The New York herald., 1876-01-28
~ Division or the Missouri headquarters at Chicago,

bFieou VI tHc Ml1oOufli S"A~~o"f
Major General Hancock, commanding the Military
Division OF the Atlantic; headquarters In New YORK
Mayor General schoheld commanding the Military
DySon OF the Pacific headquarters in San FRANCISCO
Major General Mcdowell commanding the Military
DIVISION OF the SOUTH headquarters In Louisville, KY
brisadier General Pope, commanding Department of
.ne hlAsourii headquarters at Fort LeavenWOrth,
Kansas
Brgadier General Howari commanding Depart
ment of the Columbia; headquarlets ortland Ore
gon.
Brigadier General Terry, commanding Department Of
Dakota; headquarters al ST. Paul Minn.
Brigader General Ord, commanding Department Of
Texas, headquarters at San Antonio Texas.
!, Brigadier Generd Augur commanding Department OF
the Gulf; headquarters at New Orleans, La
General Crook commanding Department OF the
Platte; headquarters at Omaha
Each OF these generals has about dozen stan
officers each OF whom like himself not only occupies
the most expensive houses quarters, for Offices
as we'll II viii be observed from the foregoing list
that but one-General Pope-has his private quarters
and official headquarters In military fort All the
rest stationed in the largest and expensive
cities in the United States Uncle sam footing the
mense rent bills which these prodigal boys IN
blue each year accumulate against him, GEN
eral Pope alone OF the entire number being con-
tent TO occupy such public quarters aud Offices ss he
can ind within the limits OF his department, thereby
saving the government many thousands OF dollars
every year Since the other generals will adopt
this plan OF economy voluntarily and not got
aSecretary Of War TO enforce such a measure Con.
gross should by legislation compel its prompt adoption
General sherman, despite the petty annoyance5
which he has been subjected by the War Department
should transfer his headquarters to this city, where they
properly belong There much for transferring
the Interior Department, with It's vast Indian interests
or the Agricultural Bureau almost any OF the other
oannes oI oureauA OF the capital 10 some remote cty
as 10 transfer the headquarters OF the army TO ST.
Louis. General Sherman detracts from the importance
which properly belongs to his high Office by hiding
himself away from the capital Of the country Then 10
provide quarters and offices for the other generals
named in the foregoing list, suitable buildings the
property of the government, thereby saving an i'm
mense rent roll to the public treasury be found
ana made available at posts within the limits OF the
various divisions and departments
THE PROPER STATIONS
For example, commencing with the highest in rank,
Lieutenant General Sheridan his headquarters could,
without loss Of efficiency and with great gain in
economy, be transferred from Chicago ILL.,, where
every room and building occupied officers quarters
are paid for at high rental, to Fort Leavenworth,
KAN, more central point from which TO command
the DIVISION and one at which the government is able,
without the additional expense Of dollar 10 provide
ample and suitable accommodation. General Hancock
could transfer his headquarters OF the numerous
and only partly filled forts in his command. Cover
nors Island or one OF the forts in New York or Boston
harbor are admirably adapted TO this purpose
GENERAL sCHoFIRLD
from San Francisco TO Preside Benica Barracks
Cal General Mcdowell from Louisville, KY, TO New
port Barracks, KY, or to the government quarters at
Nashville, Tenn. Atlanta Ga, or Charleston 5, c.
General Pope in the event OF the removal of Sherdans
headquarters TO Fort Lcavenworth, could find cOmmo-
dlous buildings, the property of the government at
Fort Riley Fort Harker both in the line OF the rail
way aud telegraph the field Of probable active
operations than Fort Leavenworth; General Howard
instead of having expensive buildings in tho city Of
Portland Oregon, at public expense could transfer his
headquarters TO the military post OF Vancouver
scarcely hours ride from the city; General Terry
could remove his headquarters from the city of ST.
