New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-03-30
COST OF TRANSPORT SERVICE.
THE WAR DEPARTMENT REPLIES TO SEN
ATE RESOLUTION OF INQUIRY.

Washington, March 2a.-Actng Secretary Meike-
john has sent report from the Quartermaster-
General to the Senate in reply to a resolution OF
January last calling the Secretary OF War for
list of all transport ships ard other vessels pur-
chased or chartered by the War Department. since
March 1. 1897. together with their names. from
whom purchased C chartered, the cost of purchase
or charter, the cost of fitting Up repair and the
number and names of vessels sold and the rGaso1s
for such action The Departments ;lswer Is In
the form of three large tables replying specifically
to the inquiries of Senate. II eppelrs that only
Gre vessel was sold the steam tug Atlantic, which
and condemned. She brought H,5o9
The transport Hooker, which Htted up for
laying deep cable in the Philippines grounded
near Corregdor Island while going from Manila
TO Hong Kong. and lost. The steam lighter
Bessie became the property of the government
der the OF the charter or s12.2J1. AMI
named the Kearney.
1t is shown that thirteen vessels have been ;:r-
chased by the Quarternastor'a Depart plent sEce
March 4, 1897 exclusive OF those purchased for the
Army transport service for ira nsport alton incident
TO the Spanish These included the ferryboat
John Hancock the steam tugs General Hunt
Martha and John Barry and ten steam launches. at
a total cost Of SIP 479. with s9.5 for repairs
Forty vessels of all classes were purchased
for the Army transport service during and since
the Spanish war including about twenty-five small
craft. such tugs, launches and lighters pur-
chased in the Philippines The total purchase price
OF these vessels was SG14 400 and the total of
IeilttiIlS repairing was SO,lSJ.CS3. The most
pensve vessels were the transports Grant Logan,
Sheridan, Sherman. Thomas and Hancock The
purchase price of the first five named was $3.50 600
each and that of the Hancock 0C0. The expense
of fitting up these vessels is stated follows: The
Hancock. 543,5l6; the Grant, 1928. s59; the Logan
s483s39 the Sheridan. s}39.169 the Sherman $685.
S64; the Thomas sSs5$55. 1t thus appears that the
Hancock. the Logan and the Sherman
10000 each and the other three named slightly
less amount. The purchase price of the transport
Meade was $4,000 and sS7ioOO was expended in
hitting her up. The purchase price of the Sumner
was I6o5s4. and $4,000 additional was expended
IN hitting her up The original cost of the hospital
ship Relief was $50000 and $685. 59l expended in
her transformation. The hospital ship Missouri has
cost the Government far S430612, of which little
more than half expended in adapting her TO
hospital purposes Two of the large transports the
burnside and the Hooker are captured Spanish
steamers. All the principal transports were ac-
CURED under the terms of their charters. and We're
paid for out of the appropriation for the National
defence.
There were 147 vessels chartered for the trans
port service, at total cost CT S1o631. 519 for
wees rendered, and total cost of 81 s9i 342 re-
storing them to their original condition on cancel
iatlon OF charters OF the chartered vessels
ty.nine were attached to the Atlantic fleet at
cost 2r service of 2 and for repairs of s75-
$50 The remaining sixty-eLght chartered vessels
were employed on the Pacific, at a of 81 49,
235 for service and $l07 sos for repairs.