Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-03-29
TRANSPORT SHIPS
Report Of Those Purchased and
Chartered by War Department.
REPLY TO SENATE RESOLUTION
Cost of Refitting for Carrying
and Hospital Purposes.
7 T, r q r,r
IN INTERESTING L FIGURES

Acting Secretary MeIklejohn has sent q
report from the quartermaster general to
| the Senate in reply 10 a resolution of jan
.uary last calling upon the Secretary OF
War for list of all transport ships and
other vessels purchased or chartered by
| the War Department since March T. 1897,
| together with their names, from whom
purchased or chartered, the cost of pur-
chase or charter, the cost of fitting up of
repair, and the number and names Of ves-
sells sold and the reasons for such action.
The departments answer is In the form Of
| three large tables, answering specifically
the various inquiries of the Senate. From
the reply il appears that only one vessel
the steam tug Atlantic, which was worn out
ana condemned was sold for 81 Gg. The
transport Hooker which was fitted up for
laying deep-sea cable in the Philippines
grounded near Corregidor Island. while en-
lost.
The steam lighter Bessie became the
property OF the government under the
terms OF the charter for ST. and was
renamed the kearney,
Vessels Purchased
1t is shown that thirteen vessels were
purchased by the quartermaster's depart
ment since March 4, 1897, exclusive of those
purchased for the army transport service
for transportation incident TO the Spanish
war. These included the ferry boat John
Hancock, the steam tugs General Hunt
Martha and John Barry and ten steam
launches, at total purchase cost of Sl12,-
4i9, and S9,52o for repairs.
Forty-nine vessels of all classes were
purchased for the army transport service
during and since the Spanish war, including
about twenty-five small craft such as tugs
launches and lighters. purchased in the
Philippines. The total purchase price of
these vessels was SS,1I4.455 and the total
cost of retitting and repairing them was
sJ,1S9. .uJ3. The most expensive vessels were
the transports Grant, Logan. Sheridan.
Sherman, Thomas and Hancock. The pur-
chase price of the first five named was
s6'0,oO0 each and that of the Hancock
sGoo,o09
Expense of Fitting Up.
The expense of fitting up these vessels is
stated follows:
Hancock. $543516: Grant S32s 459: Lo-
gan. S4S3 S39; Sheridan, S339, 9.Ol; Sher-
man, s526,964; Thomas, $685. 365. 1t thus
appears that the Hancock Logan and Sher-
man cost over one mIllion dollars each, and
the other three named a slightly less
amount. The purchase price Of the trans
port Meade was $500. 900, and S315, 900 was
expended in fitting her up.
Inc purchase price OF the Sumner was
S1GO.59i and s25UUpD additional was expend-
ed in fitting her up. The original cost of the
hospital ship Relief was s4JO,coO and $685.
59l was expended in her transformation
The hospital ship Missouri has cost the gov
ernment so far si3O6l2 of which little
more than half was expended in adapting
her to hospital purposes. Two of the large
transports. Burnside and Hooker, are cap
tured 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.
Vessels Chartered.
There were 147 vessels chartered for the
transport service, at total cost of slO-
63l,5l9 for services rendered, and a total
cost of 81, S94, 342 in restoring them 10 their
original condition on cancellation of char
tiers. OF the chartered vessels seventy-nine
Were attached to the Atlantic fleet at a cost
for service of s., SS2,2S4 and for repairs OF
$115.5S0. The remaining sixty-eight char
tered vessels were employed on the Pacific,
at cost of 81, 49, 80 for service and $l07,-
Cos for repairs.