The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-10-18
NOT ONE WORD SAID AGAINST TACOMA

As you are aware. the climate at this sea-
son of the year is nearly perfect
An Investigation on my part some days
since, upon the request Of Maj. Patten.
OF our department demonstrated the fact
tina; the following rentage could be OBJ
tanned here: | quote my telegram n re-
ply 10 his query:
Maj. Patton Cusrtermaster Washing
ton r. c.: Bids received today on tent
age as follows: Six hundred and two wall
tents eight oy ten, ten and Twelve ounce.
enty-nye single filing duck. s. 10; 1875
army duck. ten ounce $50: seventy FIVE.
$3.50: ,wentyseven, Nl.s5: forty. sl4N.
Common. twenty-five. single filling
twenty-five. seven by nine. ti7s each. SIX
hundred and thirty-two tents. varying IN
dimensions and quality from ten by twelve
10 eighteen by ffty. and in price from s. 50
for hospital or storage purposes. Several
makers here can manufacture 10 order at
rate Of from twenty 20 fifty per day on
son. Quartermsster.'
Such vessels are chartered here for
enbarkation from this point would be able
TO coal az once and avoid the expense and
delay Of trip 10 San Francisco, Very
many sailing and other coasting vessels
could readily be brough, into service by
contract per ton 10 carry coal to puscn
Harbor. and ] incline 20 the belief that
the voyage by this northern route would
be much less exhaustive 10 our volunteers,
especially 10 those OF the Northern states.
than the Southern route. Again II Is OF
course we'll known that three ,ranscont,-
mental lines converge and ind their
Western seaport here. For these vari-
Gus reasons l am constrained 10 respect
fully invite your attention TO this place
as 4 point Of embarkation tor portion
Of the force to be sent 10 Manila Verv
respectfully. !signed ao,,Sso~ 70
Captain and Assistant ouarterInasier
I S. Army.
"wi,hou, going into all the details Of my
fight 10 bring business 10 Puget sound.
and the fight made against me because l
dii So / submit me whole matter 10 the
public as 1 submitted II 20 my superior
officer IN the following report:
Interviews With Contractors.
Seattle. Wash. Sept. Is lSa.
ITO the Quartermas,er General United
States Army Washington, d. c. Sir-Re-
ferring 10 your telegram Of September IL,
1899 relative 10 complaints which nave oesn
made against me by persons interested In
Tacoma. that / am not giving them a fair
share OF the business. and also certain
other statements respectfully submit the
following for your Information; VIZ; 'p s9a
indicating 10 Ms that certain transports
would be chartered for use between Puget
sound and Manila. and asking me especial.
/ could fl up the vessels chartered WIN
stalls. con6ensers. electric fans. etc. with
dispatch. | Immediately took Into consul,
I considered as able 10 handle this bust
ness. realizing that large amount or snip
carpenters work would be required as well
as iron work and installing OF condensers
and electric plant. invited Mr., Robert
Moran to my offce for consultation. know
Ing tina, the Moran Bros. were the most
extensive shiphulders and repa,rers on
Puge, sound lip 20 that time my expert
ence with transports had been limited TO
few small repairs and alterations on the
\ - L. ArA Y k,A IN
fore that time during my service here heard
OF any extensive and reliable shipbuiltle-s
except the Moran Bros. although l knew
there quite a number 81 small 60
,ahllshmen,s both in Seattle and Tacoma.
IL called into conference with me Mr..
c. VI. Maxwell. agent Of the General Flee
'rfc Company here. and after consultation.
and much emphasis on my part regarding
I the importance Of accomplishing the work
10 be done that the transports might
he ready to sau I'm accordance with an APP
pointed schedule, these gentlemen assured
me that II AWARDED the work they would
accomplish Il by certain time in con
forraity with which Statemsnts ! wired an
answer - your telegram of July l.. aS
surfing Won that the work could be done
! with dispatch here. had no intention or
thought of overlooking any parties els
whore who might be able n 30 this work,
hut was anxious 10 give you reply as
quickly as possible. and did SO
E" Mr.. Robert Moran later submitted TO
me a schedule of wages At which he would
(
tton II 1t might be necessary. % be
employed in fitting out THESE transports,
giving ma - me same time the use OF
! hts shocs machinery etc. for the execu-
ton 81 the work or for the execution q
sucn would require machinery work. II
was not until several days later that any
person Or persons claimed that work Of
this magnitude could BE- done expeIiriousiy
elsewhere. and ali nv arrangements were
made with The General Electric Company
ana Moran Bros. before the matter VAS
he
After study OF this problem | became
convinced that Il would be useless 20 at
plans and specifications for the work. and
let II by contract. fer the spirit ~ your
Instructions was such that The utmost care
vas 10 he given n provide the best meas
ures FER ne comfort ard safety 81 the ami
mais ~ be shipped. and with The immune
able arnoysnces which have encountered
upon general construction of buildings IN
Ger the com pa,iffva system | realized thaG
work tafs would be folly In this market
anyway. II rot IN otners especially as no
such "ors ~ 70 that tin. Ind beer Don.
IN th,s harh0r. OF none ~ he narhc-s ~
Puget Sound therefore entered into ar
engagements with Moran Bros after wiring
for wear authority. "a ID tae work IN this
Company FAR the Installation ~ slsctrfc
plants fo- lighting and v-ntHs,iaz
" L was Immediately demonstrated that
each one % the TRANSPORTS would rsqUire
condenser gGt aboard Coy cunSeHSing ga
water for use - ths animals er route AM
fortunately Moran Bros asi enough u
these coa9eusers r. our use
>umrion~d to Tacoma.
y also hersrss@ 4 matter = p1bS9tfy i-
j Ten days that a considerable arnSxnf q
forage. !grno~-. ccrys.ga I'D iron. nails. etc
~nGad - required 60 snip WITH thsse ira as
ports an1 ! aso8r this t&rr1e summon
81 - Tacoma ~ Untt~t States Senator
i. =. Foster Urg3rg Ens - come tGere 81
aEre 2 Important business Gr response
- ats te's4gsus visited Tacoma n srs-
fe.n3%3 TIE f1st tn@ CfllseEx e. tAa. rowr
bad Efe s+rcsS*lY a&s2l.-3 &tGn ~ Se~-sr@ a
sor;t-1 of the patronage incident - ,he
tfttHs cat - faesH TRANSPORTS su4 asked
ne 20 20 rhs; ] ccl39 - satisfy sh~sr &C.
zlAnts ass4veti him ths3 ~o4l3 s'aa-
iy IL 81 IN a2y poHsT 70 Aivite tie II after
IS eaG4tA.ay a. z~<ss5-ssa. sE@ went IL fore
= business rGe1 rte-@slaa S1egs quite
4 number - + o:T1A's citizens sere gath
srri - Geet me. e8cA q ssssn7 represent
= snr7s raercantS4e a. manufacturing es-
tAes4AhsTeu1-
A. tA4s 2ate hasl aJreaiy E.-er no:t-
lsi that th@ secretary = Var asa erls-es.
~ - y - =