Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-11-02
ARMY EXPENSES.
Report OF the Quartermaster General.
COST OF LODGING, CLOTHING, MOVING AND
BURYINa SOLDIERS.

Quartermaster General Holabird, in his an
nual report to the Secretary of War, states that
the amount available for the department for
the fiscal year ending June 80, 1885, was
$11, ,3S4.S5. The total amount expended
during the year was S11, 1873 ,3O9. 76. leaving a
balance in the treasury June 80, 1885, of
$685., O75.O9. The report gives in detail the
duties devolving upon the department and the
names and stations of the officers performing
them. The construction of ninety-seven new
buildings ut various military posts at an esti-
mated cost of S229. $50 is reported, and the sale
of twelve buildings was authorized.
BARRACKS.
No action has yet been taken by Con-
gress upon the appropriation required
to erect permanent barracks and quarters
for the recruiting depot and school for
recruits at Davids Island,N. Y. An appropria-
ton of 100000 for the purpose is still re-
perhaps only be well applied in the first year
after the appropriation is made. Twenty thou
sand dollars is required for immediate use in
construction and repairs at jefferson barracks.
The necessity for assembling troops in larger
and more permanent posts near Indian reser-
vations and in proximity to the great strategic
points OF the country becomes daily more ap-
parent.
THE LARGE CAsEMATED FORTS ON THE SEA
BOARD
need garrisons for their preservation and de-
Tense, and the troops ought to be quartered in
time of peace in barracks outside the works, as
easemates do not furnish healthful quarters 1t
I Is not humane to make men live in these struc-
lures, except in time of war; At Fort Adams,
near Newport, R. l., at Fort Warren, near Bos-
ton harbOr, and at Fort Hamilton, New Y ork
harbor, there are required Immediately for
sanitary reasons, barracks and quarters for the
garrisons of these posts outside the walls o. the
forts.
TRANSPORTATION OF TROOPS.
Transportation by rail was supplied by the
department for 25 ,292 persons, $3.50 animals
and 76, O19 tons of material, at cost of 81 500
941.4O. The total cost of the transfer of troops
during the year was $40, 1868. The total
cost of water transportation during the year for
1859 persons, 175 animals and 1O,313 tons of
material was $1O4, 625.55; ,43O cavalry and
artillery horses were purchased during the year
at an average cost of S142.22 per head: 26
draught horses at an average cost of S1S6.54:
244 mules at an average cost of $15S.95, and 4
500 cn hs1e and in
horses, 3S3 team horses, 5,54S mules and
oxen.
During the year 2,5O7 miscellaneous claims
and accounts, amounting to sos, 563.42, re-
ceived action, and at the end OF the year there
remained on file 1O,967 miscellaneous
claims s inns os and 10 227 accounts amounting to
The clothing ofthe army has been satisfactory
so tar as known.
SOLDIERS GRAVES.
At the close of the year there were 50 national
cemeteries, containing 1922, S51 interments. The
private, village and city cemeteries is about
completed. The appropriation for this work is
nearly exhausted, but applications continue to
be received, and if this work is to be continued
it is recommended that a further appropriation
by Congress be made, to include provision for
the graves of soldiers of the Revolutionary and
other wars prior to 1861.
THE ROLL OF HONOR.
Attention Is again called to the fact that the
supply of the edition of the roll of honor is ex-
hausted. The records have been revised, cor
rected and rearranged, and it is important that
a new edition be printed. The public printer
estimates that 6, 900 copies of threevolumese each
would cost $50, 900, and 1t is recommended that
an appropriation be made therefor. An increase
of SIT, 600 Is asked for to the customary appro-
prialion for the care and maintenance Of the
national cemeteries, for the additional eX-
penses in repairing roads. They were built at a
great expense and it seems a waste of public
money to allow them to become useless for the
want of a small annual expenditure for their
repair and preservation.
In concluding his report Gen: Holabird COM
pliments the services Of the officers of the de-
partment, and says: "To those detailed officers
doing duty in the department., there seems to
be no other reward than that arising from the
consciousness of a large amount OF extra duty
wen done, for which extra duty Congress has
thus far appeared to be unwilling to pay"