The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-12-13
The Quartcrmastcr's Department.

The Quartermastcr's Department.
The acquisitions made to our territory under
our treaty with Mexico, and the increased dis
lance and extent of our frontier, have added
largely to the amount and importance of the
duties devoved on this branch of our mill
tary service. Our readers will remember the
remarks on this subject in the report of the
Secretary of War We publish this morning
the report of the able and efficient chief of the
Quartermaster's Department, General JEsUP,
giving very clear and interesting account of
the operations Of the Department during the
last fiscal year.
The total amount to be accounted for by the
Department, including the balances at the close
of the preceding year, remittances for the last
year, proceeds of public property, amounts Dor
rowed from the civil fund in California, pro-
ceeds of drafts drawn by officers. and other mis-
cellaneous items, is s5,46l ,2l3 80. The ex-
penditures, accounts for which have been re-
ceived since the last report, amount to 81 GA
rs Oh. Leaving to be accounted for $780,
908 %, which balance will be reduced, by ac
counts due, but not yet received, over three hun
dred thousand dollars.
The expenditures in the last year for the
force employed in California have nearly equal
ed those for the whole army in 1915. In con
sequence of the inadequacy of the appropria
tons to meet these and other necessary expen-
ditures, not foreseen when the estimates were
made, heavy arrearage has occurred, being
the amount stated as borrowed from the civil
fund in California, and raised on drafts of
the disbursng officers; the whole Of which,
81 ,290, 800 80, will be required in the present
year.
The foregoing statement shows that the sum
expended in the last fiscal year was ive-fold
the amount expended by the Department in the
year ending the 30th of June, 1914, although
the army has been increased since that date
little more than one-half. The increase is to
be accounted for chiefly by the statoning Of
troops in Oregon, Texas, and the new Terri
tories, and the keeping up long lines Of com
munication between them and our former from
tier. In 1874 the extreme western posts were
on Lake Superior, and on the Mississippi, Mis-
SOUR, and Arkansas rivers-several of them in
populous and well cultivated neighborhoods and
oil Of them easy Of access. The whole cost of
transportation in the year referred to was one
hundred and twenty thousand dollars. The
outposts are now removed to the Rio Grande,
The ella, the Pacific coast, the Columbia river,
and Puget's Sound, with intermediate lines Of
posts between the former and present frontiers.
The renforcements, as well as nearly all the
supplies, taken from the older States, over long
land and water routes, at an enormous expense.
The consequence is, that the cost Of transpor-
tation in the last fiscal year has equalled two
millions Of dollars. being an increase Of more
than fifteen hundred per cent.
One of the heaviest items Of expense is for
age. more than ten thousand horses, oxen, and
mules, being constantly in use. Other heavy
items are fuel. hire Of operatives, and the
rent, erection, and repair Of buildings required
for the service. These expenses cannot be
much reduced in the present condition Of the
country.
The Indians between Texas and New Mcxi-
CO, compelled by the disappearance of the buff
f;ilo TO steal or starve, have made inrosds into
those countries, and have given our troops as
constant employment as if state Of war had
existed. This state Of things and the expense
attending it must continue. unless we feed OF
exterminate the Indians, or prevail upon them
to settle down as cultvators Of the soil.
The estimates for the next year are made
from careful consideration Of all the circum-
stances Of the service, and will bear no reduc-
ton if the objects Of expenditure be not re-
duced.
The regiment Of mounted rifemen were
marched across the ontinent during the year and
stationed in Oregon, with the exception Of two
companies left at Fort Laramie. The Quar-
termaster- General recommends the purchase of
Fort Vancouver, now the property Of the Hud-
sons Bay Company, as the most important
point to be occupied in Oregon. 1t is said to be
the only place in the Territory where a mount
ed regiment can be conveniently stationed. 1t
is now garrisoned, and is the principal depot Of
the Quartermaster's Department.
For the erection Of storehouses and other
buildings for the troops in California, the esti-
mates from the Pacific amount To more than
twenty six hundred thousand dollars; but it is
proposed to send the materials and mechanics
from the Atlantic, by which the cost, it is
thought, may be greatly reduced
Supplies have been sent from Fort Leaven-