New-York tribune., 1904-08-15
IyHox THE rREzu,-E zUEEAU-i

washington. Aug. Il II seems strange, re-
marked retired officer OF the army, who is
,,-owr in washington as careful military and
conservative political student that in consid-
srirC the so-oalled question OF alleged 'm:licar-
ISM people 60 net ponder over the influence ex-
srriged BY the a-Try public institution in
IRE Development and growth Of the Industrial
resources of Tic United States. Setting aside
r-irsy the purely military features OF the army
r7-oblera such as its size and the necessity for
s+s maintenance as a national safeguard. even
ne most casual study Of the economic phase
~ the question should convince any mind that
the army is q source Of inesriuaabis benefit in
= commercial and economic way. To the people
themselves, in fact, it Is more beneficial than
any other government factor directly or indi-
-ectly at work for their prosperity and general
good. not even excepting the postohlce-
why. IN New-York alone, where now and for
years PAST millions Of dollars for army supplies
and the Ia Dor demanded under army approp-ia-
1ions are expended annually, no can even
estimate the extent 10 which these army eX-
penditures add TO the welfare and general pros
perity of the community While New-York City
is only one OF ths many large business centres
north, east. west ard south deriving benefit
from the large addition 10 its circulating money
cause6 by army purchases Of supplies and en-
ployrnent Of labor. huge as its industries are
and independent IS IL may seem 10 be Of any
particular private OF governmental patronage
NeT-York may veil be chosen fer illustration
There alone. according 10 recent official COM
p;irs-iou, more than Sz0o000oO was expended
IN the four years following 1855 for the manu-
Facture under contract of the soldiers field uni-
forms alone. shoraing employment for thousands
uf hat. coat trousers and shirt makers. male
sid female. upon each Of whom Ine support Of
4 family may have depended. Yet even in this
cne respect the patronage is distributed among
4s5rfc manufacturers scattered over The coun-
try And beyond this comparatively small item
Of field uniforms. must De considered other
summer and winter clothing. fuIl dress uniforms,
sood supplies, harness and other leather ma
teraL tent canvas steel and iron for wagons
carts and ambulances. and in fact everything
that enters into the supply of an army Then.
100. the extensive purchase of horses and mules
forms al t5eEn. and. together with the demand
for meats. fresh and canned, constitutes a de-
cided help and encouragement 10 the stock and
cattle industry.
More than al this" he continued. should
be considered the immense amount Of both
skilled and ordinary labor required in the man
ufacture of heavy ordnance. large and small
arms, ammunition. field batteries. seacoast for
tiacstions pertaining 10 the army establishment
proper. And aside from those items. forming
in themselves gigantic aid TO the internal COM
Il
that great civic expenditure for the Improvement
Of rivers and harbors, aggregating IN the past
eight years fully S200.0O0.O00. charged 70 the
called and misleading War Appropriations
headline over statistical columns, all OF which
work and expenditure Of money Is under the
direction and contract OF the United States army
engineers.
WHERE MONEY EXPENDED HAS GONE.
II the fun truth were known" the critic
urged, instead Of being nisled by overzealous
politicians into antagonizing the military estab-
lishment. which ever since the days OF Wash
ington and Adams thoughtful men have sought
70 improve on a national basis Of efficiency. the
people should applaud Il As a public institu-
Jion II not only preserves their rights IN peace,
but promises adequate protection IN war. and
meanwhile does much indeed for the encourage
rent Of home manufactures and industries, as
well furnishing employment for many
whose well paid services tend TO fix the general
standard OF wages and working hours IN this
country. Admitting that the aggregated So
called military appropriations IN the past eight
yesrs amount 10 nearly 81 OO0OOOOOO which
included S2O0000O00 for Internal river and
hs-bor Improvements. the S50.0O0000 SO
dramatically appropriated by Congress on the
eve oE the Spanish War for hurried emergency
defences. and the SJ0OO0O0O appropriated in
the last eight years for seacoast fortiications
and armament which neither political party, if
II power, could nave avoided, the 100000 O0O
expended included not only ;he maintenance Ct
The army IN peace. but the cost Of our victorious
var with Spain-all, however, for whatever pur-
pose snd under whatever conditions appropri-
ated. was destined 10 so into the hands Of the
people thenselE es. and by increasing their cir
cuiating medium make times easier and pros
peTity greater for al alike"
The United States army, like al others, must
depend upon supply departments, whose meth
oas Of efficiency ana economic mana cement on
proper basis established in peace periods viii
Insure the usefulness Of the army IN war. Aside
rom the supply Of arms and munitions Of war
and The supply Of coast defensive works the tVo
Esain branches OF military supplies the Quar-
terrnaster and Commlssary departments. both %
which since the Spanish war have been placed
On better basis Of organization than at any
time since the creation Of the army. and are to-
DAY fully equal 70 any emergency that may
arise But even n the emergency Of 1898. when
the general unpreparedness for war was so
MARKED by the confusion and embarrassments
hat ensued. both these supply departments %
The army met the strenuous demands suddenly
made upon them with wonderful slacrity and
-uccsss
Tor example. the Quartermastsr's Department
sf the outbreak Of the war n 1898 comprised
Only 81 oficers. being only y more than were
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