The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-05-19

M Marcy authorized hm. by letter, $50 establish his
headquarters in California o. oregon and change them .iom
ur and charged him with the general duties OF defending
these territories and Of preserving and protecting he
inhabitants Indian depredatons IL Is understood that
he was authorized establish depots has troops and
secure his supplies the general Of an army IN ae OF
war accustomed TO do la regard 10 the expense OF these
buildings Benca there ndstnctness IN the charges
Of the senatorhat 10 TO say, he has not Disseminated
between those put up by General Smith, upon his own
authority and without the sanction of the department. and
those put up IN General Ia time Nor has he noticed
the action OF the present administration IN regard TO this
subject
TO- 1850 that he took charge of the property Of the
department Benica the LIST July l6+9
the post having been established and the transferred
that place. before this tneand of course, before the
approval OF its selection by Mr. Secretary Crawford Major
Allen says his attention first called TO the compile
tor Of the buildings commenced but which were little ad
vanced and the erection of three houses and barrack
The lowest rate Of mechanics pay eleven dollars
and Of q laborer, five dollars per day
The senator read from another report OF the same Guar
Allen, General Jesup, which shows that the
San Francisco, induced the commanding
general the stores from that place. before accom-
modstions were provided for them Benca the end
more economical II shows also the impossibity of getting
the soldiers work for the tring compensation allowed
them for their labor and the general axy OF discipline which
prevailed at this period when gold had been recently dis
covered and the flames aari raging most fercey
Having read from this report the then
charges that wh full knowledge of these facts the Sec
rotary of War sanctions these expenditures
depot established without authority of law with the full
knowledge that corresponding benefit could result from
Its establishment either California the United States
intend TO be distinctly understood Che says that these
extraordinary expenditures known to the Secretary Of
War, and not disapproved by him."
Now, in relation to the present Secretary of War, these
expenditures made before he into Office He
authorized any buildings be erected at this depot
and neither he Mr. Crawford could have known Of them
from this report which made the 30h June 1851 long
after the expenses incurred shall show presently
what buildings erected by authority of Mr. Crawford
and what by authority of the commanding general and that
~ WI "a N
of the great expenditures already made and of others
posed, directed their immediate dsconinuance. And in
fer from the report of Major Vnton, Of 9th March, 1885,
the Adju,ani General that until then the War Depart
ment specifically informed of the buildings erected
by order Of the commanding general of the expenditures
upon them For in that report Major Vnton detailed
account ofthe different furnished plans Of Them
which, regularly should first have been approved the de-
Partmen And appears that several Of them, commenced
before july lP49 completed in October and Novem
Der Of that yea report made to the Secretary of War
the 9Th April last, by the Quarermaster General will
show what was authorized by Secretary Crawford:
"QUARTERMAsrER Generals OrFicE,
Washington City, April 81 1852.
SR In reply your inquiries in regard the change Of
the principle depot of the army from San Francisco to Be-
nca, in California, and the in which the necessary
buildings were erected have the honor 70 report that the
subject of buildings well for the Of the troops for
the protection of the public stores the Pacific, had
ceived the early attention of Mr.. Secretary Marcy Cap
tain Folsom assistant at San Francisco had
recommended that materials for buildings should be
from the Atlantic less expensive than TO obtain them in
California MIR. Marcy thought avorably of the measure
and directed me TO board Of officers to determine
and report upon plans of buildings for officers quarters
soldiers barracks and sorehouses protect the public
'aPPa'ss ! =. ,s !, p.,.,.u $40 70.
paper marked A, with the accompanying plans, herewith
They reported the Cd of March, but Mr. Marcy
10 out of office the day. he of course would
instructions the subject As after Mr. Crawford
was installed into Office possible brought the matter to
his notice. but he dsapproved of the proposition and on
the 5. Of April, lS49 informed Captain Folsom of his
decision and referred him California Oregon for the
materials to build suitable sorehouse protect the sup
plies, which was the only building then authorized.
In consequence of the difficulty and expense of landing
of every description San Francisco and the
nous rents asked for stohouses and quarters for the
troops there, General Smith changed the depot from San
Francisco Benicia think April; and in letter the
Adjutant General dated the 2st Of May, he recommended
that a. the depot This letter was received
on the 10Th Of July and the day referred 10 the Sccrc
rary who, the 2ist of July, made endorsement 1t
Of which the following extract Depot TO be changed
recommended G. w. c. On the 23d of July the Ad
uan General addressed letter of instructions General
Smith, of which the following is extracts Your COM
municaon of May &C. which Submitted to the Secre
tary of War it's receipt has teen considered, and
instructed to say that the transfer Of the army depot from
San Francisco to Benicia the Straits Of Karquinez is
fully approved. R. JosEs, Adju,ant General
About this tIme the subject Of sending suitable build
ings from the Atlantic to the Pacific again presented
for the consideration OF the Secretary of War; and he
thorzed me to have materials for suitable buildings pre-
pared and sent from the Aaniic and in accordance with
his instructions, directed Lieutenant Colonel Thomas
the 9th of July to proceed Maine and have materials
Colonel
duty oon6ded to him successfully. Paper marked
10 duplicate Of report which he made the 2lst in
stant detailing his operations and stating the of them
With the exception of few small iron building out
these all that authorized from this Office except
the sorehouse referred above and before
sanctioned by the Secretary Of War They all
necessary, and costly, proved put them up Be-
nicia and other posts California. More
dred thousand dollars saved treasury by
them from the Atlantic.
have the honor to be, air, your obedient servant
9TH. 8. yESUP,
"Quartermaster General.
"The Hon. c. NJ. CoSRap
Secretary Of War, Washington City.u
The result OF the deliberations OF this board wa. ,bat
they advised the buildings erected principally of wood
have here the drawings Of Of the buildings which
the Secretary authorized. One OF these buildings was
store house, OF which do find the pan and which was
put up by tho commanding general under the authority
Secretary Crawford The other buildings which he author
ized were contracted for the State OF Maine and very
judcous measures taken economy in their
purchase and erection. Colonel Thomas Of the Quarter
master Generals bureau, went TO the State Maine and
there made the contracts Of two buildings for officers
quarters for barracks two for storehouses and one
for guardhouse The tmbers were all framed and ready
be put up being landed in Bcncia-
ing plancd and rsbied--he flooring tongued and
grooved and in fact everything necessary 80
and shipped for that Territory require the least pos
sble labor be done in California The same officer shn-
ped party of good and efficient mechanics carpenters
brcksyers and masons and pastcrers blacksmith and
painter all under work government for
hundred days after their arrival on favorable terms
and 10 honorable the character Of thcse eastern me-
chanlcs that Notwithstanding all temptations and iDducs