Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-07-18
WORKING THE GOVERNMENT
The Railroads Make Uncle Sam Pay Well
for Transporting Troops
An Army Omcer Tells How He Man.
aged to Even Up the Score
Somewhat.

An Army OmceF Tells How He Man.
aged to Even Up the Score
Somewhat.
Now that the trouble Is about over in
Chicago, 1 presume this talk about a
| needed increase in the army will be allowed
to die out" said a prominent army officer
to a Star reporter this morning. "You don't
think SO? Well. 1 hope not. but have an
idea that it will just the same. People are
likely to forget that the danger may arise
again at any time. when the regular army
will be called upon as 1t has been within
the past few weeks. There Is one thing
that is not often taken into account when
We think of how our forces are scattered
throughout the country. and that Is the
cost OF mobilization at any particular point
at n given time Compared with European
nations the distances from which troops
must be transported when they are needed
are something startling, and the cost Is
larger than any would think. In the
case of the infantry 1t is not so bad, but
when it comes to carrying horses and the
guns of a light battery it is altogethe a
different matter"
You don't mean to say that the rail-
roads are very particular about collecting
fares for soldiers who are brought in for
the protection of railroad property" asked
The Star man.
That is just exactly what do mean to
say. If you notice. you will see that rail-
roads look upon the government as some
thing from which they must get all they
possibly can every time they get chance
You can't get very many horses into
freight car and when you take the guns of
the battery they have to go on trucks and
they are pretty bulky freight. OF course
they have to go through on express time
and express rates are charged in full.
have had some funny experiences in this
line in times past" said the officer, in
reminiscent mood.
No Passes Issued.
Il remember back in the eos was sta
tioned down In Kansas at the time the
Kansas Pacific railroad was being built
The Indians were pretty thick at the time
and our principal duty consisted In protect
Ing the construction parties from the at
lacks OF the redskins. 1t was necessary to
keep a force of buecoats right up at the
head of the line all the time. 1t was pretty
hard going and not much fun, you may be
sure. and every Saturday night we used to
fix ii so that two of the three officers Of the
company could slip back to the army post
to spend Sunday with the boys. Do you
know that that road had the effrontery to
try to charge for our transportation. when
We were just about the only passengers
they had to carry. and we had to ride back
on a gravel car? Kicked? Well, you bet
we did. and 1 don't think the road made
very much out Of us, but still 1t was
squeezing pretty close when you think that
We were assigned to that wretched task
solely for their safety and comfort. They
would send the construction train through
to the end OF the line as fast "a al the, tra oks
were laid. though. Of course. 1t was a pretty
tough case of travelling. We got our SUD-
plies through on the freight cars and do
you know they charged freight for those
supplies? They wouldn't give us way
bill or receipt of any sort. nor would
they be responsible in case of loss. 1t was
necessary to send man along with the
supplies. and they charged fare for that
man. .3-'
But 1 got even after a while. though 1t
was sometime coming. l remember one
| fall the cold weather came on earlier than
usual and the railroad men found themselves
short In the matter OF blankets. l was
acting as quartermaster at the time and
had considerable number that we did not
need right away, but I had no authority to
lend them. The matter was finally referred
| TO Gen. Schofield, who was In command
OF the department at that time. and he or
dered me to comply with the request If
there were no good reasons to the contrary
! let them have several bales Of army bian-
kets, about hundred and twenty In all
| and II was very timely loan. can as
| sure you.
Got Even with the Comu.ux.
| "S,me ttma af,sr Tho, 7 -....,...
| Co., ~. W.. DS U ''"ei"
No'' inc war department 10 transfer the
! government moneys for which 1 was re-
sponsible from a Kansas national bank to
the subtreasurer Of st. Louis. That official
| will not receipt for checks and it was
necessary to carry the cash itself to St
Louis. / thought 1t would be a pretty
| nice trim for me. "a had been COMMUNICATING
| II for some time mast When sas ~
| vice president Of that same road ona a.,
| suggested that a nass 70 81 Tou,s ,,'a y
come in very handy hut he t,,rraa 49,
my request with great aIacrity. He said 7
was going On government business and the
so gov. ri n, couiu pay my miiease. rms
| 7 went to 81 Louis met tho cave 60 -
quiet. thinking that my turn would come
some day. 1t did. Shortly after I got back
one OF my men came TO me and told me
tnat ne nan peen GOWN among the STABLES
| Oh tne rairoau CONSTRUCTION party and
tnat ne nad round there ABOUT sixty gov
efnhent nhues.
snort time before number OF Uncle
sam quaurupeds nad been lost from
~ a