The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-04-03
ARMY TRANSPORT SERVICE.
A REPORT THEREON TO THE SENATE
FROM THE SECRETARY OF WAR.
The Number OF Vessels Bought Char
tered and Sold-Their Cost and the
Expenses OF Refitting Them.

Washington. March es.-Acting Sec
rotary Neikeijohn has sent a report
from the quartermaster general to the
senate in reply TO a resolution OF Ian
uary sth last. calling upon the secre-
tary OF war for a list Of all transport
ships n other vessels purchased or
chartered by the war department since
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 to the various inquiries OF
the senate. From these it appears that
only one vessel was sold. the steam tug
Atlantic, which was worn out and con-
demned. She brought s1,5o9.
The transport Hooker. which was
ntted up for laying a deep sea cable
in the Philippines, grounded near Car
regidor island, while en- route from
Manila TO Hong Kong, and was lost.
h steam lighter Bessie became the
property of h government under the
terms of the charter for S12, 207, and
was renamed the Kerney.
1t vas shown hat thirteen vessels
have been purchased by the quarter
masters department since March 1.
1897, exclusive of those purchased for
the army transport service for trans
portation incident TO the Spanish war.
These included the ferry a John
Hancock, the steam tugs General Hunt.
Martha and John Barry, and ten steam
launches at a total cost of S112,479, with
s$9,5 25 for repairs.
Forty-nine vessels of all classes were
purchased for the army transport SER
vice during and since the Spanish war.
including about twenty-five small
craft, such as tugs, launches and light
ers, purchased in The Philippines. The
total purchase price of these vessels
was $S,074, ass, n the total cost OF re-
fitting and repairing was S., 1S9, 093. ms
most expensive vessels Were the rams
ports Grant, Logan, Sheridan, Sher-
man, Thomas and Hancock. The pur-
chase price of the first five named was
$3.50, 900 each, and that of the Hancock
$500, 600. The expenses of fitting up
these vessels is stated at follows: Han
cock $543. SIC, Grant 1928, 459, Logan
s4S3, S39, Sheridan 1888, 169, Sherman
1925, 964, ThomaS $685., 365.
1t thus appears that the Hancock,
Logan and Sherman cost Over 81, 600, 600
each, and the other three named a
slightly less amount. The purchase
price of the transport Meade was $780,
900 and 1914, 900 was expended in fitting
her up. The purchase price of the
Sumner was $3.50, 594 and $780, 600 addi-
tional expended in fitting her up.
The original cost of the hospital
ship Relief was $3.50, 900 and s265, SCI was
expended in her transformation. The
hospital ship Missouri has cost the
government so far s430, 612, of which a
little more than half was expended in
adapting her to hospital purposes.
Two of the large transports, Burnside
and Hooker, are captured Spanish
steamers. All the principal transports
were acquired under the terms of their
charters. and were paid for out of the
appropriation for the national defense.
There were 147 vessels chartered for
the transport service at a total cost of
$40, 631, 519 for services rendered and a
total cost of 81, 1894, 342 in restoring them
to their original condition on cancella-
ton of charters. OF the chartered YES
sells seventy-nine were attached to the
Atlantic fleet at a cost for service of
2,SS2, 2S4, and for repairs of S175, $50.
The remaining sixty-eight chartered
vessels were employed on the Pacific
at a cost of $7,749,2 35 for services and
$107, COS for repairs.