The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-12-06


Tn. accounts of three deceased officers are due also
Of two assistant quartemastes, and forty -four regimen
M and acting Quartemastes and ents. These accounts
when received. will reduce the balance reported
sbelieyed. over three hundred thoussnd dollars
heavy arearage occurred during the last fiscal year
from the entire inadequacy of the appropriations to meet
the necessary expenditures under the new and extraord
nary circumstances OF the service When the estimates
were decided on by the late Executive in the autumn of
ls4s, the expenditures still 10 be made were sup
posed to be large they turned to be hence
service OF the year fell far short Of what had been count
ed on added 10 which, the lndlan hostltes Florida
Texas, and New Mexico, which have caused heavy
expenditure. neither oreseen nor provided for Nor
any provision made in the estimates 10 the
of things in California, where the expenditures OF
the Quartermasers Department the last year. Tor the
small force employed have nearly equaed those for the
whole army IN 1S45.
The arrearages, far ascerainej, will he seen in
The amount stalled borrowed from the civil fund in CAL
onia and that raised by the dsDursiDg Officer. vf the
department on drafts on this Office which necessary
in The absence OF appopr aons 10 carry on the service
and which are charge the appropriation for the pres
.ntscal year. The whole amount Of the arrearage will
In he year ending the soh Of June, 1884, the whole
amount expended by the Quartermasiers Department
IN S. xesp was that
amount Now, the army has been increased since that
date little more than half, and. had the crcum-
stances OF the service remained the same the increase
should have been in the ratio. or but little more
than fy per The increase OF the expend
lures is 10 be accounted for in addition TO the crcum-
tory In the annexation Of Texas New Mexico and Cali
iorna the siaoning of troops there and in Oregon, and
keeping up long lines OF communication between our
former frontier and those Territories
In 1874 the extreme western posts extending from the
Gulf of Mexico TO Lake Superior, were Fort Jesup,
within twenty -four miles OF steam navigation on Red
river; Forts Towson and Washits, on Red rver above
Fort Jesup; Forts Smith and Gibson, the nsvigable
waters OF the Arkansas river; Fort Scott, ON the south
west frontier OF Missouri; Fort Lcavenworth, on the
Missouri river Fort Smelling. near the head OF navga-
ton on the Mississippi and Fort Wilkins Lake Supe
nor Several of these posts in popuous and we'll
cultivated neiyhborhoods. and all Of them of easy
and readily and chsapy supPorei consequently,
the whole OF transportation Tor the army in the year
referred TO less Than one hundred and twenty thou
sand dollars p4 hs n .Na
The oulpossare now removed to the Rio Grande the
with oes aes !" poss between he orme
and the present frontiers The agricultural resources OF
the Territories have been but partially developed
those Of California and New Mexico are supposed to De
limited. In the former the gold excemeni and in the
latter the hostile disposition OF the Indians, prevent the
inhabitants from avaing themselves Of the few agrcu-
ura advantages they are supposed to possess Western
and northern Texas and Oregon have abundant sgrcu
ura resources but the gold excitement and the Indian
hostes produce the effects there, though not in
great degree in California and New Mexico The
endorsements for the troops, well as nearly all their
supplies, taken from the older States, long land
and water routes al an enormous expense Large uans,
belonging TO the public, and hired have been constantly
hed and vessels at expense bearing relation TO
the great increase In the OF labor, have been
Ployed in transporting troops and building materials,
fofsge and other supplies the water routes: The
sequence OF all which s, that with The army increased
little m,re than onehal or fifty per cent. the cost Of
transportation in the last hscal year has equaled two
millions OF dollars, or more Than Seen hundred per cent
In the present condition OF the newly acquired Terri
oes with The posts established for their defence neces.
sanly far from the sources Of supply, and large
portion OF their garrsons mounted than ten thou
sand horses, oxen and mules constantly required for
transportation, and for mounting guides spies, escorts
and troops forage Is therefore heavy item OF expense
The supply OF fuel IL limited throughout those Terrific
mes, and obtained with difficulty at many OF the pres
ent posls il is heavy item: is the hire OF mechan
cs aboers and other operatives also the rent,
ton and repair OF quarters, barracks, sorehouses and
other structures required for the service The expense o
neither can be much reduced, even with the mos, faith
iu and rigid administration unless the circumstances o
he whole country, in relation 10 its cultivation, commu
ncaiions and means of defence, be changed.
The nomadic Indians between Texas and New Mex
co have long as we trace their history back and
down 10 recent period, followed and subsised upon
The immense herds OF buffalo that covered the plains
east Of the Rocky mountains The buffalo have been
rapidly diminishing for many years past and now afford
The Indians very scanty supply These Indians have
ever been warke, well mounted and well armed The
fapid disappearance OF their accustomed OF sub
nsence has, for time past compelled them TO fight
STEAL or sarve. Brave in q savage staie with
10 their hands, never staTye themselves, nor allow the
Women and children to sarve when subsistence can be
woa BY prowess skill For half century past the
game has diminished, they have been in the habit OF ma
npg nroads into the Mexican provinces and they have
length broken into and ovenun some Of the bette
pouons OF those provinces, ~ the northern hordes for