The weekly Arizonian., 1859-03-17
Retrenchment in Military Expenses.

Lately in the Senate, MT. Pugh moved that the compensation of all army officers be cut down to the rate of 1857. Very properly tbis motion was defeated Army officers do not re- ceve one cent too much compensation Most ofthose who do their duty are stationed in far off quarters of the Union, isolated from many ofthe necessaries and comforts of life, deprived of all society, exposed to danger and death, and doomed to spend the flower of their days in trailing Indians and living on spoiled bacon It is noted fact, that people who are in favor of cutting down the wages of others, are won derfully tenacious about their own But if Senator Pugh, or any other economical Sena- tor, is really in earnest about reducing army expenses, we will put him in way to do it. Let the "contracts of the army be looked into. There's where the money goes!" Here is an instance close at hand-a Fort of Uncle Sans, which has the reputation of being the most expensive military post in the Department of New Mexico-Fort Buchanan Make note of the leaks at this one post in the Depart ment and draw consolation from the thought that there are no doubt fifty others at various points on the frontier, as bad, or worse. a
 During the different terms of service of It's Hastings and Lord, as Acting Assistant Com msaries ofSubsistence at Fort Buchanan, there were purchased at the fort 1000 pounds of good flour, (equal in all respects to the best army flour bought in 'the States, at T cents per pound. The same quality of flour can be purchased at the fort, now, at cents per pound, the contract taken and guarantied by responsi- ble American citizens In spite of these truths merged upon the late General in command of this Department again and again, by officers and citizens the flour contract was given to Judge Hart, near Fl Paso, three hundred miles from the fort, ct t,celve and one-half cents per pound!
 Now, we cannot censure Judge Hart for this extravaganza. Heis we'll known to be an hon. orable, liberal, public spirited and useful citizen as there is ill Texas, and has perfect right to get all the contracts he can at the best possible rates. But somebody is to blame, for such a waste of money. Let us figure little One hundred and seventeen pounds of flour, at at 8 cents, is $9, 36O,OO, and the same quantity of flour at l24 cents, $l4,625,OO, making a difference of $5, ,265, ,OO which might be saved on the article of fonr at one post
 Now take the item of corn, for the same post Judge Hart received the contract for three thousand !" fanagas at Acts per pound AL lowing one hundred and seventy pounds to the tanaga this is four hundred and ten thousand pounds; at 4cts would be $4400,00. Now there are abundance irresponsible people in the immediate vicinity of the Fort who would be glad to contract and bind themselves to deliver all the corn wanted, at Sets per pound, which would save quite little sum, Here is a chance for rerenchment-far more honorable and nee essary than the paltry cutting down of officers pay.
 Again, when a military post is established in new country it is supposed to have in view more than the mere defending of the country front Indians It is supposed to encourage agriculture, settlement and labor, expend its money among the people, and do good gener- ally. How does Fort Buchanan encourage ag- rculture Gin region where it needs encour- agement, when its fonr and corn contracts are given to a citizen out of the Territory ?- There has been no attempt to erect grist mills