Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1869-12-16


agents. There have been paid for water
transportation during the year l,424, 222
.S2, for railroad transportation ~, 252 ,3O4
80 OF this amount 1898, 1881 was paid
to the Pacific railroads; one-half being
paid in cash, and the other half retained
in the treasury to meet the interest on the
bonds guaranteed by the United States.
During the year $4,000 persons, 3.700 ami
mails, and $4,000 tons Of stores have been
moved by water, and go, 900 persons, 1900
animals and 10000 tons of stores by rail.
road $1,000 tons ofstores have been moved
by contractors for wagon transportation.
The Pacific Railroad has occupied some of
the principal routes of former wagon
transportation, and has saved the govern
ment much money in supplying the posts
along the line. BY arranging between
the departments of War and the Interior,
supplies for the Indians are now trans,
ported by the Quartermaster's depart
ment on routes in the Indian Territory,
the actual cost under the contracts being
refunded to the War department out of
the appropriation of $2,0O0000 for pacif.
cation of the Indians, granted April 10,
1869
Although the amount of clothing and
equipage on hand at the end of the war
has been reduced by sales and issues, there
still remains stock valued at over SAP ,000,-
600. The general depots have been reduced
large collection of material, viz. AT the
SchuylBiil arsenal on the Delaware, and
at Jacksonville, on the Ohio. This latter
is being drawn upon constantly, but it
still contains over $14,O0000O worth of
war material
There are 70 national cemeteries, and
BIB local, post, or private cemeteries in
which soldiers lie buried The titles of II
OF the national cemeteries have been APP
proved, as perfect, by the Attorney Gen
eral. There are 322,607 interments re-
ported, of which II ,946 have been identi-
fed. The expenditure on the work has
been nearly $3,OOO,OOO.
During the year 1856 animals were
purchased, and 1892 were sold. These
latter produced the sum of $223, 33S.28.
Subsistence supplies for the army have
been mainly procured in 10 large market
cities. The average cost of the ration at
these markets has been about % cents.
Salt meats on the Pacific coast for troops
stationed there, have been obtained at IA
vorable prices. Tobacco, at an average
monthly value of 100000, has been fur
nished to troops at cost pr ces, and the
Freedmen's Bureau has been supplied
with stores to the value of nearly $3.50, 1000,
most of which has already been paid for,
and the remainder is in process of refund
ing at the treasury. The issues to the In
dams at various points have amounted to
more than $150,000, and at the request of
the Interior department stores valued at
$1,000 were issued to destitute Osages
and Others to prevent starvation during
the winter. Under an arrangement
between the War department and
the Department of the Interior, the
Indian department is being furnished with
food for the Indians on the several reser-
vations on the Missouri river, and in the
Indian Territory. The rations furnished
is prescribed, or approved, by the Interior
department, and its value is to be repaid
from appropriations made by section 4, of
the act of April 10, 1869. There have
been paid $27,26l.75 as Communication of
rations to Union soldiers, while prisoners
of war. Claims for supplies furnished the
army during the war, amounting to S2,-
99,S0615, have keen received, of which
SS,033.S7 have been allowed. and ST.
SCI ,06413 have been rejected. During
the fiscal year II ,907 accounts and returns
have been received from various officers,
of which II, 1877 have been examined and
referred to the Third Auditor for final set
Element A change in the army ration,
by extending the variety Of articles, and
also in the manner of disposing of the
savings of soldiers messes and bakeries,
would be of advantage A change in the
law is recommended, so as to allow officers
of the line, when acting as assistant COM
missioners of subsistence, to receive $50
per month in addition to their pay, in
stead of the sum of $40, less one ration
per day, now allowed.
The current expenditures of the Medi
cal department during the fiscal year end
ing June 30, 1869, were $233,56121. The
total expenditures of that department, in
Guiding war debts and refundments, were
$70,S3O,536, and the available balance at
the close of the year was $179,205073
The health of the troops has been good
during the year was 104,235. The average
number constantly sick since last report
was 1866, or about 81 per cent The num-
Der of deaths was 54S; of. discharges for
disability LIPS. The number of commits
stoned medical officers for duty on June
30, 1862 was 1851, being an average Of one
medical officer to 204 men. The number
of posts was $3.50, besides detachments and
outposts. There are now two vacancies OF
surgeons, and AZ Of assistant surgeons in
the medical corps. The experience of the
past three years has shown that the pres
ent organization of the medical staff is
satisfactory; but even were all the vacan.
cies in it filed it would still be barely
adequate to the demands made upon it.
The Paymaster General presents the
following summary:
Balance In hands OF paymaster at the
beginning OF the fiscal year, july
1893. ..,...,.........,.... 49,. s5,9s157s IA
Received from the treasury during