Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-05-22

covered about Benicia one Of which upon the ground
where the public buildings erected and the whole Of
it is may be- appropriated to the Of the troops
find from report made by Mr. Bomford who appears 10
have been engineer appointed for that purpose that
they had bored IN order TO get water by artesan wells
that he had gone down hundred and sixteen feet AID
the only within fortytwo feet of the surface
Thus far the experiments had gone artesian wells
would Then the engineer makes this furthsr
statement which shows that artesan wells could not be
relied upon and that is that the geological structure
the country was such to make extremely doubtful
whether further depth of boring would bring the
surface The strata there very much inclined almost
perpendicular "a condition extremely unfavorable to
the passage Of water from distant points 1t APPEAR
therefore, that the project of the artesan we'll which the
Senator thinks ought to have been persevered in
fute and that If there not ample supply of
ming water General Smith right in adopting the plan
of cisterns As to the price Of wood it in
San Francisco. Major yinton states, in the report
that it retailed in that city at $50 cord take il
that the price higher at Bencia past which place.
undersand great deal Of wood goes to San Francisco
AT Bencia there is bold water, where ship lie close
along the shore and land its cargo without the exraord-
nary expense attendant upon the landing at San Fran
cisco, where the mud flats extending great distance
the expense Of lighterage was necessarily
General Smith to California in the fall of 1913,
under the orders of Mr.. Folks administration. He
written to in October of that year Washing
ton, and confer with the Secretary Of War; dare say
he had from Mr. Marcy, who was undoubtedly an able
CecTetATy, very auVce the duties which
he expected to perform Very singular to say how
ever written instructions to him to be found
the files of the Department Unless those of his predecessor
General Mason, to which he was referred to be
sdered SUCH II very manifest that he must have had
oral Instructions III written for If he hadneither
the the other the Secretary would be justly
chargeabe with negligence and the General could
V have exercised the large discretion which he to
have been conscious was entrusted him. Certain it is
that the 18th November 1S4S Mr. Marcy authorized
him, by letter. to establish his headquarters in Caor
MIA Oregon and change them from time to time as the
exgences Of the public service may require and charg
ed him with the general duties Of defending these terrific
res and of preserving peace and protecting the nhabi
tants from Indian depredaton y is understood that he
authorized to establish depots his troops and
secure his supplies, the General of army, IN time
of is accustomed to do regard to the expense OF
these buildings Benca, there is ndistinctness In
the charges of the Senator that IS to he has not DIS
crmnated between those put up BY General smith upon
his authority and without sanction of the Depart
ment and those put up in General Taylors time Nor
has he noticed the action of the present Administration IN
regard to the subject.
Major Allen in his report to Major Vinton of January
TO- 1850 states that he took charge of the property of the
quartermasters department Benca the LIST july 1849
the post having been established and the transfer
red to that place. before this time and Of before
the approval Of its selection by Mr. Secretary Crawford
Major Allen says, his attention first called to the
completion Of the buildings commenced but which
little advanced and to the erection of three houses and
barrack" The lowest rate of mechanics pay was
The Senator read from another report of the same
Quartermaster Allen General Jesup which shows that
the rents San Francisco induced the command
ing general the from that place, before
accommodations provided for them at Benica, in
the end economical 1t shows also the impossibty
of getting the soldiers work for the tring compensa
ton allowed them for their labor and the general laxy
of discipline which prevailed this period when gold had
been recently discovered ana the flames auri was
raging most fercey Having read extract from this
report the Senator then charges that with full know
ledge of these facts the Secretary of War sanctions
these enormous expenditures depot established
without authority of law with the full knowledge that
corresponding benefit could result from its establish
ment either to California the United States intend
it to be distinctly understood he says that these
traordnary expenditures known the Secretary
Of War, and not disapproved by him."
Now in relation to the present Secretary of War; these
expenditures were made before he came 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 was made the 30th June
1851, long after the expenses incurred. | shall
show presently what buildings erected by authority
of Mr. Crawford and what by authority Of the command
ing general and that the present Secretary Of War;
he informed Of the great expenditures already
made and of others proposed directed their immediate
dscontnuance. And infer from the report of Major
Vinton, of 29th March, 1885, TO the Adjutant General
that until then the War Department not specifically
informed of the buildings erected BY order of the
handing general Of the expenditures upon them. For
in that report Major ynton gave detailed of the
repusr, shoud first have Seen Approved By the Depart
ment And IL appears that several of them commenced
before July 1s49, completed inctober and Noysm
a-~~As a report made 10 sAe Secretary OF War
the 9th April last by the Quartermaster General will
show what was authorized by Secretary Crawford:
QuARrERxAsrER GENERALS OFFICE,
WASHINGTON CIrY, APRIL 81, 1882.
SR In reply TO your inquiries in regard the change
the principal depot Of the army from San Francisco BENZ
@ in California and the in which the necessary build
ngs erected the honor report that the subject
Of buildings well for the Of the troops for the pro-
lection Of the public stores the Pacific had received the
early attention Of Mr. Secretary Marcy Captain Folsom
Assistant San Francisco had recommended
less expensive than 10 obtain them in California Mr.
Marcy thought avoraby Of the measure and directed
organize board Of officers determine and report upon plans
Of buildings for officers quarters soldiers barracks and
houses protect the public supplies
Iorganized board the 9TH Of February 64esee paper
marked A, with the accompanying plans herewith. They
reported the I'd Of March but Mr. Marcy 60
Of office the day be- Of would instructions
the subject As after Mr. Crawford installed
Office possible brought the his notice, but he
dsapproved Of the proposition, and the 9th Of April 1S49
informed Captain Folsom Of his decision, and referred him
70 California Oregon for the materials build suitable
sorehouse TO protect the plies which the only build
ing then authorized.
: In Consequence Of the difficulty and expense of landing
stores Of every description San Francisco and the
rents asked for orehouses and quarters for the troops there
General Smith changed the depot from San Francisco BENZ
ea, think in April and in letter to the Adutan General
dated the 2 Of May he that point the per-
and the same day referred 10 the Secretary who, the 2lst
Of July made endorsement il Of which the following is
an extract: Depot TO be changed recommended.
O. W C. On the 23d Of July the Adutant General address,
ed letter OF instructions 70 General Smith, Of which the fol-
lowing Is extract "Your communication OF NAV 49, which
submitted TO the Secretary War on its receipt has
been considered and say that the transfer
Of the army depot from San Francisco genica or The
Qfk ia tullw ID