The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1876-05-25

and unoccupied people. Yours most
respectfully,
PETER COOPER.
GRANTS GREAT HORSE FARM.
DID BE OR THE TREASURY PAY HIS BLACK
SMITHS BILLS?
Baltimore Gazette Information was
received at the Office OF the Gazette on
Saturday to the effect that President
Grant had operated his stock farm, near
ST. Louis, largely at the expense OF the
Government The serious charge was
fully and carefully investigated, and is
verified by the statements of Captain
George T. Robinson an ex-army officer;
Sergeant Cotfman. in charge OF a recruit
ing Office Of the United States in Balti-
more, and Private Ashby, also of the
regular army, now member OF the
mounted service in Baltimore.
Captain George T, Robinson stated, in
reply to inquiries, as follows:
z. Do you know anything about Gea.
Grants stock farm? a. Yes.
q. Where is i, located A. About
nine miles southwest OF St Louis.
q. Under what circumstance did you
first visit it? A. General B. II. Grierson
came to me with an order from General
Grant to detail me to 60 to his farm and
there lay out private race track, which
| refused to do, and stated my refusal to
him; | said if it was request | would do
it cheerfully, but refused as a captain Of
United States cavalry to lay out private
race track on a private farm; be took
the letter and went back to his barracks.
q. Can you recollect the wording
of the letter A. It was about as toll
lows:
Understanding that you have an en-
gineering officer at your station, YOU
will order him to lay out race track on
my farm.
IT, S. GRANT.
Captain Robinson, continuing Near
ly week after this General Grierson
presented me with another letter from
Grant Ct saw the letter myselD peremp.
torlly ordering me to do the work
q. How did the order read9 A. About
as follows:
You will detail the officer competen.
TO do this work, who You have informed
me is at your post. to lay out the track.
He will make requsition for instrume nts.
&c, upon General Simpson. United
States Engineer Corps.
L. S. GRANT.
| obeyed the order and made the req
uisition. 1t was approved by General
Grierson and served upon General Simp>
son. who furnished me Wits transit. lev
ell, chain, rod, back and fore stats. and
steel tape. | ut once made detail
from my company for the necessary men
to do the work wen, to General Grants
farm and laid out the track on ground
selected by General Grierson. Ii was a
halt mile track. The ground was point
ed out to Us BY Grants superintendent
| would furthermore state that while in
command o. permanent troops at St
Louis there was man there named
John Herman, the veterinary surgeon Of
the post. He had charge and instruction
ot cavalry recruits in horsesdoeing
Twice week ne was ordered to 90 10
General Grants farm and attend to all
veterinary matters; also the shoeing OF
all horses requiring it. The men OF the
Tinted States service were detailed twice
week to go up in an ambulance to the
Presidents farm and shoe the horses.
O. How many horses were therea A.
They ranged from twenty to sixty, and
were all supposed to belong to Grant.
Some Of them, believe. however. were
ovaed By Mckee and other members of
the great whiskey St. Louis ring.
z, Who paid the bills for this works
A. The expeBse of this work and sur
veys vas paid out of the United States
Treasury.
SeEgsant Henry Coffman. who has
chargo e the recruiting Office on Centre
Market space, Baltimore. was called
upon. anathe following conversation en-
sued:
Q. where was Grants stock farm loca-
ted' A. Mar ST. Louis.
Q. DID yaa kaow of any work done
there by dsoil from the barracks 4
Several times horses from the farm were
snod at St Lonis barracks Twas told
they were Grsnt's horses. They war.
shod by Dan named Loz;er and others
Private WI. q. Ashley. Of the e;rner.
al Mounted Sesvce. stationed at R.It;.
more. was exAniled - follows
Q. You arr . member OF the Norma
neht troop il TIE ST. Louis b,rracLss
A. Twas: cane there in Fshrus-r
1874.
O. Did you ever sse Captain Robin
son with surveying instrunen,ss 4
Yes.
z. Do you know Of any surveys hav.
ing been made 1t Grants farm: a. Yes