The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-12-30

age an extensive transport service to
China and the Philippines. He was sent
10 act az quartermaster for the govern
ment stations on Puget sound and In AL
aska, business Of little Importance then.
and one OF his frst duties was In con-
neetion with securing title to Magnolia
blum. now Fort Iawton,
The first development Of the local quar-
termasters office was the beginning of
the Alaskan boom In the latter part of
iSsI. and the consequent need OF larger
forces Of troops In the interior OF Alaska
The growth OF this Alaskan business was
gradual, aud II did not reach really Inn
rortant proportions until the Nome rush
of 1000.
IN the meantime the general work OF the
auarscrmaster's department had grown
30 enormous proportions In other parts of
the country because Of the immense work
IN connection with the handling OF troops
Tor the war with Spain The scene OF
warfare shifted from the Atlantis coast
20 The eastern part % the Pacific. The
baltic Of Manila Was fought and won and
large forces Of troops became necessary
for the warfare en- the islands. 10 send
fhsso troops 70 the Philippines Il became
necessary To hulld mp Pacihc transport
service. and San Francisco, witch then
had almost unaisputvd control % the
trallspacinc trade. was so ectsd as the pogt
from witch 10 make the shipments II
troops and auartarfnaster and cummssarv
stores During the latter part 81 iS9S
and tue entire year 1899 an immense trans
port business was done BY San Francisco
An absolute fnonopaly WAS maintained far
much 90 that time, and millions upon mill
tons OF doiiafs were spent by the gov
eminent In California
In the early DAYS " the transport ser.
Woe - Manfia Mai Robinson recommend
ed 20 the auaFteTmaStes's department that
portion of the shipments be- made from
Puget sound, ~ which effort be WAS abs
seconded by the hllsiness men az seat
tie II was hard campaign that was
waSea 20 secure transport business for
The Northern route Distance. cost "a
, coal, che question of general expense ard
every other logical argument supported
the claims Of Seattle. but governmental
action = slow. aud the Seattle advocates
has gfeneaept 90 contend with. All tAe
influence that California could bring TO
hear YVES exercised % secure the eAutfnua~
tipn az tire san Francisco monopoly.
Nothing ent.she ovarwhelnlns adyAn.
tagi@ offered by Puget sound ever en-.
ahled Mai Robinson 80 score even a nar&
tial triumph, X WAS NOT untn the simmer
ef issg that the Quariermaster department
became convinced of the wisdom ef us4ag
Seattle AZ point 0f Oriental shipment.
nuring that summer several TRANSPORTS
we've chartered on Puget sound and fstca
ar In local yards preparatory To taking
cargo 0ne 81 these, the t3aranne. pre-
pafsd tor service as an animal transport
~ SR expense of over Ss6ea0, Was the arat
to carry government cargo from seattle
81 Mahsl% She skiled August ls. 1899. With
~ sHmals and 2a tons Of forage. Oiher
tlaASpaFis 0etckiy followed niue M sll
seiiinS dNrinE the year A large MARI
", gA Rls Third cavalry WAS sent to Manila
pt wAy 81 Seattle There was ais, shIn-
pe4 ta Manila during 1893 2s0s horses ana
males etN@ tens Of forage. 2ei tons Of nlis.