Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-11-26
GEN. lUOINGTONS REPORT
Operations of the Quartermasters Depart
ment During the War
Irar sportation Furnished for 09.SI,
Fersohs-"ork of the Local Depot
The Memorial Bridge.

Gen. Ludington, quartermaster general Of
the army, has made a report showing the
extensive operations of the quartermaster-s
department during the war in the matter
OF transporting troops and providing them
with clothing, equipage, stores and sup
plies generally.
VI the S50.WO,000 appropriated by act of
March ., 1898, for national defense the sum
OF sl,9oo.52S.95 was allotted to the quarter
masters department to June 80. 1898 of
"hich the sum of 81 .497 ,397 81 has been re-
initted to officers and transferred, leaving
balance on hand on June 80. 1898 of St
129.2s Since the close of the fiscal wear
June June 10, 1898. an additional sum of So 2s5-
w" was allotted to that departn1ent. the
sum OF 1913, 1867 was received by credit
deposits; and from the total on hand IN.
sum of SeI5 0s4.35 was remitted to 1isburs
ing onicers, leaving a balance on hand
september 8. 1898, Of 81, ,302, ,15192
win an the perplexing difficulties con-
Irontng the department in the matter of
ciothing and equfpage supplies n is re
marked that in the short period of three
ana one-half months an army of 2T5 900
~ men was equipped with such supplies and
IT is further remarked that the army a., in
Cuba, consisting of 1900 men. leaving
thelr tentage behind, arrived al their camn
AT Aohtauk Point, N. Y, and found a COM
there for them. 1N''
Many Of the states which contributed
toward hliing the quota of volunteers of
the first call held their men i'm carnns heN
fore they Were mustered into the iTntted
states service, and when turned over to
the general government they were in MANY
cases without proper clothing; this was
especially the case in regard to undercloth
ing and shoes.
The Washington Depot.
In regard to the work Of the Washington
depot, the quartermaster general saws:
Major L. z. True of this department is
the of1lcer In charge of this depot
me WORK at this depot was augmented
very largely during hostilties, and to prop
erly dispatch the large volume of business
required the most exactiny services on tbe
part of the officer in charge and his corps
OF employees During the brief period of
.ne war the shipments from this depot
amounted to 2S,94U 400 pounds"
from the declaration of war to June 30
1888 The quartermaster's department char
tered Tor service on the Atlantic and gulf
waters forty-three vessels with a total
tonnage of 104 ,2o1 and a carving canacitv
OF l, ,ZsI officers, - 1886 men with their arms.
AMMUNITION, equipment, medical and sub
slstence supplies. and a,746 animals. There
were also chartered four water boats. with
a total capacity of $4,000 gallons three
nghters, two tugs and one barge; also two
barges purchased.
Fourteen large steamships were DUR
chased and fitted up for carving men ami
mails, freight, etc, al a total cost of s., ,431,-
Inc memorial Bridge.
In regard TO the memorial bridge General
Ludington says:
Il renew the recommendations of my pre-
decessors that an appropriation be male
by Congress for the construction Of a bridye
over the Potomac river between the naval
observatory grounds and the Arlington res
ervation, which will furnish a short and
direct route to the cemetery and park and
afford rapid communication between the
Ia GrySp mil Z
Myer, Virginia. This is All important mai
ter, and 1t is hoped 1t may receive the con-
sider&uon of Congress at ITS coming ses-
sion"
General Ludington closes his report as
follows:
Il desire to state that this office, during
the war, has constantly kept in view the
fact that the all-importanr duty devolviny
upon this department was to provide for
and promptly furnish the army with all
needful quartermaster supplies. For months
the most energetic efforts have been made
TO the accomplishment of this purpose.
Practically everything needed for the large |
ly increased army had to be purchased or
manufactured and then transported to the |
numerous camps.
AT the commencement Of hnstilities the
regular establishment Of this department
did not afford enough officers of experience
TO meet all the requirements of the extraor-
dinary situation with which the department
was SO suddenly confronted Important
problems had to be considered and solved,
large business transactions had to be quick
ly concluded in order that the troops could |
be promptly equipped and hurried into the |
field; but notwithstanding all the difficulties
it Is believed that the army has been well |
provided for In this connection 1t shou-d |
be remembered that within tre few months !
OF hostilfties the military operations ex- !
tended to such distant points as Santiago,
Porto Rico, Honolulu and the Pbilippines
where all needful quarterTnaster supplies |
for the army have been promptly for |
warded." /