The Cairo daily bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1870-1872, 1872-10-23


pro6ted little by many of the command.
ments which constitute the platform of
christianity.
A SPECIMEN OF GRANTS ECON
OMY.
1t has been vehemently claimed by the
partisans of Gen. Grant that he has in
troduced into the public service an unusu-
al and extraordinary economy. But with
respect to one department Of the govern
ment, at any rate, and that with which Gen.
Grant ought to be most familar-we mean
Of course, the war department-the claim
10 wholly unwarranted by the plainest
facts. 1t is so far from being true, indeed,
that an indefensible extravaganza is east.
ly proved as the chief characteristic of
the present military administration. Let
US see.
For the four years preceding the soth
Of June, 1866, the armies of the United
States were maintained at . constant an
nual strength of nine hundred thou
sand men, the whole number of volun-
teers mustered in during the rebellion be-
ing twenty.siI hundred and lightweight
thousand. The average annual expendit-
ures of the war department for the same
four years we're six hundred and
seventy-eight millions, or total
for four years OF twenty-seven
hundred and twelve millions OF
dollars. 1t is seen from these figures
Notwithstanding the important fact tina,
during those four years the premium on
gold huctusted between 10 and
1856 per cent, and averaged nearly
seventy per cent.-ths average
cost Of the army was Fraction
over seuen hundred and .ffty-three dollar
a man, rank and file.
But let it be remembered that in thi
total expenditure of S2,7l2,OOO,OOO ar
included ALL the cost of the war vi
to the 3Oth of June 1865. In that tots
cost are included one hundred million.
paid for boun,ies and recruiting purposes
one hundred millions tor transportstio
Of troops and munitions; forty-ave mil
lions for constructing and operating raj
ways within army lines there were bull
over 5000 miles Of land and marine tele
graphs; there we're bought and paid fol
seventy-nine hundred cannon; nearl
: twelve thousand artillery carriages; fou
millions of small arms; two and q quart,
million sets Of cavalry an
infantry accoutrsments; ha
million sets Of cavalry horse equi
- ments; twenty-eight thousand sets of a
" tillery harness; one thousand millions
10 cartridges for small arms; three nillio
J. rounds of fired artillery amnunitio,
: nearly thirteen millions Of pounds Of a
Is tillery projeetiles; t,oenty-sir millions
o pounds Of ponder; ninety millions Of poun
u Of lead; and every other instrume
good and bad-and their whole cost W
l. immense-required for q state of acti'
: war: all these are included in the su
: total Of 1888 per man rank and file, und
: the administration Of Mr.. Lincoln.
t Now as to Gen. Grants economy"
n In 1870 the army consisted of s4,s7O o
y listed men and 2,4ss oficers--tot
e 1888 rank and file. The expenditur
d Of the war department for the same 20
d we're $57655,oOo; showing the avera,
B. cost OF the soldiers in the army, man f
D. man, to be fraction over fifteen hundr
- and ffty-sir dollars eachi
In 1871 the army contained 10000 O.
listed men and 2,l49 officers; tot
~ s2,l49. The expenditures of the war d
% psrtment were S44,OsO,OoO. Average CO
% per man Of the army . fraction ov
. thirteen hundred and seventy-three dollar
D. The average premium on gold in 1870 q
is 1871 did not exceed afteen. per cent, a
c the price Of almost all commodities h
y declined pari passu with the decline
- the premium on gold.
7" The foregoing figures are taken from
20 fetal documents Of the government, o.
~ comprehsnsively illustrate the chsrsct
y Of the administration ECONOMY" I
y comment 10 needed TO make the ca
" clearer 10 the dullsst brain.