Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1861-11-14

mcnts upon the rcqisition of their com
officer. Other similar reports
the committee have on file:
CAMP SULLIVAN, WARSAW, Oct. 81,
1S61.-To COLONEL WM. BIsnor: The
having been summoned, as
a board of survey, to examine and in
spect the condition of the horses forwar-
ded to the regiment from Saint Louis
and report the result to your headquar-
ters, would respectfully report that we
have examined said horses and find sew
enty.six (76) fit for service, five (5) dead,
and three hundred and thirty (33o) un-
dcrsized. under and over aged, stiflened,
ringboned, blind, spawned, and incuroJly
unfit for any public service, said horses
being part Of the Missouri Contract.
Very Respectfully,
Signed DAVID Mckee, Major,
GEORGE ROCKWELL, Captain,
JoHN ScuEE, Lieutenant.
intendent and Architect, A. B. Ogden.
received drar, of 800 on General Nc
Kinstry from Clapp Il Co., provided he
(Ogden) would obtain the contract for
them at their old bid, which was So 80
per square Of 100 superficial feet. A
Mr.. King, under oath testifes that he
gave Ogden a draft on McKinstry for
81 500 for his services in getting him
the contract for So 25 per square. 70
each Of there Ogden promised the con-
tract. The work was awarded to AL
men Thompson at $3.50, but whether
any bonds was given does not appear.
The committee find that Thompson sold
the contract for an anvance of $4,000
and that the party doing the work only
put on one ply roof, and that with felt
dipped in cold tar. In q few places were
only two phys. The facts were obtained
by cutting into the root at various points
1t is also in testimony that there were
responsible bids at So for this same
W ork
Another fraud was in the cont, acting
with e. w. Fox for the manufacture o
picket pins at 10 cents each, wher
Thomas Hood, a blacksmith with good
security. bid for the same at 25 cents
per pin-thc number to be made, 90, ,00C
pins. Also. to Fox and others, camp
kettles at 30 cents, when there were bids
at 20 cents; nails, axes spikes, ESQ, a,
similar rates. Saddles that were rejected
by the Quartermastcr were purchased by
Fox at low figures and sold to McKin-
stry at increased rates.
The building Of sundry tug-boats and
chartering of several steamers at double
their cost and value, particularly the
chartcring Of sun boats belonging to the
Keokuk Packet Company, have been
gone into a. length. and much imposition
found to exist. The tug boats are be-
; ing built at cost of 5000 each
when they ought to be built at 81 500
; each.
Other frauds in the purchase of oats
clothing, blankets, tents, etc. the issuing
of transportation tickets and paying o
employees in uncurrent funds-such as
Union Bank and Bank of St. Louis
thirty-fve cents dscout-instend o.
Government funds, etc, etc, are fully in
evidence before the committee, but all are
on a par with those given above. Nc
frauds were found in the Commissary
/ department., DuC tlie TcpoIb Vi tne co!n
mttee will exhibit the transactions ol
the other departments in an exceedingly
nnfavorable light. AS the California
contractors are charged by the committee
with being largely interested in many
of these contracts, we give their names
Joseph Palmer, OF the firm of Palmer,
Cook ~ Co., Leondias HASKELL e. L
Beard; Major Selover, of the firm of Sci.
over ~ Sintern, Real Estate Auctineers
and ]. G. Woods, manager of Adams
Express Company.
Three of these gentlemen are living in
St. Louis in fine style. and two are Oh
Gen. Frcmont's staff.
The committee could have continued
their Investigations further, but they be
lieve they have sufficient evidence, and
. have gone to Carlo to examine few W it
neeses there. They will then visit Lou
isville and Cincinnati, and take evidenc
of any frauds existing in the depart
ments of those cities.