The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-04-04
one ITEM OF THE
COST OF WAR.
Twenty-Five Million Expend.
ed in Buying and Charter.
ing Vessels.

ing Vessels.
Washington, March 29-Actiog
Secretary Mikeljohn has sent re
port from the quartermaster general
to the senate in reply to resolution
of Jan 9th last. calling upon the
secretary of war for a list of all
transport ships and other vessels
purchased or chartered by the war
department since March 4, 1897. to-.
rether with their names. from whom
purchased or chartered. the cost OF
purchase or charter, the cost OF ut
ting up or repair. and the number OF
names of vessels sold and the reasons
for such action
The departments answer is in the
form of three large tables. replying
specifically to the various inquiries
Of the senate. From these it appears
THAI only ore vessel was sold. the
steam tug Atlantic, which was worn
ont and condemned She brought
sl.5oe The transport Hooker,
Which was fitted up for laying .
deep sea cable in the Philippines.
grounded near Carregidor island.
While en- route from Manila to Hong
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 the Kearney
It was shown that l3 vessels have
been purchased by the quartermas
ter's department since March 4,
1897. exclusive of those purchased
for the army transport service for
transportation incident to the Span
ish war. These included the ferry
boat John Hancock. the steam tugs
Gen Hunt, Martha and John Barry,
and 10 steam launches at total cost
of su2,4e5, with s9,525 repairs
Forty nine vessels of all classes
were purchased for the army trans
port service during and since the
Spanish war, including about 25
small craft such as tugs, launches
and lighters, purchased in the Phil
ippines The total purchase price
Of these vessels was SS,974.455 aid
the total cost of re6tsing and repair
ing was S5.189.os3 The most ex
pensive vessels were the transports
Grant, Logan, Sheridan, Sherman,
Thomas and Hancock The purchase
price of the first Eve named was
$500 900 each, and that of the Han
cock 100000. The expense OF tit
ting up these vessels is stated as
follows
Hancock, s54s,51e; Grant, 1928,
459 ; Logan, s4S3,s39;; Sheridan,
$3.50 ,l69; Sherman. s526.964
Thomas, $685.. 1865
|. TINS appears that the Hancock,
Logan and Sherman cost over one
million dollars each, and the other
three named a slightly less amount.
The purchase price Of the tranport
Meade was $500 600, and 1914. 900
was expended in fitting her up. The
purchase price of the Sumner was
sl6o,594 and s250,o0o additional
was expended in fitting her up
The original cost of the hospital
ship Relief was s45o.00o, and $780,
59l was expended in her transforma
ton The hospital ship Missouri
hss cost the government 80 far
s43o6l2. of which little more
than half was expended in adapting
her to hospital purposes Two of the
large transports, Burnside and Hook
er, are captured Spanish steamers.
All The principal transports were
acquired uuder ,he terms OF their
charters. and were paid for out OF
the appropriation for the national
defense
There were 147 vessels chartered
fo- the transport service at total
cost of slO,63l, $40 for services rem.
dered aud a total cost CT $780,.
342 in restoring them 10 tneir origl
nal condition on cancellation OF char
tiers os the chartered vessels '9
we're attached 10 the Atlantic fleet
at g cost for service of $2,SS2 2e4.
aua for repairs of sl75,5S0 The
renalng 68 chartered vessels were
emoioyed ou the Pacific at cost OF
s7.749 235 for services aud SlO1,oOo
for repairs