The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1900-04-04
COST OF ARMY FLEET.
TWENTY-FIVE MILLION EXPENDED
IN BUYING AND CHARTERING.

Ships for Transport Service. SO, 900,
900 for Chartering Vessels Alone il
the Philippine War Service---0n',
One Ship Sold.
Washington, March 29-Actins
Secretary Meiklejohn has sent a re
port from the quartermaster genera
to the senate in reply to resolution
of January 9tb, last, calling upon th'
secretary of war for a list of al
transport ships and other vessels
purchased or chartered by the wa
department since March 4, 1897, to
gether with their names, from whom
purchased or chartered, the cost O.
purchase or charter, the cost of fitting
up or repair, and the number O.
names of vessels sold and the reason
for such action.
The departments answer is in tht
form of three large tables, replying
specially to the various inquiries O.
the senate. From these it appears
that only one vessel was sold, the
steam tug Atlantic, which was worr
out and condemned. She brought
S1,5O9. The transport Hooker, which
was fitted up for laying deep sea
cable in the Philippines, grounded
near Carregidor island, while er
route from Manila to Honk Kong
and was lost. The steam lighter
Bessie became the property of The
government under the terms OF the
charter for Sl2,2O7, and was renamed
Inc heafney.
It was shown that 13 vessels have
been purchased by the quartermas
ter's department since March 4, 1897
exclusive of those purchased for the
army transport service for transpor
tation incident to the Spanish war
These include the ferryboat Johr
Hancock, the steam tugs Gen. Hunt
Martha and John Barry and 10 steam
launches at total cost of Sll2,493
with s9,525 repairs.
Forty-fve vessels Of all classe
were purchased for the army trans
port service during and since tn
Spanish war, including about 25 smal
craft such as tugs, launches an@
lighters, purchased in the Philip
pines. The total purchase price {
these vessels was SS,074,455 and tn
total cost of reftting and repairing
was $5,1S9,O93. The most expensiv
vessels were the transports Gran
Logan, Sheridan, Sherman, Tnoma
and Hancock. The purchase prit
of the first FIVE named was $4,000
each, and that of the Hancock $500
900. The expense of fitting up the:
vessels is stated as follows:
Hancock, s543,5lG; Grant, s429
459; Logan, s4S2,s39; Sherida
$3.50, ,169; Sherman, S526,954; Thor
az, S335,305.
1t thus appears that the Hancoc
Logan and Sherman cost over or
million dollars each, and the 9th
three named a slightly less amour
The purchase price Of the transpo
Meade was SlCO0,OO0 and SS74,0'
was expended in fitting it mp. Fl
purchase price of the Summer VI
sl60,594, and S25O,00O addition
was expended in fitting her up.
The original cost of the hosplt
ship Relief was s450,0GO and S2G'
5S1 was expended in her transform
ton. The hospital ship Missouri b
.. cost the government so far s43o,Cl
of which little less than half W
expended in adapting her to hosp't
purposes. Two of the large tran
ports, Burnside and Hooker, a
captured Spanish steamers. All t
principal transports were acq1lr'
under the terms of their charter
and were paid for out OF the Q
= priation for the national defense.
There were 147 vessels charter
for the transport service at to-
n cost of $1O,G3l, $40 for services rer
q cred and a total cost of 81, ,S94,332
d restoring them to their original &C
dition on cancellation of charte
OF the chartered vessels 50 were
- tached to the Atlantic h}et at a CT
for service Of $2,9S2,2S and for