The Washington times., 1901-10-23

tanks and other apparatus REQUIRED for
laying and repairing heep-sea cable were
carried On under the supervision and at
the expense OF the Signal Department.
This transport was completed and sailed
! from New York for Manila via the Suez
Canal route on September 26, 1900, arriving
st Manila on Deccmftcr c. 1900. and has
since been engaged in laying and repair
ing cable in Philipindiwatsrs
The transport Mcpherson. upon her
| voyage from New Ierk To Cuba with a
! general passenger list and cargo of mill
! tary supplies, in endeavorng to make the
| harbOr OF Matanzas, Cuba, on the morn
| ing of February 4. 1891 in dense fog
| ran aground on the north coast of Cube
! about eight miles west OF Matanzas A
! gam lighter and two tugs were imrne-
| diately despatched from Havana to her
! relief, but heavy wind came up at night
| rendering all means at hand unavaling
| and it became necessary to contract with
| a wrecking firm having ample appliances
| to float the ship. The contract provided
! for delivery OF the ship 20 the depart
| ment afloat in New York Harbor for the
! sum of $4,000. The ship was successfully
! fioated on June 2, 1901, and towed to
| Matanzas Harbor, whence she left for
! New York on June 30. 1901 in tow Of
| tugs belonging to the contractor. All the
! passengers on the ship at the time she
! unded were safely landed and the
| ca. go was discharged, but a portion of
/ it was considerably damaged by water.
! termaster, Department of Cuba, and in
| charge OF the quartermaster's depart
ment at Havana, reports that the troops
upon the island have been promptly sup
piled with all stores necessary for their
comfort and efficiency, and that the sup
ply of clothing has been highly satisfac-
tory. He further reports that the aIi-
mails now on the island are thoroughly
acclimated, and there is but little sick
ness due to pecuiarities of the climate.
The experience of the last three years
hDC pf val n fba dam ~, IN,
the treatment of this class o" diseases
THE fatal disease, glanders, is prevalent
throughout the island, and great care is
constantly required to preven. its extern
sion TO Government stock. As result no
general outbreak has ever occurred
among the Government stock. The most
common disease affecting stock In Cuba
is recurrent ophthalmia, the exact nature
and cause of which are not well under
stood.
THE Triscornia Military Railway was
originally built with a view of receiving
troops from transports and conveying
them to camp sites without involving
their transit through the city of Havana,
and to provide for the transmission of
supplies and subsistence for these troops |
without transporting such materials |
through districts supposed to be infected |
with yellow fever. During the year the |
only freight moved over the road has been |
forage, wood, and materials for con- |
struction purposes. On account of the re- |
duced volume of freight now being trans
mitted. 1t is recommended that the opera
tion of the road by the Quartermaster's |
Department be abandoned, and that |
freight hitherto shipped via Triscornia be
sent direct to the arsenal for transfer to
ultimate destination by means of wagon
transportation or local railway service.
AT the beginning of the fiscal year the
old Spanish navy yard was loaned to the |
Qusrtermaster's Department for its use
This affords excellent facilities to the
and shipping stores. nasmuch al ample
wharfage and warehouse facilities are
thus provided without cost. The depth of
Wdter-l5 feet-is not sufficient to admit |
ocean-going vessels, but as all freight is
handled In this harbor by means of
lighters the accommodations are ample.
The navy yard is enclosed by a high |
stone wall. and the warehouses are all
well secured from the chances of theft
or accident from fire.
The lands in Cuba occupied for mill
tary purposes consist Of first military |
reservations, formerly the property of the
Spanish Government, and, second. lands
and buildings leased for military pur-
poses. All rentals. whether for lands or
pulldlngs, In use for military purposes on
the island of Cuba, are paid out of the
insular treasury. few Of the old Span
United States for troops as barracks
The troops serving In Porto Rico have
oeen properly supplied during the fiscal
year by this department. On December
10, 1900, when the department was aboI- |
ished and made district, and consoli-
dated with the Department of the East,
|
ters four posts, and OF subpost.
The sewerage system of the city of
Honolulu has been completed, which
will doubtless improve the sanitary con-
ditions of the place, and the supply of
water obtained from the city water plant
is ample. During the year forty-five
called at this port, and all were furnished
with supplies Of coal and water and
many of them had repairs made to ma
chinery and equipment. The average de-
u EfYJN nd l.tg |
hours Two wharves constructed by the |
Navy Department have been available
for the army transport service. and an
swer the requirements at this station |
The cost of supplying transports with
water being excessive. arrangements
were made with the Navy Department
Tor sinking an artesian well on the naval
with the exception of the legation
guard at Peking. all the American troops
surplus stores and supplies which had pre-
viously been sent from the United States
and Manila have beer returned to the
latter place or San Francisco. The con-
struction of barracks and quarters for |
the legation guard has been authorized at
a cost OF $4,000.
Owing 20 the war in China. the QUAR-
termaSters s business at this depot was |
largely increased during the first six |
months of the fiscal year. Among other
articles purchased were tugs. lighters ]
h1ndcarts, etc. as well as six months |
supply Of wood for use of the troops in
nina; two steamers were also chartered.
The total disbursements during the wear |
to s74S GS6.I0
During the past fiscal year there were
2. lZl intcrments In the elghty-three ma ,
tional cemeteries, making a grand total
OF S4f.a interments in these cemeteries
to June 90 1901
In reference to the operations of the
burial corps the report says:
"A burial corps was organized at Wash |
ington, d. c.. and sent 70 the Philip
pines, under the superintendence of D. |
H. Rhodes, who. with a corps of fifteen |
assistants, sailed from San Francisco, | ,
Cal. October ], 1850; called at Honolulu. ,
II. J., and disinterred and prepared for |
to the United States 3S remains: | =
sailed from thence to the island Of Guam | I
where Were eXhumed: from thence the 5
corps proceeded to Manila. p J., arriving |
at that place the latter part of October, |
AT Manila there We're .S75 remains dis
Inferred and prepared for shipment TO I
the islands composing the Philippine
group. Mr.. Rhodes also sent a small |
party to China from the Philippines. | !
where l2S remains were disinterred and |
sent home. together with II which were
buried at Nagasaki. Japan. A supply of |
caskets and other materials were left in
China, which will enable the department |
to make shipment of remains from there
without sending a special party for the
purpose
The burial corps which operated in '
Cuba was organized at. Havana, and | ,
total OF 10 bodies were disinterred and |
sent TO New York City. fifty-three of |
which were shipped to their former homes
at Government expense for private bu-
|
SFASONARIE HINTS.