OCR Text |
Show I l l Army. As a correct understanding of the topographical features of & country is necessary to all military operations, either in times of war or peace, the necessity for the acquisition of this information in a systematic form at the War Department, and its dissemination through the different branches of the military service, becomes apparent. 2d. The establishment of routes of communication necessary for the supply of interior posts. For an understanding of the above, the inter-lying country requires thorough examination. 3d. Critical routes to be followed in the interchange of troops between distant stations when demanded. 4th. New and shorter routes for forwarding recruits to their companies and stations. 5th. Routes for scouts pursuing hostile or unfriendly Indians. 6th. The selections of sites for new military posts established in advance of, or as safeguards to, civilization. 7th. Eoutes for troops when called out for the protection of miners or settlers. 8th. A knowledge of the resources of the country surrounding the military establishments, and its capacity for furnishing supplies. 9th. Routes of transit when troops are ordered to remote points in aid of the civil law. 10th. A knowledge of the character and habits of the several Indian tribes, and their disposition toward each other and toward settlers. The above are a few of the classes of examinations necessary and valuable to the several Bureaus of the War Department and to the commanders of troops in their pioneering into the unoccupied and comparatively inaccessible portions of the western interior. To obtain such information that should be at all times immediately available for the uses of the War Department, such observations as are necessary for an accurate delineation and description of the surface and resources of the area surveyed must be made. This calls for geographical surveys in their highest and broadest sense. The position of the cognate branches of science in carrying on so important a work must naturally be subservient to the exact science necessary to the'delineation of the surface with accuracy. Meanwhile, the co operation of specialists in the branches above referred to will, without largely increasing the cost, enhance that portion of the results relating to the resources of the region surveyed, and to them the best facilities for the prosecution of their inquiries are afforded, as also most excellent opportunities for the proper application of their results. In order that the survey may be continued at the standard proposed in the Progress Report for 1872, the estimate below submitted will be required to be appropriated, so that one of the units of force may take the field, and within the year, or shortly thereafter, publish its entire and complete results. The survey is capable of expansion to meet the wants of the Government, but its operations cannot be made satisfactory except at least one of the units of force is appropriated for. The law for the present year admits of the prosecution of the survey with the force at its disposal in any portion of the area west of the one hundredth meridian. The special area for the season of 1874 has been authorized by the War Department. Of. mountainous areas very little known, whose present and prospective mining developments indicate that this industry will soon, enter them, are portions of New Mexico, represented by that part of atlas-rectangles 77, 84, 78, and 86, west of the Rio Pecos and east of the Rio |