The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-03-30
COST OF ARMY TRANSPORTS.
SENATE is FURNISHED FULL INFOR-
NATION ON THE SUBJECT.
Only One Sold Yet n Condemned and
Worn-Out TugbOat - sixty-eight
Chartered Vessels Were Also In
Use on Pacific Coast During War.

WASHINGTON. March 2a.-Acting Secre-
tary Meiklejohn sent a report from the
quart ermaster general to the senate in re-
ply to "A resolution of January last, call
ing upon the secretary of war for a list
of all transport ships and other vessels
purchased or chartered by the war de-
partment since March 4. 1897, together
with their Names from whom purchased
or chartered, the cost Of purchase or char
ter, the cost OF fitting up or repair and the
number and names of vessels sold and the
reasons for such action.
The departments answer Is in the form
of three large tables. replying specifically
20 the various inquiries of the senate.
From these IL appear that only one vessel
was sold the steam tug Atlantic. which
was worn out and condemned. She
brought $1,000. The transport Hooker.
which was fitted up for laying a deep sea
cable in the Philippines, grounded near
Corregidor island while en- route from
Manila to HongaSong, and was lost. The
steam lighter Bessie became tho property
of the government under the terms Of the
charter for s12,2o7 and was renamed the
Kearney.
1t is shown that thirteen vessels have
been purchased by the quartermaster's
department since March T. 1897. exclusive
OF those purchased for the army transport
service for transportation incident TO the
Spanish war, These included tho ferry
boat John Hancock. the steam tugs Gen.
Hunt, Martha and John Barry. and ten
steam launches, at a total cost of sll24 40,
with S9525 for repairs. F'orty-nine ves-
sells of all classes were purchased for the
army transport service during and since
the Spanish war. including about twenty
five small craft such as tugs. launches
and lighters. purchased IN tho Philippines.
The total purchase price OF these vessels
xS0l4. ass. and the total cost Of re-
nttfuu and reuaffinp yaa I'll ISg fTI.n
most expensive vessels were the trans
ports Grant. Logan. sheridan, Sherman,
Thomas and Hancock.
The purchase price Of the first hve
named Was x6d0.00Q each and that 81 the
Hancock $500. 600. The expense Of ftting
up these vessels Is stated as follows.
x4s3 S39i Sheridan $3.50 .i64. Sherman. tl2s,-
s6s; Thomas, 1886.
II thus appears that the Hancock. I.o-
gan and shes man cost over N.n0.OQ each
and the other three named 70 slightly less
amount The purchase price for the
transport Meade was $4,000 ana t87a 90
was expended ia ntting her up.
The purchase price Of the sumner was
sle0 591 and t25ooo additional was expend-
- Ia httiuR her ~. The original cost Of
the hospital ship Relief was $3.50 ono and
s2s55si was expended Ia her tranaforma-
tion.
The hospital snip Missouri has cost tho
government far t306i2. Of which "A NJ
tie more than half was expended IN
adapting her TO hospital purposes. Two
~ the large transports, burnside and
Hooker. are captured Spanish steamers
All the principal transports were ac-
quirsd under the terms Of their charters
and we're paid fny out ri the appropria-
ton for tho national defense There were
~ vessels chartered for the transport
service al total cost q $40 Ga fie for
services rendered and "a total cost ~
81 SAs 3t3 In restoring them 10 their oriEl-
nal condition on cancellation u charter
OF the chartered vessels Eeventy-nlns
were attached To the Atlantic fleet NJ a
.rrf ffau ~ / a .rI FHH
pairs 81 N1G $50
The remaining sixtg-oight chartered
vessels were employed ON the Pacific
const az a cost ~ t7.7ts. rs for service and
tl17 sS for repairs.