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REPORT.

To His Excellency, Wм. B. BATE, Governor of the State of Tennessee: SIR: I have the honor to report to Your Excellency that upon assuming the duties of Adjutant General, something near two years since, I, at the earliest practical moment thereafter, made a personal inspection and examination of the State's Armory and military equipments, and found the same in endless confusion. There seemed to have been no regard for this valuable and costly property of the State. The various articles and stores were scattered about with no order and no special place for any particular article. An examination of the laws for something directory to me in the management of the department. proved of no avail, as upon this question the laws were almost silent. I then looked to the appropriation to the department in the hope of being able to accomplish something at least by way of bringing some degree of order out of the mass of confusion found, as some expense must necessarily accrue upon the execution of any contemplated work. I only found one hundred dollars ($100), not enough to undertake any work. Notwithstanding this state of facts, however, by devoting such spare time as I have been able to command from my additional duties as Secretary to the Governor, to the work of classifying and arranging the department, which has been done without money, and mainly with the help of Mr. Dautel, the landscape gardener of the capitol grounds. Much has been done, but I am still unable to report with any degree of accuracy the number of guns, or to give a tabulated amount and condition of this character of property belonging to the State, much of it being scattered about over the State, that I am unable to have reports of, or collect, by reason of no laws to enforce, and no money to bear expense. Since in office there has been added to this department, upon my application to

the War Department at Washington, one Gatling gun, two 3-inch Parrott guns, and a small mountain howitzer with equipments. Have equipped several other guns, and have several hundred new regulation infantry guns, with equipments and ammunition, besides other smaller articles. The armory at times, like the remainder of the building, is damp, and consequently causes mildew and rust. To obviate this, cases should be made suitable for packing different articles, properly distributed and labeled, and provision should be made for cleaning at certain intervals, so as to preserve this property. Provision should also be made by which the scattered arms and equipments could be ascertained, returned to the armory, cleaned and properly preserved. If wholly unserviceable, as is the case with some, they should be disposed of and the place given to others, all of which should be kept serviceable and in good order.

We have a number of military companies and several military schools in the State; some of them in good organization, others not. Some laws should be enacted that would require them all to come to a common standard, and they should be subjected at regular intervals to inspection by the proper State officer. The companies, though not regularly in the service of the State, stand ever ready to respond to a call by the State, and therefore deserve some recognition and encouragement from the State.

I trust Your Excellency will recommend to the Legislature an investigation of this department, and such legislation in the premises as will collect and preserve the interests involved.

All of which is most respectfully submitted by your obedient servant, R. W. CANTRELL, Adjutant General.

REPORT

OF THE

SUPERINTENDENT OF THE CAPITOL,

HIS EXCELLENCY WM. B. BATE, GOVERNOR.

DECEMBER 19, 1884.

REPORT.

To His Excellency, Wм. B. BATE, Governor of the State of Tennessee: SIR: I have the honor to submit herewith my report as superintendent of the capitol building, grounds, etc. The last General Assembly appropriated $500 to repair the roof, walks on same, and to paint the tower. The said repairs on the roof and painting were done, the walk from the south end to the tower was made entirely new, but shortly thereafter it was torn completely off by a severe storm, requiring additional expense to replace it. This work exhausted the appropriation thus made. The same General Assembly appropriated $300 to make a gas sewer or escape from the water closet, and for other repairs to this part of the building. This work was done as directed under the supervision of the Secretary of the State Board of Health, and exhausted this appropriation. The vouchers for the payments made under these two appropriations are on file in the comptroller's office. The water supply is and has been very unsatisfactory and unreliable for five or six months during the past summer and fall, and now we have no water at the building from the city reservoir, our entire supply being brought by hand from hydrants in the lower part of the city, which is a great inconvenience. The cisterns should be repaired. They leak badly. I have found it necessary in order to keep the building in proper repair, especially the heating and lighting departments, to incur the indebtedness indicated by the two bills herewith submitted: Phillips, Buttorf & Co......... Ryan & Shea......

.$ 69 25

37 60 $106 85

The appropriation for repairs, etc., having been exhausted, these bills remain unpaid.

The proper care and attention to the building and grounds require an additional porter and a day watchman. The three porters now employed are kept constantly busy, and are unable to keep the building clean. The great number of visitors to the grounds and building at all times make it necessary that an efficient day watchman be employed. Nuisances are constantly committed, and the

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