New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-12-16
Report Ofthe Quartermaster General.

3
the Washington Republic:
The acquisitions made to our territory under
cur Treaty with Mexico, and the increased dis.
lance and extent of our frontier, have added
largely to the amount and Importance of the du-
ties devoved on this branch OF our military ser
vice. 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 Quartermasters
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 Tor by the
Department, including the balances at the close
OF the preceding year, remittances Tor the last
year, proceeds OF public property, amounts bor
rowed from the civil tund in California, proceeds
of drafts drawn by officers and other miscella
neous items is S5,46l,2l3 30 The expenditures
accounts for which have been received since the
last report, amount to S4,674,275 OIL. Leaving to
be accounted for, s796,9O8 90 which balance will
be reduced by accounts due, but not yet received,
over 100000
The expenditures il the last year for the force
employed in California have nearly equaled those
for the whole army in 1914. In consequence Of
the inadequacy of the appropriations to meet
these and other necessary expenditures, not fore
seen 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 discussing officers; the
whole OF which, $1,000. 500 49, will be required IN
the present year.
The foregoing statement shows that the sum
expended in the last fiscal year was fivetOld the
amount expended by the Department in the year
ending the 30th of June l844, although the army
has been increased since that date little more
than onehalf. The increase is to be accounted
for chiefly by the stationing of troops in Oregon,
Texas, and the new Territories, and the keeping
up long lines of communication between them
and our former frontier. In ls44 the extreme
western posts were on | axe Superior, and on the
Mississippi, Missouri and Arkansas Rlvers-sey,
eral OF them in populous and well cultivated
neighborhoods, and all Of them easy Of access
The whole cost of transportation in the year
erred to was $4,000. The outpOsts now
removed to the Rio Grande, the ella, the Pacific
coast, the Columbia River, and Pugets Sound,
with Intermediate lines OF posts between the
former and present frontiers. The reinforcements,
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 transportation in the last fiscal
year has equalcd S20O0,000, being an lncreaSa ut
more than l,5OO per cent.
One of the heaviest items OF expense IS forage
more than 10000 horses, oxen and mules beng
constantly in use Other heavy items are fuel,
hire of operatives, and the rent, erection aud re-
pair of buildings required for the service These
expenses cannot be much reduced IL the present
condition OF the country,
The Indians between Texas and New Mexico,
compelled by the disappearance Of the buffalo to
steal or starve have made nr0ads into those
countries, and have given cur troops as constant
employment as If state OF Warhad existed. Tins
state of things, and the expense attending IT, must
continue unless we feed or eXterminate the In
dams or prevail upon them to settle down as Gull
tivatOrs Of the soil.
The estimates for the next year are made from
careful consideration Of all the circumstances OF
the service, and will bear reduction If the o.
jectS Of expenditure be not reduced.
The regiment of mounted riHemen were march
ed across the continent during the year, and sta
toned in Oregon with the exception OF TWO
companies left at Fort Laramie. The Quarter
master. General recommends the purchase OF Fort
Vancouver now the property OF the hudson
BAY Company, as the most important point to De
occupied in Oregon. 1t is said to be the only
place nsthe Territory where mounted regiment
can be conveniently stationed 1t is now garrl-
soned, and is the principal depot OF the Quarter
masters Department.
For the erection of storehouses and other build.
ngs for the troops in California, the estimates
from the Pacific amountto more than S2,60o000
but it is proposed to send the materials and ms
chanics from the Atlantic, by which the cost 1t is
thought, may be greatly reduced
Supplies have been sent from Fort Leaven-
worth in Missouri and from San Antonio, Texas,
TO New.Mexico Great difficulty is found in sup
plying forage in New Mexico, in consequence Of
the scarcity of surplus agricultural products be-
yond the wants OF the inhabitants, and OF the
numerous bodies of emisrants passing to Cantor
MIA. This difficulty can only be obylated by sc.
curing the inhabitants both in the cultivation ana
the quiet possession Of their crops. 1t suggested
that il the Pueblo Indians were armed and their
settlements protected, they would not only IN,
crease the supplies by their industry, but Would
be the best auxiliares OF our troops against the
hostile Indians.
Supplies. with extensive means OF transporta-
-l,,.@ty ~. in Tax
who have been more like an army II active "af
than in garrison. The Territory was so vast and
the routes to be traversed are so entirely unlnl-
proved that the expense Is extremely heavy
Attention is asked to the Importance OF improving
the harbors rivers, and roads OF texas rs
measure which would be worth infinitely more N
the defense Of the frontier than any system U ~
tifcation. ...,.,. No.
nart1nent are influenced, not only SIS IN the oIuet
densrtments By the increase or d+mlhus!oH q
nnmbers or grades but by all the varying clrcuI
.asas of The service rs well as By the condition
and resources of the country N WHICH 'No '-'0f-
are employed -.:.;,, ~, -,e4. b,,
layy for enlisting the mechanics tes4nste1s, aAu
other operatives employed III Vlc se1 ~ ~ Z
neriod not less than two years--msking then SUD
!sct To the rules and artieles OF war. 4aS' Is Is
tko,isbt viii promote both economy anu ellciency
Additional! barrack forage, and wagon masters
~ Tr concasion. the Quartermaster General re-
,oests that measures be adopted to secure more !
.,s3v settlement Of the.sccoun;s OF the officers OF
10 denartnent at the treasury. which. under the
n 1e system often remain unsettled for years
Es also asks that the laws may be so changed
that all the accounts Of the department may be
titled bv the same auditor instead Of being d.
viied between two auditors as at present.
Several valuable documents giving Information
efata Ofth IN and
California, and on our Southwestern frontier, are
submitted with the report.
TIE FALL RIVE. orxMrwEs-We were