The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-11-04
CARING FOR THE ARMY
General Ludington's Report for
the Last Fiscal Year.
Expenses of the Qunrtermnstcr's De-
partment Given M SI1.GO6.O.5.4O-
How the Money Was Spent - The
Transport Service Supplies for
American Soldiers in Chinn.

|
American Soldiers in China
The report of Quartermaster General NJ.
|. Ludington. United States Army, for the
| fiscal year ended June 30, was made pub
| lie yesterday by the War Department. The
| report shows that the appropriations and
! receipts of the department amounted to
s6i,6i7, go. So, and the expenditures. si7,-
6o6, O75.4O, leaving balance of S17O41.-
GLIB.
The document states that the sum of
SS.4Si. l51.S3 was available during the last
fiscal year for providing clothing and
equiPa8a supplies for the army and the
militia. OF this amount S5,626, 1888 was
| RENTED to officers of the department and
acquisitions for s133. 1885 issued on set
Elements made at the Treasury on account
or claims. leaving a balance on hand June
30. 1860, of S2,72l ,62265. The issues to
the militia of the several States and Ter
ritories during the fiscal year. including
the militia of the District of Columbia,
amounted to $2S6. 1860, which sum has
been reimbursed to this department. I'm
der the act approved February "a, 1897,
to the Governors of the several States and
Territories to the amount of 4,122.52.
These funds, under the law, will be used
to replace the articles sold
1t is stated that during the year 446S
riding horses, 3.00S draft mules 500 lack
mules, Si1 escort wagons, ZIG ambulances,
rs spring delivery wagons. rs light farm
wagons. q Dougherty wagons, 6 5-ton
drays, 1916 sets wagon harness. 372 sets
rayrla hs.r q
wagon harness were shipped to the Philip
pines for use of the army.
Concerning transportation.
Under the head of transportation the
report says:
During the past fiscal year transporta-
ton was furnished by rail. water wagon,
and stage, exclusive of the army trans
port service. for 1899 persons: 1885
animals, and 32S.S01 tons of material
There was transported over bond-aided
railroads 32.327 persons. 5.295 animals, and
s5,470.713 pounds of freight.
-One thousand two hundred and sew
enty-nine accounts for Geographic SER
vice, amounting to 1922, 963.05, were ex-
amined in this office and transmitted for
settlement during the year
The cost of maintaining the twenty
six vessels owned by this Department, in
Guiding the repairs thereto, amounted to
sl96.662.29. These vessels are exclusive
of the army transports owned and char
tered by this Department in connection
with the army transport service. and cCm-
prise those used in harbors and for COM
munication with sea-coast artillery posts
in the United States.
''On July 1. 1899, there were in the SER
vice of this Department 10 transports and
o oh all ri
by the Department Thirteen Of these,
with hospital ship, were in service in the
Atlantic fleet, and transports and hos
pital ship in the Pacific fleet. These Il
vessels have a total tonnage of 1875. and
a carrying capacity of 1,057 officers and
1851 men.
During the past fiscal year there were
FIVE vessels purchased or transferred to
the Department, as follows:
THE steamship Cassius, having ton
mage of BASS, was purchased from the
Navy Department for the sum Of s160,594.
payment being made from the allotment
to War Department for appropriation for
national defence This vessel was re-
named Sumner and was fitted up as
troopship by the Navy Department a: the
Norfolk Navy Yard, at total cost CT
s649 57GS9, which sum includes an ex-
penditure of s194,922. 43 for auxiliary ma
chinery. fittings, and supplies placed UPON
the ship.
THE steamship Columbia, having a tom
mage of 1876, was purchased from her
owners. the North American Mail Steam
ship Company. for the sum of STAT 200,
which was regarded as a very reasonable
price. Her name was changed to Rose
Grams.
1.-The U. 8. S. Badger and Resolute,
which had been purchased by the Navy
Department for service in the war with
Spain from appropriation national de-
fence were, by order of the President.
transferred to the War Department and
were fitted up for the army transport SER
vice.
was fit. ed up for service in connection with
the transportation of troops and supplies
to Alaska at a cost of s125, 900. Her ton
mage is 3497. She is now engaged in that
service and is also being utilized to return
destitute citizens from Alaska to the
United States. She can carry 700 passen-
gers.
THE steamship Resolute was renamed
Rawlins. Her tonnage is 2.S9S. She was
fitted up, under contract with the William
Cramp & Sons Ship and Engine Building
Company of Philadelphia, at cost of $780,
S77. The work on this vessel was COM
pleted about the close of the last fiscal
year. and she is now in service transport
ing troops and supplies between New York
and the West Indies.
The steamer Dickinson, which was re-
named Seward. was purchased at Seattle
from Mr.. E. E. Game fol the sum Of $1f5,-
900. This vessel was in course of construc- |
tion when purchased. and such changes as
were required to fit her for service as |
despatch boat for the Department of Alaska |
were made while she was being completed |
These alterations consisted of additional |
rooms for accommodations Of passengers, |
providing additional lavatory. heating and |
lighting facilities, life boats. refrigerating |
and ice plant, etc, costing in the aggregate |
s13,s7975. The vessel Is of wood and is |
very strongly built with a view to moving |
safely through ice; is 1000 tons burden. |
and is thoroughly suited and equipped for |
a despatch boat in Alaskan waters.
RehttinE of Vessels.
During the past fiscal year the trans
ports Crook and Sedgwick have been re- !
fitted. The former by John N. Robbins !
Company, of New York. at a cost of s3O3,-
2l747, and the latter by the same company |
at cost of s205,7 Both of these are |
capable of carrying comfortably fifty Of
licers and 1000 men each.
THE refitting of the transports Thomas.
Logan, and Meade and the hospital ship
noted in my last annual report |
rs being in progress. was duly completed |
at cost of s2S3.391i3, 1904 ,351.50. and |