The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1899-03-19
ALoER WILL START FOR
CUBA WEDNESDAY NEXT
Details OF the Trip Are Secretly Guarded
10 Avoid the Redieuie It Would
Likely Entail.

NEW YORK. March ls.-The Tribune
says: II Is asserted here BY persons who.
II Is believed. are In a position 70 have
correct information that General Alger.
secretary OF war. II planning TO start on
his tour OF inspection Of Cuba and Porto
Rico next week. Arrangements have
been made. Il Is said. 20 have the trans
port ingalls, at Savannah by next Wed
nesday and Secretary Alger whl start
from that port.
Every detail OF the proposed trip has
been zealously guarded and all the Of
iiclals connected with the army depart
ment have been enjoined 10 secrecy. II
has been the secretary's Intention to
leave Washington quietly and go on the
trip before the public should learn OF
Il. For this reason Savannah was chosen
Instead OF New York as the port from
which 10 sah.
Secretary Alger planned 10 take this
trip OF inspection 70 Cuba and Porto
Rico In the latter part Of January. and
orders had been given 10 the transport
officials TO hold the Meade in readiness
for the secretary and his party for the
ars, week In February. Then Secretary
Alger decided tiat the transport needed
to be repaired. and the trip was post
poned until March s.
Then the Meade went 10 the Erie basin
to be refitied for the secretary. Sons
OF the newspapers ridiculed the pro.
posed ''junke;" as they called 1t. and
continued 10 make 50 much fun OF the
expedition that II is said the secretary
became sensitive about II. When th'
time came 70 go. congress was consider
ing the army bill and the secretary Init
mated that Il would be impossible foi
him to leave Washington al that tint
and 4, was reported that the trip OF in
I spectlon TO Cuba had been given vi
indefinitely. But It 10 now declared tha
the secretary has been planning 10 carr!
out his Intention for some weeks.
Because OF the publicity given TO III
plans. for the former proposed trip an'
the annoyance which II caused Genera
A,ger. he resolved. II possible to carr!
out his intention and get safely ava.
before Il should be learned he was gong
After consultation with Colonel Bird
in charge OF the Washington transpor
bureau Il was decided that the lngall
should be the official transport. Tn
ingalls, was formerly the Clearwater
She has been undergoing a thorough
overhaullng and rehtting in the shipyard
at Elizabethport. where she has been 10
the last two months. Everything abou
the boat. from stem 10 stern, is in I'm
condition.
The ingalls, is not so large as the Mead
or other transports but she is goo
sea boat. Captain Wright, U. s. ", tn
auartermaster in charge hiss worke
early and late in picking out an effieien
crew and in getting through the reauisi
tions for the furnishings and supplies.
The orders are TO have the ingalls, a
savannah on next Wednesday withou
fail and every detail or arrangement an
furnishing in the ship must be withou
a flaw. The accomplishment Of this
worrying the transport officials. 1t
planned to have the Ingalls, sail for So
vannah from the transport pier In BrooR
lyn al 10 o'clock on Mondy morning. Tn
boat is TO be provisloned for 30 days bu
It is not known just how extensive
tour will be made.
The ingalls, was formerly In tie servic
OF the Louisiana Lottery Company whe
that concern was driven out OF New Oh
leans and had to go to british Honduras
The steamer carried the lottery CON
panys business from Honduras to Ne'
Orleans She is easily able 10 make
knots an hour is about 225 feet Ion
but has narrow beam.