Statement of barracks now on hand, under construction, and to be built out of current year's appropriations, at all garrisoned posts in the United States-Continued. The foregoing table shows that there are now in the United States, or will be when construction work under way and projected is completed, barracks as follows: There are to be stationed in the United States under present arrangements From this it would appear that the barracks for cavalry and infantry now on hand and under construction are about equal to the number required. This is not, however, the case, because from barracks shown in the table to be on hand there must be deducted the following, which can not, for reasons stated, be counted as available for the permanent establishment, namely: CAVALRY. Deduet. Fort Apache, Ariz., 6 barracks on hand, only 1 to be used 5 6 Fort Walla Walla, Wash., 4 barracks on hand, to be converted to an infantry post Fort Wingate, N. Mex., 2 barracks on hand, to be reduced to a 1-company post.. 1 Total cavalry barracks to be deducted from list shown in table This leaves the number on hand available 127, or 17 less than required for the 12 regiments to be stationed in the United States. INFANTRY. From infantry barracks shown in table to be on hand there must be deducted the following, which can not be utilized, namely: Deduct. Alcatraz Island, 4 on hand; post to be vacated by regular garrison and occupied by a prison guard Fort Brown, Tex., 4 barracks on hand; only 3 required.. Total unavailable to be deducted 4 15 There will be a gain of 4 infantry barracks on account of change of Fort Walla Walla, Wash., from cavalry to infantry, leaving the net number of unavailable infantry barracks to be deducted from those shown in the table 11, which leaves 252 on hand at permanent infantry posts, or 12 less than the number required for the 22 regiments. The number of field artillery barracks on hand is still 3 less than the number of batteries of that arm now in the United States. The coast artillery barracks on hand are 16 short of the number required. The estimate submitted shows that it is contemplated to erect next year barracks as follows: Fort Barrancas, Fla., for 1 company coast artillery--new.. Benicia Barracks, Cal., for 1 company of infantry-to replace an old one. Fort Constitution, N. H., for 1 company of coast artillery-new. Fort D. A. Russell, Wyo., for 4 troops of cavalry-new. Des Moines, Iowa, for 4 troops of cavalry-new. Jackson Barracks, La., for 1 company of coast artillery-to replace an old one. Fort Levett, Me., for 1 company of coast artillery-new. Fort Meade, S. Dak., for 2 troops of cavalry-to replace old buildings. Fort Mott, N. J., for 2 companies of coast artillery-1 new and 1 to replace an old building. Fort Sam Houston, Tex., for 2 batteries of field artillery-new. Fort Slocum, N. Y., for 2 companies of infantry-to replace old buildings. Vancouver Barracks, Wash, for 2 companies of infantry-to replace old buildings. Fort Wadsworth, N. Y., for 3 companies of coast artillery-to replace old buildings. Whipple Barracks, Ariz., for 1 company of infantry-new. The net result of the foregoing, in as far as affects the number of barracks now on hand, would be: Additional new cavalry barracks Additional new ffeld artillery barracks. Additional new coast artillery barracks Additional new infantry barracks.... QUARTERMASTER-GENERAL'S OFFICE, March 10, 1904. 8241 Replies to request for information desired by the Committee on Appropriations, House of Representatives, from the Quartermaster-General of the Army, on matters pertaining to estimate for military posts. Q. What expenditures have been made for construction work and improvements during the last five years at the following posts: Fort Riley, Kans.? Expenditures and allotments for all purposes from July 1, 1899, to dåte.. Fort Leavenworth, Kans.? Expenditures and allotments for all purposes from July 1, 1899, to date. $1,405, 457. 89 $1,993, 349. 35 Q. Estimate of $30,000 to purchase or extinguish leases to lands of the Kahauiki Military Reservation near Honolulu, Hawaii? The authority for this is based upon act of Congress approved June 28, 1902, sundry civil bill, for the fiscal year 1903. Q. Estimate of $225,000 for purchase of land to enlarge the reservation at Fort Niagara, N. Y., this not being a coast artillery post. It is understood that the authorities of the War Department hold that the wording of the sundry civil bill making appropriations for military posts authorizes purchase of additional land when such land is necessary for the enlargement of a post. The wording of the act is as follows: "For the construction of buildings at and the enlargement of such military posts as in the judgment of the Secretary of War may be necessary.' The records of this office show that in recent years purchases have been made under authority of the law above quoted at Fort Sam Houston, Tex., for the purchase of an addition to the reservation at that post, which was concluded in December, 1903, at a cost of $54,000. Purchase of 80 acres of land in the reservation at Fort Douglas, Utah, at a cost of $1,000. Purchase of a small tract of land required to enlarge the reservation at the Omaha depot of the Quartermaster's Department, at a cost of $3,000. This answers the committee's request for information in regard to cases where land has been purchased from the appropriations for military posts for uses other than coast artillery posts. Q. Purchase of land at Fort H. G. Wright, N. Y. Estimate, $55,000. The Engineer Department is now negotiating for a tract of land required at this post to permit increase and rearrangement of the armament. They have included in their purchase the additional land that will be needed by the Quartermaster's Department to erect necessary buildings for the enlarged post, and the $55,000 called for in the estimate is to pay for the Quartermaster's Department land-in other words, to reimburse the Engineer Department for their outlay for this land. QUARTERMASTER-GENERAL'S OFFICE, March 10, 1904. INDIANAPOLIS, IND. (See also p. 454.) The CHAIRMAN. Now we will take up House Document No. 463, relating to the new military post at Indianapolis, Ind. What are the necessities of a post there? Colonel RUHLEN. The purchase of land has