Paul TO the post at Fort Smelling the latter longer
required for the purposes for which it originally
built the frontier having left It hundreds Of miles
behind in the advance OF civilization, years ago. Prob
ably no better place for General Ords headquarters
be found than the present location, San Antonio Texas
but the rule should apply elsewhere prohibiting
the renting OF quarters and offices The government
"A
erection of buildings for military purposes at San An
tonic. General Augur could save Uncle Sam thousands
OF dollars by transferring himself and staff from New
Orleans which has been surlelted with military of late
years TO Jackson Barracks of tho forts IN the
Department of the Gulf General Crook could with great
advantage to the public service, give up the houses
chartered at high rates by the at the city
of Omaha and establish himself either at the govern
ment barracks that city at OF the large posts
in his deparnentsay at Fort d. A. Russell Chey-
enno the line Of the Union Pacific Railroad 1t can
not be urged in opposition to the adoption of
THIS ECONOMIC PLAN
that the government has not possession OF sufficient
number OF unoccuped available buildings to carry il
out Our regular army numbered upward OF 50, 900
1867, and ample accommodations were possession of
the government at that time 10 shelter comfortably this
entire force. Since that date the army has been
duced from time TO time until to-day 1t numbers about
25. 900 The number of posts has not been less
ened in the meantime but on the contrary several OF
the largest posts now occupied by troops have been
built within the last ten years Hence there would be
difficulty in making the proposed change IL there
was but the determination on the part of the proper
authorities 10 carry out such a measure. II the
latter possesses many advantages and merits
the score OF economy why has it not received the
favorable consideration of the proper authorities
Simply because the attractions and demoraizIng in
fuences Of social life in our large cities have been too
strong and overwhelming 10 be easily overcome or dis
regarded by our military men. Tho latter as class
peculiarly susceptible to the enjoymens say
the frvolties, of fashionable life our great cities
This IS not surprising when IL is considered how inn
portant element public and private
bages and social entertainments the military is recog
nized 10 be- not only IN tins present but IN all past
ages and in all countries Most OF the generals Of our
army, well as large majority Of the stan officers
are married men with families The combined inau-
ences of all these particularly Of the feminine portion
Is cast in favor OF leadrg semi military life IN the
large cities the centres OF fashion In other words
the desire Is TO command the advantages Of
CIVIL AND MILITARY LIFE,
and 10 avoid far possible the harsner duties OF
treasury should be drawn upon each year for several
hundred thousands OF dollars 1t may be claimed by
the military society seeker that IL is necessary to
establish tho headquarters OF our generals In large
cities order attend to the question OF supplies.
This is all bosh Supplies Of all kinds Tor the OF
the army are obtained by contract after due publicity
the papers the country and are never inspected
or examined by the general but by one Of his stan
officers. There might be an occasional necessity Tor
the presence OF the latter ia OF principal
cities but there the necessity ends such disposition
of various military chieitans with their numerous
saiis would tend to improve the military character Of
both whereas the present mode OF life rs demorazing =
REDUCTION IN THE STAFF.
Again, the number and rank of the staff officers
authorized should be reversed and reduced Look at
the staff OF the General OF the Army; de-camp
with the rank Of colonel greater in number than
required for five artillery regiments What these
six spread-cagled warriors find do besides drawing
their pay with punctua regularity and tipping the
light fantastic with the beautiful bellies OF ST. Louis
more than any fellow can and 1t is safe TO say
that If the combined duties o this half dozen
shifted TO the shoulders OF there would be loss
in efficiency and immense gain in economy These
SIX aides cost the country annually about $40 000
clu1ing pay, quarters Offices and emoluments
They all gallant and efficient officers, ornaments
TO their profession and willing respond TO every
call which their country will make upon their services
But the trouble IS the country has particular de-
mand present for such high priced services Then
comes the stan Of the Lieutenant General Of the Army
General sheridan has furnished the best proof possible
TO show that the stat allowed hiTn by existing law
moro than he or the interests Of the service require
Here in this city is Lieutenant Colonel Fred Grant
holding, by law and
sHERIDAgfAS SELECTION,
the position OF aide TO the Lieutenant General with the
rank and pay Of lieutenant colonel With and
brief exceptional instances OF performing military
d.. L.e L.r. ....arl. L.L-