The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1859-10-20

ed, distru.ted Army-an Army which
must do nothing not even be ask
ed to do anything in any probable con-
tingency--what purpose docs it observe
beyond enriching contractors and the
Mormon magnates at its own cost and
that of the Federal treasury Every ar.
ticle eaten, drank, worn, or in any manner
bought by the soldiers, cost three to ten
times its value in the States; part of this
extra cost falls on the. Treasury, the resi-
due on the troops individually. Their po-
sition here is an irksome one; their COM
forts few; home. family, friends are far
away. If the policy now pursued is to
prevail, they cannot be needed in this
Territory. Why, then keep them here ]
Brigham young will contract, and make
money by contracting, to pu: down all re-
sistance to this policy at tenth the
cost of keeping the Army here: why,
then, not withdraw itl
I have not 20 bad an opinion of the
Mormons as that entertained by the Ar
my; while l consider the Mormon reli-
gion, so called, a delusion and blight,
| believe many of its devoted aeherents,
including most Of those | have met, to be
pure-minded, well-meaning people; | Go
not believe that Mormons generally de-
light in plunder or murder, though the
testimony in the Mountain Meadows,
Parrish. and one or two other cases, is
certainly staggering. But | concur en-
tirely in the conviction of the Army that
there is no use in its retention here under
existing orders and circumstances, and
that three or four companies of dragroons
would answer every purpose of this large
and costly concentration of troops. The
Army would cost less almost anywhere
else, and could not anywhere be less USE
full
A suspicion that it is kept here to an
swer private pecuniary ends is widely
entertained here. 1t is known that vast
sums have been made out o: its transpor-
tation by favored contractors. Take a
single instance already quite notorious:
Twenty two cents per pound is paid for
the transportation of all provisions, mu-
nitions, &C., from Leavenworth to this
point. The great contractors were al
lowed this for transporting this years
supply of Flour. By little dexterous
management at Washington, they were
next allowed to furnish the Flour here,
being paid their twenty-five cents per
pound for transportation, in addition to
the prime cost on the Missouri. As Utah
has better soil for growing Wheat than
almost anything else, they had no diff
Guilty in sub.IettiDg this contract at seven
cents per pound net,making a clear profit
of Sl70, 600 oD the contract, without risk
ing dollar or lifting a finger. Ofcourse
| expect contractors to bargain for them
selves, not for the Government; but some
body is we'll paid for taking care Of the
public's interest 10 such matters: Has
be done his dutyl
Again: Pursuant to recent order
from Washington, the Assistant Quarter
master. General here is now selling Sy
auction some Two Thousand Mules-a-
bout two-thirds Of all the Government
owns in this Territory. These mules
cost Sl75 each, and are worth to-day
Sl25 to $50 attended the sale for
an hour or so this forenoon; the range OF
prices was from $50 to Sis; the average
of the 700 already sold about SIS Had
these mules been taken to California and
there properly advertised and sold, they
would have brought nearly cost; even at
Leavenworth they must have sold for al
least 100000 more than here, where
there is practically no demand and nc
competition for such an immense herd
aud, after every Mormon who can raise
a hundred dollars or over shall have sup
piled himself with span of mules fol
half their value, one or two speculator:
will make as much as they please, whil
the dead loss to the People will be a
least 100000. Nobody here has re
commended the sale of these mules; they
were being herded, under the care Of de
} tachments of the Army, at no cost bu
for herdsmen. aud they could have bee
! kept through next Winter in secluded
!, mountain valleys at cost of about ST.
per head; whereas, the Army can neVe
} move without purchasing an equal mum
Der; and they can neither be bough
! here nor brought here for 5000, OO'
7 more than these animals are now fetch
ing. Somebody's interest is subserVe'
: by this sale, but it is certainly not tha
of the Army nor of the People. The or
der is to sell seven hundred wagons q
f we'll, but these would not bring $50 each
> while they cost at least $3.50, and cOul
not be replaced when wanted even TO
. that, while the Army cannot move with
out them, and keeping them costs abso
! lutely nothing. Who issues such order
as this, and for whose benefit
Look at another feature of this trans
: actions: There is at this moment larg
amount due TO officers and soldiers
of this Army as pay, in sums of $40 t
$500 each Many of those to whom thl
: money is due would very much like
take mules in part payment, either to US
J while here, to sell again, or to bear theI
and their baggage to California. or bac
n