The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-12-05

serving on the Western frontier was greatly in.
creased. Third BY another act, passed towards
me close OF the same session, the pay Of all the
officers and men serving in California aud Oregon
was nearly doubled, Fourth. An increased ex
pendlture IN the Quartermaster's Department.
Prior to l645, our frontier posts were all estab
lished either on the Gulf Of Mexico, on Lake Su
perior, or on the head waters of the Mississippi
and its tributaries. They were all, therefore, ac
cessible by water, and many of them situated il
the midst of fertile and cultivated country. Now
OH the contrary, they are either on the Pacific
coast on the route to Oregon, or far in the interior
oil Texas and New Mexio, remote from navgablt
streams and from the States where enlistments are
made and whence all supplies are drawn. The
distance OF land carriage to many of these posts
Is, as has already been mentioned, very great, ano
numerous trains Of wagons are constantly em
Ployed in conveying supplies to them as well as
IN accompanying the troops in their marches. The
eN9roant cost OF furnishing supplies to the troops
IN Texas and New Mexico has already been
stated on the Pacific, wing to the high price OF
LABOR, water transportation is proportonably eX.
pensive. The consequence Of all this is an I'M
mense increase in the expenditure of the Quarter
masters Department. In the year ending June
30th, 1874, the expenditures Of that
Department amounted to only 1870, 1899 -
In the year ending June 80, 1850,
they were 295 29S GO
In the year ending June 3S, 1851,
appropriately 3,9l5,954 OOs
In the year ending June 80, 1852,
(estimated) 1850 900 90
In the year 1874 the cost of transportation for
the army was less than Sl20, in the year
ending goth June last, it amounted to about 81 >
10000, showing an increase of about fifteen
hunred per cent
IL Is hoped that as settlements increase and cul-
tivation extends in Texas and New Mexico, and
as mining becomes less profitable and labor more
diversified IN California, these enormous expendi-
lures will diminish. In the mean time every ef
fort will be made by this Department to curtail
them. IL is possible that at points so remote from
the supervision Of its chief, defects of administra-
ton IN the Quartermaster s Department may eX-
list to remedy which some change in its organiza-
ton may be necessary.
No economy can, however, be effected by re-
ducing the estimates, which are based upon posi-
tive data, and cannot be safely curtaied The only
consequence which has heretofore resulted from
such reduction OF estimates, icithout diminishing
the objects orerpenSe, has been the accumulation of
arrearages. An arrearage which has existed in the
Quartermaster's Department since the year l54S,
amounting to the sum of 81 ,290, 1850 81, is said to
have originated in that way. The practice Of al
lowing disbursements to exceed the appropria-
lions is dangerous in the extreme; but If estimates,
carefully prepared by the proper officers, are re-
duced, without diminishing the objects Of expen-
diture, this irregularty may sometimes be una
yoidabe.
hereto annex such portions OF the correspond
ence of this Department relates to the sub jects
mentioned in this report, together with the reports
Of the general-n-chef, and Of the several heads of
bureaus of this Department; to all which ! refer
you for more ample information in regard to its
operations.
Respectfully submitted,
c. M. CONRAD,
Secretary Of Um.
To THE PREsiDENr OF THE UNITED STATES.