New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-11-12
THE NAVAL SUPPLY SYSTEM.
WORK OF GREAT BUREAU IN THE
WAR WITHOUT A HITCH.
PAYMAsTER-GENERAL STEWART MAKES THE

| SHORTEST ANNUAL REPORT on RECORD.
| Washington. Nov. II (SpeciaD.-The Bureau OF
| Supplies In the Navy, directed by the Paymaster-
General. combines all the offices performed In the
| Army by the great departments OF Pay, Quarter
master and Commissary OF Subsistence directed
by three Brgadier- Generals yet II has the unique
distinction OF emerging from the war without nav
ing been made the subject of n single complaint in
any quarter Of the globe. 1t has clothed, Wet
ualled. paid and transported the Navy In all parts
of the world. apparently without extraordinary
effort, and many of its achievements in overcoming
obstacles have been little short OF marvellous. The
men OF Admiral Deweys feet. over six thousand
miles from the nearest port closed by neu-
| trality laws. have maintained their vigor with
fresh beef and vegetables, and lacked FOR nothing
to which they were accustomed at home, and the
numerous vessels scattered through the West
Indies on blockade and constantly moving nave
always been plentifully supplied with good food
while the enemy ashore starving Paymaster-
General Stewart has, however, cOntented himself
with making the shortest annual report on record
and the recital Of what was done during the last
is modestly concentrated into the following
statement:
The outbreak of hositics found the supply de-
partment of the Navy organized under system
that for more than eight years had been III process
OF thoughtful and painstaking development. IN
der IT the strain OF the war was EASILY mt ana
The Bureau OF Supplies and Accounts has. through
the pay officers OF the Navy furnished ships.
visions. clothing. ana all that was required TO
render and keep them ready for service making
all purchases for the Navy. directing all shipments
of supplies. and maintaining accounts covering
the entire naval establishment During the period
of active operations )9 vessels were furnished and
r,, 81 80 nofrn Fly in Match tho R,i,
reau began making shipments to Key West, estab-
lIshng there base OF supplies. where stores for
Supplies for 400 men for three months were as
sembled and maintained at Mare Island Cali
forna for 400 men for the same period at Nor
| fol nd Al
with probability of Early hostiii'ies me er COM
early in April to III his ships with supplies and
to purchase collier and supply ship Within
Zafiro were bought the station and the latter
loaded with provisions. SO thai when War was va dc
Plies for five months Larry in MAY the city Of
Picking was dispatched rom san fr 9 &c., MN Mi
three months additional pioylsiGnns Ior tme Meet
and large consignment OF miscelianeous stores.
chase N ,6 retr,reratng s@a ner supply sailed for
the fleet OF Cuba. loaded WIN iresh meats ge;e-
DeS arg p' pur rC and speedily sailed with
10000 pounds of beef and mutton IN cold storage,
and large general cargo.
Early in June steps were taken TO provide the
ships at Manila with fresh provisions: re-
frigeTang steamer was dlsatched ana reached srsb
meats meats 10000 pounds fresh vegetables and other
stores for the feet under Admiral Dewey.
chased. fitted out In similar manner as the Celtic.
anG DISPATCHED to The ships of Cu9 9,.o,o ou,,er
vessels lighthouse tenders and the Naval Militia.
together with the large addition to the regular
and greatly Increased demand for clothing neces-
stating the manufacture within Il very snort
period Of over 100000 garments. This prompt ad-
dition to the stock on hand enabled the bureau TO
e. satisfactorily meet the demands
Nutwthst anding the expedition necessarily en-
ployed in the procurement OF supplies and In the
manufacture of clothing the usual standards were
tractors held strictly to rigid specifications.
with the result that the supplies deliS cred were
the best of their kind. a comparison OF prices
paid during the war with those PAID previous TO u
ad .ertisement. : we'll as for those purchased in
the open market. shows that they were I'm most
b.fore tho beginning of hosttes The amount
paid during the fiscal wear for supplies purchased
81, 400 40 Go
during the fiscal year to slS7 032 500 T. The total
debts $3.50 929 q. leaving balance on June
Treasury through the Bureau. during the fiscal
year 1895 81. SIS si2 G an increase OF S23H6l6 40
over the amount drawn In the preceding year
The cost OF construction OF new ships during Inc
amount paid account Of vessels purchased WIS
s514l. 275 70 making a total expenditure for add
lions to the Navy OF 500 ls2.22G s.
/. s.5.oso "a. to those abroad sai.ess &C.. AMI %
c1uipaCe OF ships s3 22f a. making total ex?endl-
ture for repairs Of S.9c3, s9o ~.
Guiding pay and ratons OF officers and men. incl
dental expenses. material use1 and repairs abroad
81 .t3393 So . 60
Tho expenditures IN account OF the Marine Corps
The cost TO the Navy Of the Lighthouse Estah-
lishment was 1851 92 OF the Coast and Geodet!c
SURVEY. sl629l7 II: OF the Fish Commission
The amount expended for arming and equpping
I the Naval Mit.t. exclusive OF material loared 10
the different States was Sl.OiO A.