Omaha daily bee., 1910-01-01
ARMY DEPARTMENT GAINS
Strength Of Missouri Branch, U. s, A.
Notably Increased in Year,
SEVERAL POSTS ARE ENLARGED
Few Changes In Personnel and Not
Many OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
Depot Gets n BiE
Boost.

The strength of the military force Of
the Department OF the Missouri was
materially increased during the year 1909
over tina of the preceding year. This
increase IL due to the enlargement of
several OF the posts OF the department,
notably. Fort d. A. Russell, Wyoming,
and Fort Mackenzie, wyoming. The total
increase as shown by the department re-
turns on December l. was forty-five of
ficers and 761 enlisted men. on December
81, 1908. there we're 44s officers and 1000
enlisted men, while on December 1, 1899,
there were 4s4 officers and s.7sI enlisted
men.
There has been but little change In the
personnel of the department staff. Lieu
tenant Colonel William p. Evans as chief
OF staff was succeeded during the year
by Major william P. Burnham; Major
James q. Erwin as inspector general sue
ceeded Major Jacob O. Galbraith, and
Lieutenant Colonel william h. Davis. as
chief surgeon was succeeded by Lieuten-
ant Colonel John NJ. Banlstsr. Lieutenant
Troup Miller was succeeded as aide de
camp on the staff Of General Morton on
December 16, by Lieutenant Ohio e.
Mfchaelis.
Death of Brad Slaughter.
The casualties during the year in the
department btalI embrace the ueAln OF
Major Bradner D.. Slaughter of the pay
masters department, who acted as chief
paymaster during the absence OF Major
Herbert M. Lord. Upon the death of Major
Slaughter, Major w. p. Blauvelt became
acting chief paymaster until the return
of Major Lord, who resumed his duties
as chief paymaster early in the fall.
Captain John l.. Hines. assistant TO the
chief quartermaster and duartermaster IN
charge OF the Omaha quartermaster depot,
was relieved from that duty December 81,
1909. and is transferred to duty at Nagas-
aki. Japan. He will be succeeded by Cap
tain Frank c. Bolles.
Among the important changes during the
year was the material enlargement OF the
functions OF the Omaha q~uartermaster's
depot, which has now become one Of the
largest purchasing and supply depots In
the country. With this increase In its
functions the annual purchases made al
and for this depot will exceed $500, 900,
where heretofore the purchases aggregated
scarcely S25. 900 annually.
The year has been prolific OF interest at
Fort Omaha, where the first actual bal
looming experiments were undertaken.
These experiments included both spherical
ballooning and ascents with the Baldwin
d~irigible balloon. the latter still being in
. storage at the big balloon house. The high
est ascent recorded by any of these bal
looms In the countrywide 900 feet-stands to
the credit of the Omaha experiment station
Three Million Dollars.
The aggregate expenditures through the
office Of Major d. E Mccarthy, CHIEF
, quartermaster of the department, for the
year, for supplies and services Of civilian
6 employees will be about $4,000, 900 for tn,
" year.
For construction at the various militar,
posts, aside from the foregoing figures
the sum of 50, .0OO will be reached. Mos
Of the construction has been at the post
W Of Fort Leavenworth, Fort Ri,ey, Kan.
Fort D. A, Russell, wyo.; Fort Meade. S
n D.; Fort Robinson and Fort Crook, Neb.
There has been paid out to the officer
is and soldiers Of the department through tn.
is office Of Major Herbert M. Lord, chic
psymaster, the enormous sum of $500, OOC
This money was largely paid in SINAI
ID amounts, and went into immediate circula
NJ ton.
Omaha being the principal headquarter
for the purchase Of army commissary sup
lie plies for the army stationed in the DE
partment Of the Missouri through the offic
Nv OF Lieutenant Colonel F. r. Eastman
purchasing commissary, the chief commits
&c sary of the department, the annual re
turns show that 5000, 900 was expended 10
ne this purpose during the year. Most of thes
purchases were made through Omaha jot
"a bers and wholesalers.