Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1870-02-17

out or the way tnefe, anu make room !,
I've got the biggest toad in the puddle"
-No'o Bedford Mercury.
How Secretary stanton Sundered
Red Tape.
After the rebellion was crushed in the
Spring of 1865, the Union regiments had
Anal grand parade at Washington be-
fore being sent home and mustered out of
service. Among them were the troops
of Minnesota and Northern Wisconsin,
some ten regiments in all.
A gentleman prominent in railroad en-
terprises in Michigan heard that these
ment to go home by the way of Philadel-
phia, Pittsburg, Fort Wayne and Chicago,
at rate of fare So per head higher than
and the Detroit and Milwaukee Railroad
and Steamboat line would carry them
over a route one hundred and sixty miles
shorter.
This gentleman sought an interview
with Secretary Stanton, to see if the pro-
posed route could not be rectifed and the
cheaper and shorter one adopted. He
waited in the crowd of men having bust
ness at the War Department until his
turn came, and then approached the desk
of the great minister.
What do you wish of me, sir 2" was
the question gruftiy put to the Michigan
der.
Il came to suggest saving of time and
expense in carrying home some of the
Wisconsin and Minnesota regiments"
Estate your case, SIR" was the blunt
command of the Secretary.
"The Pittsburg, Fort Wayne and Chi
gage route is one hundred and sixty
miles farther and costs 50 more per head
than the one 1 would suggest, by way of
Cleveland, Detroit and Milwaukee,"
Can you prove it by the map y
Eyes, SIR"
"Show me the two routes" And the
Secretary adjusted his eyeglasses, and
with pencil and paper in hand followed
the line drawn by the Miohigapder. The
result of his calculations justified the
claim made by the latter.
"Call Gen. Meigs," was the next order
of the Secretary.
In few moments Quartermaster Gen.
eral Montgomery G. Meigs came into the
room-a slow-motioned, pompous old
man, of Georgia birth. He had held his
position at the head of the Quartermaster
Department because he stood in the line
of precedence and was loyal to the old
flag But he was often an obstruction to
the gigantic work of putting down the
rebellion from his red-tape formality, his
hardness and his acknowledgements.
"Gen. Meigs," said Secretary Stanton,
"by what route do you propose to send
home the Northern Wisconsin and Min
nesots soldiers :"
"By the Pittsburg, Fort Wayne and
Chicago"
"Is that the shortest and cheapest
route?"
81 suppose SO, sir. thought it was all
right"
"Will you help this clerk compare the
distances by that route with the distances
by way of the Cleveland steamers to
Detroit and railroad steamers to Mil
waukee, and tell me the result ~
1t was speedily done by the aid of rail
road guides and maps, and the reply
made
zone hundred and sixty miles shorter"
"Did you know, Gen. Meigs," demanded
the Secretary with a rebuking tone and
terrible flash of the eyes, "that the fare
is 50 per man cheaper by the shorter
route than by the longer one which you
had selected ?"
mo, sir, [ didn't ing re,-supposed it
was all right !" replied the for once hum
bled @. III. General.
"Well, sir, it is all wrong. You will
send those regiments home by the Cleve-
land steamers and the Detroit and Mil
waukee railroad and steamers, and save
distance and time to the men and ex-
pense to the government
"But, sir, there is an understanding
with the the Pittsburg, Fort"
"No matter for that" burst out the
wrathful Secretary. "Alter the route
Immediately, and make a contract as l
have directed. And another time you
must take the trouble to inquire about
distances and fares before engaging trans
portation for these returning regiments.
Good morning, gentlemen p
And so it came to pass that the "boys
in blue" went home to the far Northwes
by steamer across Lakes Erie and Michi-
gan and by the Detroit and Milwaukee
the beautiful spring time of the year
They had nice clean berths and comforta-
BILE means of washing on board the steam
ers, and at Detroit, Grand Haven and
Milwaukee they were generously fed by
the contributions of the people. The
war was over, it was an era of good feel
ing, and even malignant copperheads
gave money to feed the returning soldiers.
The government saved handsome sum
by the change of route, and the soldiers
were made to feel everywhere welcome
and happy.
So much for having bold and honest
Secretary of War, to cut the red tape in
which conceited and lazy subordinate
had got entangled.-Lansing (Mich) Re
publican.