Daily inter mountain., 1899-03-18
He Will Go to Cuba During the
Next Week.
HE HAS BEEN "JOSHED"
And is Now Trying to Get Away With
out Newspaper Men Learr-
ing the Exact Date.

New York, March 1s-The Tribune
says: 1t is asserted here by persons it is
believed arc in a position to have correct
information, that Gen. Alger, secretary
of war, is planning to start on his tour
Of inspection of Cuba and Porto Rico next
week. Arrangements have been made, it
is said, to have the transporting arrange
ments made by next Wednesday and the
secretary will start for Havana. 1t has
been the secretary's intention to leave
Washington quietly and to go on the trip
before the public should learn of it, For
this reason Savannah was CHOSEN instead
of New York as the port from which to
sail. Secretary Alger first planned to
take this trip of inspection to Cuba and
Porto Rico in the latter part of January,
and orders had been given to the trans
port officials to hold the Meade in readi-
ness for the secretary and his party for
tho first week in February.
Then Secretary A1ger decided that the
transport needed to be repaired and the
trip was postponed until March 5. Then
the Meade went to the Erie basin to be
refitted for the secretary. Some of the
"junket as they called it and continued
to make so much fun of the expedition
that it is said the secretary became SEN
sitive about it, When the time came to
go, congress was considering the army
bill and the secretary intimated that it
would be impossible for him to leave
Washington at that time and it was re-
ported the trip Of inspection to Cuba had
been given up indefinitely. But it is now
declared that the secretary has been
planning to carry out his intention for
some weeks. Because of the publicity
given to the plans for the former pro-
posed trip and the annoyance which it
caused Gen. Alger, he resolved If possible
to carry out his intention and get safely
away before it should be learned he was
going.
After consultation with Col. Bird in
charge of the Washington transport
bureau, it was decided that the Ingalls,
should be the official transport. The In
gals was formerly the Clearwater. She
has been undergoing a thorough over
hauling and refitting in the ships yards
at Elzabethport, where she has been for
the last two months. Everything about
the boat from stem to stern is in fine con-
dition. The Ingalls, is not so large as the
good sea boat. Capt. Wright, U. S. ",
the quartermaster in charge, has worked
early and late in picking out an efficient
crew and In getting through the requisi-
tiOns for the furnishings and supplies.
The orders are to have the Ingalls, at
Savannah on next Wednesday without
fail and every detail of furnishing in the
ship must be without flaw. The accom-
pjishment of this is worrying the trans
port officials.
1t is planned to have the ingalls, sail
for Savannah from the transport pier in
Brooklyn at 10 o'clock on Monday morn
ing. The boat is to be provisioned for so
days, but it is not known just how extern
sive a tour will be made. The ingalls, was
formerly in the service of the Louisiana
Lottery company when that concern was
driven out of New Orleans and had to go
to British Honduras. The steamer car
ried the lottery companys business from
Honduras to New Orleans.