been concluded, and we are now awaiting the results of a survey that has been made with a view to laying out the post there. The map is expected in a few days. The CHAIRMAN. When can you advise us as to the amount of money necessary for construction at that post during the fiscal year 1905? Colonel RUHLEN. We can get that estimate as soon as we are informed by the Department as to what its intentions are with reference to the post. The CHAIRMAN. You have here a document recommending an estimate of $944,000. Colonel RUHLEN. Yes, sir. The CHAIRMAN. That amount of money could not be expended there during the next fiscal year, could it? And you have no plans yet on which you propose to expend that? But that estimate is submitted Colonel RUHLEN. No, sir; not yet. on the basis of the total cost of a full regimental post, with all its features and requirements. The CHAIRMAN. What we desire, Mr. Quartermaster-General, is to have you write a letter to this committee, and have it up here by Monday, if you can do it, advising us as to what money is necessary to carry on the work you desire to conduct there during the fiscal year 1905. As I understand you, this is an estimate for the complete cost of construction of an army post for one regiment of infantry. Of course, you could not expend that money in one year. We want to know what you desire to do there in the fiscal year 1905 and the estimate of cost. Colonel RUHLEN. I will endeavor to furnish what you want. (See letter, p. 454.) TROOPS OUTSIDE OF UNITED STATES. Mr. GILLETT. There are one or two questions I would like to ask, supplementary to this paper, as to barracks for troops, which will go into the record. You tell here, Colonel, how many barracks you have of the different branches of the service. Can you tell us how much of the Army is out of this country? This is all tabulated for the Army in the United States. What I want to know is how much of the Army is outside of the United States. If you can state it offhand, very well. If not, you can figure out a statement and hand it to the stenographer. Colonel RUHLEN. There are now outside of the United States 4 regiments of cavalry, 9 regiments of infantry, 8 companies of coast artillery, 4 companies of engineers, and 3 batteries of field artillery. Mr. GILLETT. That is exclusive of Porto Rico? Colonel RUHLEN. Yes; I did not count the Porto Rican troops. Colonel RUHLEN. No, sir; only the regular establishment. Out of those four regiments of cavalry now out of the United States it is contemplated to bring back one as soon as accommodations are ready for them, and also one additional regiment of infantry. That would then make 12 regiments of cavalry in the United States and 22 regiments of infantry. Mr. GILLETT. To which you refer in your table? Colonel RUHLEN. Yes, sir; which I state in my table. GALVESTON, TEX.: PROTECTION OF MILITARY RESERVATION. The CHAIRMAN. Colonel, we have pending before this committee House bill 10157, for an appropriation to construct a sea wall at Galveston, Tex., to protect the property of Fort Crockett Reservation. First, Colonel, we would like to know how much land we have at that reservation. Colonel RUHLEN. I am not prepared to answer that. The CHAIRMAN. Well, then, assume that there are 80 acres. What buildings have we on that reservation? Colonel RUHLEN. We have no buildings there at present which belong to the Quartermaster's Department. They have not commenced construction in our department at all. The CHAIRMAN. You say you have not commenced construction work in your department? Colonel RUHLEN. Yes, sir. The CHAIRMAN. Are you authorized to commence any buildings on that reservation? Colonel RUHLEN. None specially, but we expect to begin work when the engineers indicate that the batteries are ready to turn over to the troops. The CHAIRMAN. What buildings do you contemplate constructing there? Colonel RUHLEN. At present it is contemplated to build a post for one company of coast artillery only. The CHAIRMAN. What would be the expense of constructing a building for one company? Colonel RUHLEN. The average for one company, ordinarily, is about $150,000. The CHAIRMAN. Are there any buildings belonging to any other department of the Government on this reservation? Colonel RUHLEN. I do not know. Perhaps there may be some temporary structures that the engineers built for their employees while at work. The CHAIRMAN. When was this reservation purchased? Colonel RUHLEN. Some purchase has been made there within the last three or four years. I do not know whether the entire reserva tion or not. The CHAIRMAN. What do we have in the way of coast fortifications at this point? Colonel RUHLEN. That I do not know, sir. The CHAIRMAN. Have you examined this bill which I mentioned? Colonel RUHLEN. Just within the last day or two my attention has been called to it, and I have no information about it except what I have picked up by looking over papers that have come to me since then. The CHAIRMAN. You are not informed as to the necessity of this wall that is asked for? Colonel RUHLEN. No, sir; except as I might say by inference-that is, if it is necessary to protect the other part of the shore, then the same necessity exists for the protection in front of the Government property. The CHAIRMAN. Do you know of the extent of the coast fortifications. there? Colonel RUHLEN. It has been intimated that they would probably be ready to turn over this year to the care of the troops. The CHAIRMAN. Your office can secure for us information as to whether or not the coast fortifications already emplaced there are protected? Colonel RUHLEN. We can; but we would have to go to the engineers for it, and therefore I would suggest that you apply to the Engineer Department direct for that. They are in charge of all work that is now going on there. We have not yet taken hold at all. The CHAIRMAN. Are there any further questions, gentlemen? Mr. GILLETT. Does it always cost $150,000 to house one company of artillery? Colonel RUHLEN. Yes, sir; that includes the storehouses, and the guardhouse, and the office buildings, and everything of that sort. For the second company we would need only barracks and officers' quarters, and for the third and fourth the same. Mr. GILLETT. No buildings have yet been constructed there? |