Y.; of harbor improvements at Olcott, Oak Orchard, Charlotte, Pultneyville, Big Sodus, Little Sodus, Oswego, Black River, Ogdensburg, Wilson, and Waddington, N. Y.; examinations and surveys of mouth of Big Sandy Creek, N. Y.; and of the practicability and cost of constructing a canal and locks around the rapids in the Saint Lawrence River at Waddington, N. Y. In charge of improvement of the Tennessee River.