Arizona citizen., 1871-04-15

own tent. In the process of time, his tent having expanded into structure, the flood wood having become exhaus- ted, used up for fuel, and his men be- coming sick from the effects of the ma- laria of the bottom, the camp was moved back upon the slopes of the mound. Since that time labor enough has been expended in leveling down the mound, in order to obtain room for quarters for one company, to build a two-company post. Fort Whipple was originally located as @ protection for the gubernatorial mansion of his excellency the governor of Arizona. A point about three miles from the mansion was selected, and @ worse place within that distance could scarce ly have been found.
 The expenditure of money that the establishment and maintenance of this post have entailed upon the Govern ment is scarcely credible, if half that is stated be true. The capitol of Ari- zona was removed from Prescott to Tucson, and with it went the guberna- torial mansion, but the post has been kept up to this day, and at an expense entirely inadequate to the benefits de- rived therefrom. The site of Camp Mcdowell is inaccessible no inconsid- erable portion of the year, owing to the impassa bility of the two largest streams in Ar1zona, the Gila and Salt rivers. This post has been most liber- ally supplied, and has always, I am informed, been the most expensive one in the Territory. There being no grazing in its vicinity, all animals there have to be fed on hay and grain the year round, and being surrounded by desert country, no settlers can locate in its immediate neighborhood. As to Camp Goodwin, now abandoned, the hospital records of this post tell its own tale, confirmed by hundreds of officers and men with impaired health and shattered constitutions, the result of disease contracted in the perform ance of duty in that incomparably un- healthy garrison. The necessity for the continuance of either Cady, Colo rado, Crittenden, or Lowell, has ceased to exist, the assertion of those person. ally interested to the contrary not withstanding, and 1 have, therefore, given instructions that no more money be expended at either, except to sup ply the daily wants of the small gar risons now there stationed The means of transportation have been re- duced below the allowance, and the same may be said in regard to the number of civil employees, and if my recommendations in regard to concen- tration are carried out, the reduction in both can be advantageously extend ed The most rigid economy has been exacted from all, and to this end the forage ration has been reduced during the summer for all animals in use, and those not in use have been subsist- ed entirely by grazing.
 The purchase of lime, coal, and fuel has been stopped st all points not de- pots; the hire of packers prohibited except by special authority; and gen. erally the current expenses of posts confined to the pay of the authorized , number of civil employees and men on extra duty; and in some cases this re- duction has been from thousands to as many hundreds. Two disbursing dis tricts, the one embracing Northern and the other Southern Arizona, have been organized, and bonded officer placed in charge of each, who dis purses all moneys in the Quartermas- ter and Subsistence Departments. This arrangement obviates the neces- sity of intrusting large sums in the hands of untried and inexperienced officers, and insures, as far as known, , a faithful and economical expenditure . of public moneys, by concentrating the disbursements, and keeping them within the control of tried and faith ful agents. Advantage has been taken of every opportunity to procure things . at the lowest rates, combinations have been ignored, and contractors held to a strict accountability. As instances, contract was entered into to furnish 300 tons of hay at Camp Thomas, at SS2 per ton, in gold; the contract was annulled, the amount to be furnished reduced to POO tons, and that is now being procured for $44 per ton, i'll cur rency. A combination was entered into to put corn furnished to Camp , Verde up to 9 cents per pound. The , combination was ignored, and an off,