Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-05-14

WASHINGTON, May 13.-In response to q res
olution from the House committee on Pacific
railroads calling upon the secretary of war for
information as to the saving in expenditures
resulting to the government from the construc-
tion of the Northern Pacific railroad, Represen-
tative McLene, chairman of the committee, re-
Secretary Ramsey concerning the re-
port of Gen. Sherman, dated May 7th,
1880, and the report of the quartermaster gen.
eral dated May 8, 1880.
The letter is very voluminous and goes into
details of various contracts for military trans
portstion made by the government during the
past ten YEAR,. 1t states that the total cost to
the quartermaster department for Transports
tion over the Northern Pacific railroad for the
fiscal year ending June &c. 1877, was 500,
and if the same transportation rates had been
applied in 1869. one year before the Northern
Pacific railroad was opened between
any points in the department of
Dakota, the government would have
saved over $400,000; that the quartermaster's
department paid fully six times as much for
transportation to all points of the department
now reached by the railroad as it has since the
railroads were constructed, which would indi-
cate saving to the government of
OVER THREE MILLION DOLLARS
in the cost of military transportation during
the years the Northern Pacific railroad ha s
been in operation.
II see," the report says, "the effect of the
railroad construction on the frontier is to en-
able the government to establish new military
posts and garrisons further in the wilderness,
in closer proximity to Indian tribes, and in
unsettled regions, before practically inacces-
sible. In this respect the army may be con-
sidered the vanguard of civilization, the wagon
haul and steamboat service, necessary for the
supply of new posts established in these re-
mote localities, and consequently transporta-
tion expenses are decreased. Such has been
Pacific railroad, and will continue probably
until it
SPANS THE CONTINENT.
Important considerations which should not
be overlooked in comparison of rail with wagon
transportation in military movements, are the
vastly superior facilities of safety and speed
afforded by rail, the effects of which are
large saving in the expenditure of public
money and improved quality of subsistence
and supplies for troops serving on
the frontier; quick movements and
consequently shortening and absolutely
preventing of military campaigns and
expeditions. Six days per 100 miles for mule
transportation and eight days per 100 miles for
OK transportation was the time allowed for
wagon transportation in the department of
Dakota in 1863. The Northern Pacific railroad
probably transported stores as long distance
in one hour as wagons and teams did in one
day and delivered stores at their destination in
a much better condition"
Touching the Pacific division of the North
ern Pacific railroad, the report says: 1t is not
much used at present. but doubtless, as it ex-
tends eastward it will open new and better and
Iaol mt of To IA IN
the military department of the Columbia, es-
pecially to those at Couer :D'Aloane and Col
vile, and similar results will probably spring
from the extension of its line, as have been ex-
perienced in the department of Dakota from
The line of the same road now extended west
ward.
GENERAL sHERMAN's REPORT.
The following is General Sherman's report
in full:
Headquarters Army OF the United States,
Washington, May 13.-To Hon. A. Ramsey,
Secretary of War-SIR: have the honor to
acknowledge the receipt by reference from you
of the resolution of the House committee on
Pacific railroads calling for information as to
the probable saving in money to the military
authorities by the completion of the Northern
Pacific railroad from Bismarck westward,
and it's general effect on the
military and Indian service in that
quarter. In the summer of 1877, madesa mil
itary reconnaissance from st. Paul to Puget
Sound, purposely to become acquainted with
the region to be traversed by this Pacific rail
road, and send herewith for use of the COM
mittee the bound copy Of my report with maps.
Since 1867 have been in constant correspond
ence with army officers and with prominent
citizens, thus keeping up my knowledge of the
development of the United States.
with its telegraphs, railroads and COM
mon roads, so that propose to write whereof
1 know. In military sense the immediate
extension of this railroad from Bismarck to the
Yellowstone, and up the valley of that river as
high as the mouth of the Big Horn, will
BE ADVANTAGEOUS BEYOND ANY ESTIMATE
the quatermaster general may make, because
this railroad will transport men and supplies
for ten if not twelve months of the year, while
the Missouri and Yellowstone rivers are barely
navigable by light draught boats for two or at
most three months. This part of the
Northern Pacific railroad will stimulate
enligrants to occupy the line of the Yellow
stone east and west to such an extent as to
form barrier to nomadic Indians who have
heretofore gone back and forth from the
Sioux reservation south to the British territory
north, and will enable US in very few years to
give up forts Keogh and Custer, each requiring
for garrison full regiment of infantry and
four companies of cavalry. These could
then be moved north to the British line,
OUR PERMANENT FRONTIER.
By this process we divide the hostile Sioux
and can subdue either moiety with more GER
tainty and at less cost than now. This railroad
once completed, the eastern slopes of the
Rocky mountains on the sources of the Tongue
and Powder, Big Horn, Mussell Shell and
Judith rivers, will fill up with cattle
ranches, making further barrier to the
operations of hostile Indians and adding
largely to the wealth of the nation. 1t is
equaliy important to the military and civil in
terests of the whole country that Montana
be an immediate result of the extension west
ward of this northern railroad beyond the
Rocky Mountains. The
MOST IMPORTANT LINK
in this railroad is that from Walluls, the head
of navigation of the Columbia river, to Lake
Rendorville, which will result in the
settlement of that part of Washing
ton Territory and Northern Idaho,
region capable of maintaining large popu-
lation which In a short time would settle the
Indian question in that remote region, and
facilitate and cheaper intercourse for q base of
supplies for Fort Van Couver, with Forts Col
vile, Couer D'Aloane and Lake Chelon, now
garrisoned by the Second infantry.
am unable to make even an approximate es-
innate of the cost in the saving of transporta-
tion of men and military stores by the compile
tion Of this railroad, but this bears q small
proportion to the great result of opening up to
settlement regions now wild which would give