Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1859-09-30
THE UTAH FLOUR AND MULE CON-
TRACTS.
The Utah correspondent Of the St. Louis
Democrat writes as follows:

~
Democrat writes as follows:
CAMP FLoYD. Aug. 3, 1850.
In answer to my letter exposing the -four
! contract, notice in your columns a telegraph
ic dispatch from Washington. saying that the
statements made in that letter were false, and
that one hundred thousand dollars had been
saved to the Government.
Facts and figures always speak for them
selves; and to prove that my assertions were
true. need no better proof than the fact that
/ the same contract for which Messrs. Holiday
y Co. receive twenty-eight dollars and sixty
cents per one hundred pounds, was refused
I Mr. William Martin at twelve dollars per one
hundred pounds, and is now being filed by
Messrs. Bernhsel " Young at seven dollars
and fifty cents per one hundred pounds, they
being sub-contractors. If the knowledge of
these bids we're had at Washington city-and
am credibly informed by the commissary at
this point that they were - why did the Sec
rotary OF War award the contract to Messrs.
Holiday & Co.,
The assertion that one hundred thousand
dollars were saved to the Government, over
the contract Of last year, is no excuse. when
five hundred thousand dollars could have been
saved by accepting the bid OF Mr.. VIM. Mar
tin or by the acceptance of Mr. Little's bid
OF eight dollars per hundred pounds, still
larger sum could have been saved. Such is
true statement of facts aud if the Secretary
of War can, by mere denial of the charge,
escape the collusion with the contractors,
am satisfied, but am constrained to believe
that he will not so easily escape the indigna-
ton of an outraged people
On Monday. the 1st of August there was
an election held in the Territory, and good
deal of feeling existed. Among the csndi-
dates for the Legislature were Mr.. Charles
Crocker, of St. Louis, and Mr. Samuel Mills,
of Washington city. These gentlemen re-
ccived the entire Gentle vote and are in all
probability elected. Mr.. VIM. ]. Osborne
ran on the independent ticket, and carried
the entire Gentle vote, with the exception Of
about one hundred.
In my next shall endeavor to give YOU
an exposition of Mr.. Holidays transactions
at the great mule sale which / think will
arouse the people of the States to knowl-
edge of the manner in which they are con-
stantly being defrauded by the Government
officials. NJ. o.
THE GREAT MULE CONTRACT BUSINESS
Camp Ftoyd, august Sin my last pro-
missed to give you some of the particulars of
the manner in which the great mule sale was
conducted. After the arrival of Mr.. Holiday
and the development of the fraud perpetrated
upon the Government by the contract for the
furnishing of flour to the army in Utah, it
was whispered around that developments
would be made in few days that would star
tie us still more than the -four contract As
days flew on and nothing came to light, the
rumor was forgotten, as one of the many that
emanate from the prolific brain of some one Of
the numerous camp followers.
AT length an advertisement appeared in the
columns of the Valley Tan, announcing the
sale at public auction of two thousand or moro
mules. This, as may be supposed. set the
people of the Territory on the qua vive, and
many good dollar that had laid for years
hidden from the light Of day was brought forth
for the purpose of purchasing teams. As tho
day of sale approached rumors were thick
that Mr.. Holiday was to be the purchaser of
the mules. An order had been received from
the Secretary of War to the Quartermaster
General of this Department, stating that Mr..
Holidays notes were to be received as cash
for all purchases that he might make The
auctioneer, il is said, received secret instruc-
iions to knock down" all mules to Mr.. III.
when they had reached a certain figure. So
strictly was the rule enforced, that much re-
mark was made by outsiders, and one of the
luctioneers refused to have further connection
with the matter. Upon these terms, Mr..
Holiday became the purchaser of over one
thousand mules, valued at about S175,000,
but for which he gave his notes to the value
IF about 100000. These mules could have
1een sold to residents of this Territory, for
ash, for the sum first stated but Mr.. H. gets
hem upon credit at little more than half
heir value.
l have authority for stating that Mr.. II.
las contract to supply the Government at
Fort Dallas, in Oregon, with one thousand
mules, at his own price. Now, many thous-
md dollars could have been saved, had Gov
rnment sent these mules 10 that point on its
wn hook. Twenty heiders would have de-
ivered them at that point at a small cost, just
he same that it would cost them at this post;
nut no they must sell them at a reduced
rice to Mr.. Holiday, and let him drive them
here, and sell them back to the Government
t a large advance. Would it not have been
ully as well to have given Mr.. Holiday six
y or hundred thousand dollars to drive
hem to Oregon at oncei Even this would
ave saved the Government several thousand
ollars paid as auctioneer's fees. Could get
t the bottom of this trick it would cause the
eopIe of the entire country to open their eyes.
nd raise their voice en- mdsso against so fla
rant an outrage. H.targ
| have still another fraud to expose, and am
ow engaged in hunting up facts 1t will be
llled the "beef swindle." Holiday a. Co.
re again the lucky fellows that are des tined
} grow fat and saucy by sucking the Utah
at.
After these things are fully exposed, l shall
lrn my attention to things nearer home, and
Ike a certain Colonel and certain Captain
over the Goals | have now in my possess
on facts sufficient to cause them both TO be
moved and as have commenced to use
Nc knout, | shall continue till every rascally
'oceeding in this part of the country is ex-
,sed.
On the 18th, the butler store Of Miller,
ussell d. Co.. was burned the fire Originate
by the igniting of some prairie matches
he loss about $4,000; no insurance.
NJ. O. G..
~ A New York mercantile house held an
lsottled claim of long standing aganst a
me duck 'out West" and hearing he was
coming ''well to do sent their claim on