The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1861-11-19
ers, DC, &c. 1t is worth there si2 to sl4 per

70 ,OUU.
Q But in this connection, the cisterus in th
8 eahhworks for supply OF water for som
. impossible siege, afford the richest itsm.-
They are contracted for al 25 cents per eu5i
gallon of23l inches. A cisiern holding 10,
{ 600 gallons, well bricksd up, cemented anC
, finished for the pump, costs here $50 or $40
Each one Of these military cisterns, Of lik,
capacity has cost.
These figures are staggering; but they are
nominated in the bond, and Mr.. Beard has
thanks 10 the Generals care for him, got
large part Of bis money. How much tb,
whole job costs, we did not learn; but thai
when the bottom is reached, the sum will be
found enormous, lot these prices attest. We
have told them. Tie publication Of the
testimony will bear US out. We commend
them to the notice of the lumbermen, and all
other men who have blamed the Tribune
for its frequent illusions to the California
gang.
But while on this branch Of the investiga.
ton, let us say more: Everybody recollects
that when Mr.. Cameron, Secretary of War,
returned to Washington from Missouri, he
peremptorily ordered, lst, that the work on
these ortifications should be arrested at once
I'd, that no more money should be paid bv
the disbursing officers on account Of these
contracts; and, Sd, that hereafter, all pur.
chases for the use Of the army should be made
only by the proper officers Of the Govern
ment, Of whom there ara plenty there. These
orders were transmitted to the General and
printed in all the newspapers. In defiance
of them, the works were finished, and Gen
Fremont short time ago, pereTptorily or.
dered Major Allen, the Quartermaster there,
to pay this man Beard, his California neigh
Dor, $60,000 on account of them. The order
WAS disobeyed and transmitted to Washing.
ton. He also quit as peremptorilly ordered
the same officer TO empower this san e Beard
TO purchase for the army pow in the field sup
plies to the amount Of nearly 81 100000, f,
among which the following items occur
1000 mules, 400 wagons, 100 ambulance-, u
corresponding amount of harness, DC. f., &c!-
Mr. Beard is not known to the army; but bis
earthworks will make him famous. These
order, are in testimony, and copies Of all have
been sent to the Department. Let others
characterize tie Generals offence, when we
tell them that, at this moment, there are
more than 5000 mules, 800 wagons, and an
Unlimited supply Of harness, for which it
would appear that the army has no present
use betta en- st. Louis and Sedalia. But Mr..
Beard wanted job. The Treasury is proba.
bly, richer by a quarter of a million that be
did not get it. The Generals disregard Of
positive and necessary command of the War
Department vent for naught. Let him settle
with his superiors.
HORSE AND MULE CONTRACTS
In the items and charges above we give on.
ly specimen bricks. In all the operations Of
this gang that the Committee has touched
this waste, proAlgacy and rascality are mani.
fest in just as clear light The necessity for
thousands Of horses and mules, afforded them
an opportunity that they could not neglect
Their plan Of operations was this: One Of
these back-stairs men would, say to-day, i'm
perfume the General for sn order (-nothing
was advertised for-tbat would not do, of
course for 5000 ho,ses at any figure, rang.
ing from 1871 to $50 dollars, according to the
service for which :he animals were intended.
Next day another order for 1000 would be
got, and next day third ordor for 500. The
usual method was this: To offer these orders
for sale, at prices like thess-for an order for
1000 horses, 5000; for 900. always 5iO,-
600; for 500, not less that $4,000. But
when buyers were MT plenty at these figures,
the contractors themselves commonly would
undertake to procure the animals. And
right here new phases of rascality are oIen-
ed.
How TO BUY CHEAP HORSES.
One man-a Californian, of course having
al order Of 5000 horses, sends bis clerk, or
secretary rather (all these Williams have secre-
taries y to the country to make contracts for
what he wants. This underliDg or sub scoun
drel goes all about and among the farmers,
makes their contracts, signed with the name
OF his employer as principal, by himself, agent,
for horses at $ll03 cash. By and by the
Missouri and Illinois, in lota of 10 to 20, and
as high as 100, the owners having their con.
tracts in their pockets. Looking up the prin-
cipal in the bargain, he seems to know moth.
ing about the matter at all. His agent, be
says, has exceeded bis powers; he is not now
buying horses; the Government will take no
horses. The agent pleads not guilty; be did
not mean to do wrong; he is sorry he can't
help it. The result Is that the farmers, owning
for horses that they have bought at $40
each, with the apparent certainty of selling at
$ll94, are compelled, after feeding their sn-
imals for a week or more, to 9. II at any price
that the contractors may give-say $50 to
$40 each. TIE horses are turned over to the
Government at $ll9t apiece. With whom
the contractor divides the profits of the trans
action, we do not say.
ANOTHER WAY.
One Of the Government Inspectors Of hor-
ses AZ St. Louis, is q graduate of the Ken.
tuckv State Prison. He is sworn t do his
duty-as he unders auds it, aud he does not
fail to keep his oath, thus; A lot Of horses
is brought in in one instance, 400 belong
ing to farmers within easy reach, say 100
miles Of st. Louis; he iuspects the lot, and
though they are good sound and serviceable
animals, without reason rejects to all but 40
The owners complain and swear, but oaths
do no good; after a few DAYS, some agent o.
some contractor. with his order directly from
Gen. Fremont, comes around and offers $50
each for the rejected animals. They are
bought reinspccted and turned over to Uncle
Ssm at $ll94 to $3.50 each!