The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-06-02

tary telegraph lines and cables, includ-
ing the salaries of civilian employees,
supplies, general repairs, etc.
Then follows a significant recommen-
datiOn for $3.50, 900 for an eXpeditionary
force TO Cuba, required by the war
department for immediate use" The
items are as follows:
For machinery and equipment for the
| construction and repair of roads, $780,
900.
Construction and equipment of mill
tary railroads, 1925, 900.
Additional intrenching tools, electric
appliances, Photographic and topo-
graphiceoutfit instruments and maps,
manuals, and for special and technical
services, $4,000.
Contingencies involving immediate
expenditures of imperative urgency
that cannot be specified in advance, to
be expended under the direction of the
major general commanding the army.
$4,000.
CUBAN OPERATIONS.
The letter outlining the expeditionary
project against Cuba is written by Gen
eral Ludlow, whose special engineering
services were awaited of by Secretary
Alger to outline what was needed. It
is dated May %, was forwarded by Sec
rotary Alger, and says:
ering the project, with estimates for the
establishment in Cuba of an expedition
airy force of from 5000 to 5000 men, l in
vite attention to the following:
Provisional estimates for this purpose
amounted to $50 $40, which have been ap-
proved and made dependable under the
immediate direction of the major general
commanding the army in the deficiency
act approved May 1, 1895. This did not
include several items that W. import
ant, could temporarily be omitted on the
supposition that no immediate movement
would be made. Furthermore, the pro-
ject for transfer to Cuba of an eXpedi-
tiOnary force has been materially modi-
fed so that, instead of an assumed force
of 5000 for the establishment of a depot
and base of supplies, ii is now proposed
to forward an army Of invasion, to be
composed of 15,c00 or 10000 troops, to be
followed as rapidly as practicable by So
600 more. 1t is, therefore, necessary TO
make provision for the greatly augment
ed scale on which the expedition is to be
equipped and for its forward movement
in the direction of Cuba
RAILROAD BUILDING.
General Ludlow says that for obvious
reasons the plans in detail cannot be
given. but that in a general way they can
be outlined. The general nature of these
engineering provisions, however, may be
clearly indicated, and, in fact, estimated
for. In the ensuing campaign account
must be taken of the face that the rainy
season in Cuba covers the summer months
time and means required for transDorta-
ton, in order not to delay movements and
imperil health. There are few regularly
built roads in Cuba, the principal ones be
ing westward 70 Havana. It is not likely
that these roads have been kept in re-
pair, and it is quite certain that others
must be constructed and maintained. This
viii require road making machinery. as
economizing the labor of troops and leay-
ing them free for the purely military
work for which the numbers in question
viii not be more than sufficient to equal
the enemy. In addition, special means of
transportation will be necessary and port
able 3-foot gauge roads must be provided
Tor on the estab lished lines and along
such additional connecting lines as NAV
be feasible and eXpedient. For RAILWAYS
there should be not less than thirty miles
of track and suitable equipment. which
may be estimated at 5000 per mile for
track and $500 per mile for equipment.
The total of this line therefore, is S225.-
coo: Three outfits of road making ma
chimes. including rock quarrying and
crushing apparatus. road rollers. bitches
and grades, will cost. al IS 600 each. s25.-
900. In addition there should be an adj
dltional allowance of say 500 900 for cleo
trio lights, dynamite and torpedo apDli-
ances, etc, including the employment of
scouts, spies. &C.