Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-11-07
NO LIFE SACRIFICED
EXCELLENCE OF THE ARMY
TRANSPORT SERVICE.
Interesting Information in the Annual
Report Of Gen. Ludington, Quar-
termaster General.


General Ludington, quartermaster general
of the army, gives lot Of interesting infor-
nation In his annual report in regard to the
clothing, sheltering, transportation, ETC., OF
the army during the past fiscal year. An
idea of the magnitude Of the transactions of
the quartermasters department is shown by
the statement that 1t expended $37,7S3,2 o4
during the year, and had balance Of $47,-
249, 900 on hand July / last.
EVERY care is taken,"l says Gen. Luding-
ton, ito secure supplies fully up to the re-
quirements Of the established standards and
specifications, and it is believed that the
present inspection system of the department
Is such as to obtain the best results"
During the year transportation was fur
nished, exclusive of the army transport
service, for 1 ,O12, $50 persons, 12,O14 animals,
and 274 $50 tons Of material.
There were transported over bond-aided
railroads 23,635 persons, ] ,O21 animals and
43, 1871 1852 pounds of freight.
The cost of maintaining the 48 vessels
owned by this department, exclusive of
transports and boats in service in the
Philippines. amounted to $253 .01272.
The chief quartermaster at Manila reports
that one of the most expensive items In the
conduct of the army transport service in the
Philippines Is iighterage, due to lack Of
Wharves at ports at Mhiehztroopss and sup
plies must be landed. The insular govern
ment has, however, commenced the con-
struction of Wharves at various ports, which
when completed Will materially reduce the
cost for inter-island transportation
The Transport Service.
''Of the many thousands of persons who
have been transported on vessels Of the
transport service since its inception says
General Ludington, mot one life has been
sacrificed by reason Of any fault in the
fittings or accommodations upon the army
transports.
I'm view of this excellent record, and Of
the experience of the department in its fu-
tile efforts to. secure suitable commercial
ships for the transportation of the armies
during the war with Spain, and the further
fact that when withdrawn from active
service the transports cannot be advantage
ously disposed Of by sale, 1 firmly con-
WINGED that. even though circumstances
should permit the withdrawal of the trans
ports from regular line service to the Phil
ippine Islands, it would be wise policy to
retain sufficient number of transports as a
part of the equipment of the army, to be
economically cared for and kept in such
condition as to be promptly available for
any emergency which may arise requiring
the transportation of troops on the ocean"
Barracks and Quarters.
Congress, in the act making appropriations
for the support of the army for the last
fiscal year provided, under the head of
Barracks and quarters" the sum of So o0O-
600, of which there was expended during
the year 1884, 67G.49 for construction and
repair of buildings, rents, etc. in the Unit
ed states and fnsular possessions. The con-
struction work was carried on at seventy
eight posts and stations, and comprised the
erection of quarters for commissioned and
non-commissioned officers, barracks for
troops, stables, guardhouses, band stands,
wagon sheds, administration buildings,
storehouses ordnance repair shops, coal
sheds, gun sheds, etc.
During the fiscal year there were rented
in the Philippine Islands s76 buildings for
shelter of officers, troops and stores; in ad-
dition, there were SO converts, 20 insular
government buildings, and SO buildings be-
longing to the United States set aside for
use OF the army, under provisions of the
treaty of Paris, occupied as barracks, quar-
tiers and storehouses, for which no rent
was paid.
The building operations during The year
were extensive especially In Manila. where
16 storehouses are under construction These
structures are on land adjoining the new
harbor OF Manila, loaned for that purpose
by the insular government When they are
completed the rented storehouses in the city
or Manila for the use of the quartermaster's
SAANN SN|SASSNtASS
up.
Increased Cost of Building.
''The increased price of building ma
terial," says the quarterrnaster general
land also of all kinds of, skilled labor en-
ployed in the building trades throughout
the United States. has. tended to increase
the cost of. buildings erected under con-
tracts. during the period covered by this
report the increase being in some cases as
much as 10 and even 20 per cent over
prices prevailing one and two years ago.
There Is also tendency on the part of bid
ders for construction work to require in
their proposals more time for completing
buildings, due, as is stated by them, to the
dlfficulties they experience in securing
prompt delivery of material. This upward
tendency of prices for material and labor
still continues and win materially affect
the cost OF construction during the current
fiscal year. ~
During the year the sum of IS, 665 T94. 02
was available for use in providing clothing
and equipage supplies for the army and
militia. OF this amount Sc, sos, 1868 was re-
mitted to officers of the department and
requisition for $23. 52s.42 issued on settle
ments made by the treasury on account of
claims, leaving balance on hand June 80
Of 81 ,917, 1887.
There Were issued during the year to the
militia of the various states and territories
and of the District of Columbia supplies
amounting to 3S6.SS9.0y There were also
sold to the militia during the fiscal year.
under the act approved February "a, 1897,
clothing and equipage supplies to the
amount of s4.122.0S.
Many of the enlisted Philippine scouts,
being much smaller in stature than the
American soldier. cannot be fitted from the
usual sizes furnished the army. and cloth
ing made especially for them Is required.
Burial Of Soldiers.
There are eighty-three national cemeteries