The record-union., 1898-06-13
WHAT THE
GOVERNMENT
HAS DONE.
1t Has Been Very Far
From Idle.
War Department Has Done a
Great Deal Of Work.
Twelve Solid Miles Of Freight Cars
Loaded With Provisions.
Troops Have Been Transported Across the
Country, Cannon, Small Arms
and Cartridges Fur
niShed.

Alger to-day gave out for publication
statement showing with exactness
just what has been done by the War
Department in preparing the army for
war. The Secretary said that this mat
ter, which had been carefully prepared
by the heads of the various depart
ments, of course omitted thousands of
details, but still it might convey some
| idea of the vast work accomplished
by the department.
The statement comprises reports
made by Quartermaster General Lu-
dington, Commissary General Egan,
Chief of Ordnance General F1agler and
Chief of Engineers George Wilson. The
report of the Subsistence Department
shows that it has since May 11th, or
less than a month loaded twelve solid
miles of freight cars with provisions
for the army. This included 10, 126,945
rations, or 322. $50 tons. for the regular
and volunteer troops.
Prior to April 21st in anticipation of
the present emergency, the department
had been accommodating small arms and
cartridges, and had about 2000.G0o
of all kinds. There have been provided
many millions more by manufacture
and purchase since April 21st, and the
manufacture and delivery of small
arms and cartridges will soon reach
100000 per day There have been is
sued to the army small arms of all
kinds, and the supply is sufficient for
anticipated wants.
Since April DIST the old regular bat
teries have had their armament in
creased from four guns and caissons
to six guns and caissons. The new
regular batteries have been supplied
with six guns and caissons and their
battery wagons and forges.
Sixteen volunteers batteries have
been supplied either in whole or in
part.
The department has sent to the field
a large number of five-inch siege guns
and seven-inch siege howitzers. with
their carriages. timber, platforms. i'm
plements, equipment, tools and chests
complete, also seven-inch mortars.
Smokeless powder is now being issued
for all of the field and siege guns.
The supply of ammunition already or
dered for field cannon is considered suf-
ficient for the present time
There have been shipped to the for
tifications since April 2lst many sea-
coast carriages, guns for which are al
ready provided.
Rapid-fire guns and an ample supply
of ammunition cartridges shell, shrap-
mel, fuses and smokeless powder for
the same. have been purchased, and a
portion of them have already been in
stalled at Government works.
There have been chartered. without
seriously hampering the coastwise
line trade forty-one first-class steam
ships for the transports on the Atlan-
tic coast. four water vessels, one tug,
three steam lighters and one steamer
for the Signal Service Ali of these had
to be refitted to a greater or less ex-
tent
The Government has made most ac-
ceptabIe contracts for coal at New Or
leans, Mobile, Tampa, Key West, Sa-
vannah and fernando, and also coal
afoat, to follow the transports to Cuba.
land Porto Rico.
1t has been most difficult to secure
these ships on the Pacific Ocean. not
because of unwillngness of steamship
companies to give their ships but from
the fact that they We're not available
for the reason that most Of -he COM
panies were trading across the Pacific
and as far south as Panama, and we
could not get the vessels until they ar
rived in port. In many instances these
companies have chartered other ves-
sells to replace those which We're neces-
sary for the Government, to transact
its business American register was le-
uured for a number of ships, but tttere
was no difficulty in getting all the YES
sells necessary for transporting troops
to the Philippines.
Because of the long distance these
ships had to go some delays were
caused in fitting them out as trans
ports.
So far ten vessels have been chart
cred. The procurement of the coal for
the expedition has been left to the
Quartermaster- on General Merri.t's
staff, favorable offers by dealers on
this side of the continent being de-
clned because the distance was too
great.
The movement of troops to the rem
devious points was vast undertaking.
The volunteer troops have gone to their
destination with promptness and re-
markable freedom from accident or de-
lay. Extremely low rates for transpor-
tation were secured, generally not ex-
ceeding one and half cents per mile
Continued on Seventh Pagel