The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1866-12-15
Report Of the Secretary OF war.

report Oh 9nc secretary Oh W ar
In the War Otfice the work of musteriag
out troops has beeu actively continued.
From January 10th TO March e,h, 9s2 vol
uEteers have been mustered out. leaving in
the service IL ,043 volunteers, white and col
ored. The reduction of colors troops has
been 1924, and ON November lst 10000
officers and enlisted men remained in service.
The reduction Che army has been attended
by gresily reduced expenditures. The ad>
yaaced depots of the Quarternaster's Depart.
uent have been broken up aud great qaanti
ties of material have been sid at nuvanta>
geous rates, or packed in five principal
depcts and arsenals. and ali unnecessary
employees discharged.
From May LIST, 1865, to August 3D. 1866,
over POI, 200 horses and mules were sold for
$l5.269,U75.5i About 4 400 barracks and
hospitals and other buildings have been sold
during the year for S447. .SSl.l4.
The sales Of irregular aud damaged cloth
ing ia atcrs produce, during tho fiscal ysar
the sum of S902, ,770.45. The feet OF $50
ocean transports in service on July lst, 1865,
at daily expense of 2,4"0, WAS reduced,
before juno goth, 1866, 10 fifty three vessels,
costing $4,000 per diem, and .nost of these
have aimee been dis harged, cean transport
by established commercial lines OF steamers.
OF 262 vessels, which had been employed in
inland transportation, a. Nh expense Of
So. 1873, 332.2o-none were remaining in SER
vice ON June 3oth, 1866. Tns sales of river
TRANSPORTS, ssea ners aud bargss during the
year. are reported as amounting to $l,lj2,>
S95.92. The rates of wagon transporistiUn
IN the Indian country have also been reduced
by favorable contracts. The military Tail
roads which were operated during the war at
= total expenditure OF S4j, So, 2,7l9I5, and
which were officially reported To have reach
ed An extent OF 2,Gj0l miles, and to have
possessed l33 engines and 6.605 cars, have
all been trans'ereed to companies or boards
Of plb!ic works, upon condition of ia. adop-
ton of loyal organizations Of directors.
Cash sales of railroad eauipnent,. to the
amount of 1896. y39 SO are reported. and
credit sales of 7,4i4 ,013.22, upon the latter
There have been paid, principal and interest,
sl2,O0o,Sjs. leaving dus to the United
States, on June Both, 1866, principal nad
interest. S6.57O.a7405. $3.50 4
TIE Military Telegraph. which attained an
extent OF lJ,4s3 miles of line constructed
during the period Of hos,iIiies. with total
expenditure of S3,2l9.4O0 during ,hs war.
q sj5T, ,s37 dariny the las; fiscal year, nas
been discontinued, the material sold snd DIS
posed J', and emr,oree, discharged. only
a few conhdeaiial operators being still re.
iained for cypher correspondence with cons
manders ot importau, districts.
General hospitals, hospital transports and
railroad trans, as.bularce cerps, and
number of meiica puryeyIng department;
hav. b-en dispensed With, and all p-rlshabls
articles, OF medical and hospital supplies, in
excess Of the requirements Of a peace estab-
li,h'nept, have been disio-ed ot at public
sales AT advantageous rates, and The reserved
supplies concentrated at five dep ,ts. The
proceeds Of ol or Surplus medical sr1 hos
pitsl property amount to 81 Oh ,26l.53.