The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-01
PROVIDING FOR TROOPS.
Preparations for Establishing the
Department of Alaska.

! The War Department is making extern
! siye preparations fer the establishment of
! the Department of alaska. The expense
/ involved in the garrisoning of the troops
ordered TO the department is considerable.
( Thousands Of dollars have already been
expended in the work. which has only be-
gun. The President some time ago au-
thorized the War Department to create an
additional military department which was
TO include Alaska. This was done by Sec
rotary Root and General Randall was as
signed as its commander.
About five companies of troops have been
ordered to Seattle for transportation to
Alaska. Some of them left last week on
one OF the Army transports for Port Val
DEE. and it is expected that the remainder.
with General Randall and his headquar-
tiers, will depart before the middle OF
June. For months past the different
branches of the Army have been arranging
for the opening of the new department
Acting Commlssary General Weston has
been collecting food supplies. Quartermas-
ter General Ludington has been arranging
for quarters, supplies of clothing, and fuel,
in addition to furnishing all the articles
necessary for a comfortable life in that
section of the country.
The greatest work has fallen upon Major
Martin. who has had charge of arrange
ments for quarters Ordinary supplies like
food and clothing are furnished on the
basis of two years use, but the shelter
for soldiers. officers, animals, and stores
is to be made permanently. Buildings are
to be constructed at St. Michaels Valdez,
and Cape Nome. On the upper Yukon
troops are now stationed, one company
being at Fort Egbert, at Eagle City. and
other troops at Fort Gibbon. At each of
these places saw mills were carried under
the direction of Major Ray, and the troops
have been busy constructing log barracks,
which are now about completed.
At St. Micheals, Valdez, and Cape Nome
the buildings are to be made of lumber
already cut and shipped from the States.
About sixty buildings are to be erected.
for which 5000, 900 feet of lumber has
already been contracted for. There is also
to be sent to Alaska between two hundred
and three hundred tons of corrugated iron
and hardware. The officers quarters are
to be frame buildings. sheathed. papered,
and weather boarded. with double floors
between each floor and double windows
The barracks will also be frame with cor
rugated iron roof, and the sides sheathed,
papered. and weatherboarded. and with
floors similar TO those in the officers
quarters.
feature of the barracks will be that
the inside walls and ceilings are to be
covered with an asbestos board one eighth
of an inch thick. This wood is fireproof
AMI will prevent the buildings from bum
iLg by reason of any fire on the inside. The
material alone for this work, it is esti-
mated, will cost $14O, coo. and it is said by
War Department officials that the total
cost will be about $3.50. 000 The troops will
go to Alaska during the summer months
and will live i'll tents until their buildings
are completed, 1t being intended to use
them as far as possible in the construction
work To aid in this the lumber is all cut
the proper size before shipment, and the
buildings at each of the places are prac-
tically the same size. An idea of the work
involved is 1obtaineo from a statement
showing the work to lie done at St. Mich
aels which is practically the same at
Valdez and Cape Nome
Another branch of the Quartermaster
Department. under Major Dare has con-
tracted for sending nearly hundred horses
and mules, and the same number of
wagons, forage for two years, and veteri
nary medicines and dressings and harness
and equipments 1t has also been decided
10 snip coal 10 the posts, TO be used In
winter instead of wood, and shipments
have already been arranged for.
In the clothing line supplies for fifteen
months are being shipped. This list in
cludes 5000 blankets. 600 iron bedsteads.
5000 pairs of shoes. u 900 cotton>and 5000
wooden socks 5000 wooden suits OF under
wear, tC00 mattresses, 1900 Southwestern
hats. the same number of oilskin coats.
trousers, mcccasins, sweaters, and pillow
cases. 1900 German socks. wolf robes. 10
sheePskin robes 100 arctic OvershOes and
other articles of wear and camp usage
To get this TO Alaska it has been neces-
sary TO provide complete transportation
line of steamers. Arrangements are being
made that will provide line of six regu-
lar steamers for the Alaskan service. Some
of them have already been secured The
Rosecrans has sailed with freight and SOL
de:s and large shipment of lumber The
hOsl ital ship Missouri, recently transferred
to 'he Quartermaster's Department. is TO
be colN Crtod into a freight ship for service
in Alaska; the Lawton. Athenian, and
Seward have also been added to the list. in
addition 10 which there will be used the
steamer JEFF C. Davis now in Alaska. and
d stear launch now in service on the up
per Yukon.