The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-08-25
COMMISSARY DEPOT CLOSED.
MAI. g. W. RUTHERS TO LEAVE
SOON FOR BOSTON.

Supplies Handled and Many Thou
sands of Dollars Paid ont Here.
Mai. Ruthers Speaks Highly of sa-
Vannah-Thc Camp at savannah
Was the Best of Amy in the United
states, lie Says. and the Facilities
offered for Handling the Troops
and Government stores the Best OF
Any Port in the south.
The United States commissary depot
which has been in operation in Savannah
a little over a year closes to-day Maj
G. W. Ruthers. the depot commissary, who
has so efficiently handed the immense
work of the depot. will leave tomorrow
or next day for Boston, where he will be
stationed temporarily. He had expected
a leave Of absence after completing his
work ct Savannah, but as the department
appears to need his services he will post
pone his vacation.
Workmen were busy yesterday remov-
ing the desks and other office furniture
from the Offices on the ground floor of the
Central Railroad building on West Broad
street The several million pounds of
stores which were left in stock here after
the last volunteer regiments had been
mustered out, have been distributed over
the face of the globe from Boston to Ma
MIA. several trainload shipments having
been made to the Philippines via San
Francisco. Much of the distribution has
beer made in abe last two months, prac-
ucally ali Of the army posts in reach of
Savannah by water and rail. including
several in Colorado and Texas, having
been ordered to draw their supplies from
savannah.
While the greater part of the stores dis
tributed from Savannah were government
stores SHIPPED here in large lois, thou
sands of dollars have been expended with
the local business men for supplies Of
every character.
Maj. Ruthers declined to give figures of
expenditures when seen yesterday, but it
is known that the amount paid out by him
here is wen over the $4,000 mark, and by
some is estimated to reach nearly 81 ,010 0o0
Much of this of course, was to contract
ors, who delivered their supplies and re-
ceived their treasury warrants here, but
a great deal was paid out to local mer-
chants and besides much of the money
pad the contractors remained here. Con-
siderable employment was gwen to labor
sometimes as many as 80 laborers being
employed in handling stores, and force
of nearly a score of clerks was employed
at tho Office
Besides having charge Of the commits
sary depot. Maj. Ruthers was also in
charge of the transport service so far as
it affected the commissary department,
including the entire supervision of the
stewards department on all the trans
ports.
The susteuance depot" said Mai Ruth
ers. was established at Savannah the
middle of August 1898. 1t has handled
about 30000,000 pounds of food supplies.
Nearly all the food furnished the starving
Cubans was sent from this port Between
5000 and 10000 troops going to Cuba OBJ
tanned thlrty-five to niuety-hVe days sup
pies from the depot. All troops
sent through Charleston as well as those
sent from Savannah, were supplied by the
depot. The depot was transferred from
jacksonville, Fla, bringing with il $500 go
pounds of supplies"
There was not hitch in this big move
ment, and the arriving troops received
their daily supplies just the same as they
had been receiving them at jacksonville.
Mai Ruthers began his service in this
section Of the country during the late I'M
pleasantness with Spain, in assisting in
the mastering in of the First and Second
Georgia Regiments at Griffin. He has
often spoken highly of these two regiments
as comparing faVorably with the hest of
the troops in the volunteer service, re
IN
incnts were Of a superior type, and such
as a regular army officer could take pleas
ure in associating with.
After leaving Griffin Mai. Ruthers was
stationed for some time at Ch!ckamauga,
and later was placed in charged of the
commissarY depot at jacksonville. where
he remained unt{ the removal of he depot
to Savannah. Mai Ruthers said yester-
| day that his associations with the people
| Of Savannah had been very pleasant in
| deed and that he would leave the city
! VITA regret. OF the facilities afforded for
| the coming and handling of troops at Sa-
/ vanuah. he speaks in the highest terms.
The camp @ Savannah" said he, was
/ the best in every respect occupied by any
/ troops in he United States during The war
! with Spain. There was nothing to com
/ pare with il in a that goes 10 make a
/ good camp. The wharfage facilities at
| Savannah excel anything on the Atlantic
! or Gulf coasts south OF Baltimore, and
the handling of he transports here Eeft
nothing 70 re desire1< Savannah is a
/ most charming and beautiful city, and
! leave it with many regrets"
/ Such words Of commentator and an
! prevail coming from a regular army Of
dcer Of Maj. Ruthers' high standing aud
| long experience win give great pleasure
! 10 the people of Savannah who, without
! pEeVious experience in such matters, sim
/ ply afforded the best facilities at their
| command fer the comfort of the troops
/ and the handling of the government bust
| ness, leaving the army officers to do the
/ rest. AS Maj Ruthers was stationed at
/ Ch.ckamauea, Jacksonville and Savan-
nah. as weI as having visited the camps
at Tamaa and elsewhere, his tribute to
! Savannah in this matter is not mere idle
| compliments but is simply a statement of
his appreciation of a very satisfactory
! state OF affairs.
! Mai Ruthers also expressed his appre-
| citation Of the treatment which he and
other army officers had received a the
hands OF the newspapers of Savannah.
/ Both papers published IN the ciy" he
! said, "are clean sheets | have read both
daily. and have never seen any unfair
criticism of the administration or a gov
eminent department
The people of Savannah will part with
Mai Ruthers with regret They have
| found him exceeding courteous and affabe
! and easily opproacha BILE upon all matters
| of business pertaining 10 his department.