Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1861-04-04
DoNrPuAN COUNTY, March 8.

DONrPuAN COUNTY, March ..
DEAR SIR Your letter OF the 5th
inst, making inquiry with regard to
certain goods and money sent to Mr..
James Underwood, Of this place, in care
of Samuel S. Pomeroy, aud other mat
tiers has been received. l will endeavor
to give you correct statement of the
facts, as clearly and correctly as posi-
BILE.
About the 9th Of January last, there
were sent to Mr.. Undel wood, in care Of
Gen. Pomeroy, from Rockville Station,
in the State OF Indiana, for distribution
to the people oil this township, the fol
lowing described goods, towit: One
hundred and ten barrels Of flour, ninety
bushels OF wheat, still greater proper
ton OF corn meal, $3.50 in clothing, val
ued, ard six boxes OF clothing, not
valued. There was also sent, at the
same time, from the same place, to
Pomeroy, sum of money, of which
now forget the exact amount, but near
$500 to pay freight on these goods. ! he
Chairman OF The Committee at Rock
vile, wrote to Mr.. Underwood at the
time of sending the goods, informing
him Of the facts. About the goth of
January, Mr.. L., accompanied by my
self, went to Atchison for the purpose
of procuring the goods, and bringing
them out here. When We asked Gen.
Pomeroy concerning the goods, he said
that there had never been any shipment
whatever to him from Rockville. MIR.
Underwood remarked that there must
be some mistake, as he had then in his
possession letter from the Chairman of
the Committee at Rockville, stating that
the goods had been sent some time, an
demanded to see pomeroy's books.
AT first the General refused to allow
the books 10 be seen, and said he would
rot do SO until he was shown the letter
from Rockville. ] suppose Mr.. U. felt
some dehcacy with regard to showing
the letter, as it contained some illusions
to the General OF not very highly
tlattering CT aracter; but at length both
letter and books were produced, and It
was found by the books that the goods
had been sent and received as the letter
described. Pomeroy then said that the
goods had not been shipped to Mr.. I'm
derwood, and that at all events they
had already been distributed, and that
he could get none of them. The Gene
raj toen LETT the office, leaving lis to the
gentlemanly attention of one of his
clerks, Mr.. Herrick, Of this county, from
whom we received no satisfaction, but
abuse. Mr.. Underwo GOD had never yet
received any OF his goods, and l do not
think it probable he ever will.
With regard to the way in which
accounts arc kept at the General Relief
Depot, it is little curious. The system
Is one of double entry. 1t is a very
simple plan, but very ingenious. The
tcamsters, as you doubtless know, re-.
celve certain compensation for haul
ing each load, when they choose to take
it-say from IS to SIS or $40, accord
ing to distance. Well, this is the way
they are paid; they sign a receipt on
the books at Pone. O. s office, as Tor so
much money received for hauling, and
thereupon receive an order on the "old
clothes depot" for the same amount OF
clothing. When they arrive at the
clothing depot, they are compelled to
take old clothes at remarkably stiff
price, considering they arc sent as a
charity and then another entry is made
upon the book, of clothes distributed.
Don't you see how readily the money
soiH be accounted for, by paying off
teamsters at the rate OF from one hun.
dred to two hundred and fifty per day,
and at from IS to $50 per head in old
clofhesy Yours, truly,
GEORGE IL. RoBn,
Sec'y of Wolf River TIP. Relief Com.