Sistersville oil review. [volume] (Sistersville, W. Va.) 1896-1901, 1898-09-14

agreeable frequency. The railroad
people, too, insisted that Tampa
was as salabrious a spot for great
encampment as could be found, and
the two lines most interested, the
Florida Central and Peninsular, OF
whose president Mr.. Alger is a:
business partner. and the Plant sys-
tenn, exerted every influence to pre-
vent the removal of the army to a
more wholesome summer locality
in the north. The influence which
the Florida Central was able to-
bring to bear upon the war depart
ment will be readily imagined, al
though the inevitable conclusion is.
far from a pleasant one.
The Plant system was able to,
reach the authorities at Washington
through different channel. Those
who brought pressure to bear, too.
had a double interest at stake, for
Standard Oil money is invested
both in the Plant system and In
the great Florida hotels. To each
it was vastly important financially
that the army should remain in
Florida. High republican officials
at Washington are on the best OF
terms with the Standard Oil people
and the combined pressure OF the
railroad and hotel influence settled
the matter. That all important
point gained, the railroads cast
about for more plumber.
Why not move the men from
Tampa to Fernandino? was asked.
Fernandino was perhaps no more
wholesome than Tampa and no
better adopted for camping
ground but the moving of that vast
body of men and supplies would.
mean more fat contracts with the
government, more huge earnings
tor the railroads, more profits tor
persons who could not openly ap-
pear as interested persons.
The matter was simple.
The men were ordered to Fern
andina.
But about this time the Plant
system became presumptuous. Its
managers refused to do something
demanded by the secretary OF war;
whose business partner is head OF
rial road. Secretary Alger
threatened to seize the plant sys--
tenn.
"All right, seize it," was the un--
expected reply.
Alger appears to have been nom
plussed, for nothing further was
done. After three days of prepare
ton the great caravansary took up
its weary journey to Fernandina.-
and there another camp was formed.
The conditions of health were even
worse than at Tampa, it was found
and this necessitated another move
Where to this time?
Why back to Tampa.
This was after an absence OF
only one week. Again the days of
loading, packing and preparation
that goes with the transportation of
great body OF men at arms with
all their. belongings, and again the
terrible journey. And every time
these men moved, the whole vast
organization of wagons, horses.
cannon, small arms, ammunition
and supplies was hauled about after
them.
Is it any wonder that the earn,
ings of these Florida railroads will
show a great increase over previous
years when three such pilgrimages-
as these are considered? The rail-
roads were now grown bolder In,
some instances the form of unload
ing the material from the cars was
not even gone through. The OFF,
Gals knew its uselessneSs and they
had grown careless of even an APP
pearance of performance of their
contracts. The accommodations
Tor the men, too, grew worse rather
than better and dividends were
earned at even greater cost of sui
fering TO the hapless soldiers than
before.
The move from Tampa to Fern
andina was regarded as so much of
a savage joke that several regiments.
notably the Sixty ninth New York
volunteers and the Second Georgia,
were actually left behind at Tampa
They were not surprised either
when the trains began coming back
a week later.
The cost in millions has been
huge, but the cost in lives and suf-
fering, HON much New York.
NIT4~1I