to be held in the city of
Philadelphia in the year 1876 for the purpose of celebrating the one
hundredth anniversary of the independence of the United States. The
report gives a statement of what is proposed to be exhibited by each
Department, together with an estimate of the expense which will have
to be incurred. Submitting to Congress the estimate made by the board,
I recommend that Congress make a suitable appropriation to enable the
different Departments to make a complete and creditable showing of the
articles and materials designed to be exhibited by the Government, and
which will undoubtedly form one of the most interesting features of
the exhibition.

U.S. GRANT.

EXECUTIVE MANSION, _January 20, 1875_.

_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
seacoast defenses. Proper armament is of vastly more importance than
fortifications. The latter can be supplied very speedily for temporary
purposes when needed; the former can not."

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 can not be made; cannon can not be purchased in
open market nor manufactured at short notice; they must be the product
of years of experience and labor.

I herewith enclose 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
8-inch 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 necessit