legal tenders selling at from seventy-five to seventy cents per dollar. A letter from Colonel Babbitt, chief quartermaster, San Francisco, in Captain Eckerson's office, says that he can put freight down at Camp Warner, via Chico, at fifteen cents per pound in coin, from Chico; the charge to Chico from San Francisco cannot be over one or two cents, so that the total cost by this route to Warner would not have exceeded seventeen cents per pound, and to the other posts in proportion. The present rates, it will be observed, foot up thirty-two cents; Before Colonel Babbitt's letter was received, all the freight had been despatched at the costly rates given but it strikes me a glance at the map would have shown that the true route of supply for these dependencies was via Chico. As near as I could ascertain, the distance from Boise to San Francisco by this route is about 700 miles; of which about 460 miles is land transportation from Chico, the head of water transportation. As the four posts all lie near the Chico road, this would make their distances from water transportation 395, 350, 270, and 180 miles respectively. Camp Warner lies somewhat off the road to the north; but a good road runs thence to Fort Bidwell, and connects with the Chico road at about the distance above given. This Chico road has been opened but a year or two; but stages now run over it regularly, and the general freighting business for Owyhee and southwestern Idaho from San Francisco is settling down to this route. Camps C. F. Smith and Lyon were supplied with subsistence over it this year from San Francisco, and I see no reason why the whole four posts should not have been supplied this way with everything. There were certain supplies at Boise which it was as well to ship from there as to leave in store; but large amounts were also brought from the Columbia and reshipped at the costly rates stated, for which I see no valid excuse. Trains were still en route from the river to Fort Boise when I inspected the post; and what I saw on the road were very shabby in appearance compared with Mr. Caldwell's, our contractor on the plains. In my judgment, the chief quartermas ter of the department, Brevet Lieutenant Colonel Hodges, is the officer chiefly at fault; and his remissness has caused the department an expenditure of many thousands of dollars this season that might readily have been saved. The whole system of freighting from Columbia to Boise, and from Boise to points beyond, is wrong. The practice has been to hire the transportation in open market, whereas by judicious advertising I doubt not good contractors and reasonable rates might have been obtained, the same as over the plains. Captain Eckerson seems to have advertised in but a single instance; when the bids, not being satisfactory, were all rejected, and contracts made half a cent less per pound than the lowest bid. But this proves nothing; and the experience of the department elsewhere shows that it is better, cheaper, and safer, to make general contracts with responsible men for the season, rather than to pick up individuals, as you happen to find them, for each different job of freighting, as appears to have been the case at Boise. Colonel Hodges should have taken the business into his own hands as one of the most important matters in the department, and should have arranged for supplying the dependencies from California direct rather than by the present roundabout and costly way, as it seems to me. I regret to pass this censure upon his management of affairs here, but the facts compel it.

Hereafter I recommend that the four posts, Camps Lyon, Winthrop, C. F. Smith, and Warner, be supplied from California by the Chico route. As I said previously, the change would result in a saving of twenty or thirty per cent., if not more, in my judgment.

V.-REGULAR SUPPLIES-FUEL, FORAGE, ETC.

The fuel used is wood; it comes from cañons and patches on the mountains, and consists chiefly of fir and cedar. A double allowance is issued when it seems necessary. It costs, delivered at the post, $13 50 per cord in coin; last year it cost $9 25; but the contractor is reported as losing money. I thought the price too high, but am inclined to change my opinion, after seeing more of the treeless character of the country, and inquiring into the prices current in Boise city. There is a wood reserve of three hundred and forty-three acres a mile away on an island on the Boise river; but this has long been denuded of all trees. Much of the wood now used is hauled twenty or thirty miles, and some even further. The supply on hand is small, but more is being received daily; and as soon as snow comes it will be delivered by sleds from points inaccessible to wagons. No coal has been discovered near the post; but while en route here I heard of coal on Piatt river, near Mr. Shafer's ranche, some forty miles from Fort Boise, and also on Snake river at Farewell Bend, some eighty miles from Boise. I could learn nothing about the character of the former; but the latter is good anthracite, and is already much used by the people there. A steamboat is now running on Snake river from Farewell Bend upwards, and could deliver this coal at a point southwest from Fort Boise, some thirty miles off. This coal is mined directly on the bank of the Snake-in fact out of the bank-and could be put down at Boise, I judge, at a less figure than wood costs there now. I think this worth considering if Fort Boise be maintained, as wood will yearly cost more there. I could hear of no peat-beds, and doubt if they exist nearer than Piatt and Powder rivers-too far off to compete with this coal.

Forage.-Grain cost eight and one-third cents per pound in coin, delivered at the post. Oats and barley are used, both costing the same. No corn is purchased; but little raised in that region. The supply last year cost ten cents per pound. Hay costs $34 44 per ton in

coin, delivered at the post. Last year's supply was bought in open market, and cost more, Captain Eckerson thinks; but his predecessor left him no data as to prices. A hay reserve of five hundred and three acres, three miles off, on the Boise river, furnished three hundred tons this season; this was cut by contract, and cost, stacked there, $14 per ton. This reserve is fenced in and guarded, and seems to have paid for itself well. The supply of forage on hand is small; but a full supply has been contracted for, and is being delivered right along; it comes chiefly from Boise valley. I was unable to obtain any data as to the cost of fuel at the dependencies of Fort Boise; but Captain Eckerson thought they were all supplying themselves by the labor of the troops. As to forage, however, I took the following from his contracts: At Camp Lyon grain costs, delivered there, 10 cents per pound; hay, $60 per ton. At Camp Winthrop, grain 20 cents per pound; hay, $125 per ton. At Camp C. F. Smith, grain, 110 cents per pound; hay, $47 95 per ton. At Camp Warner, grain, 31 cents per pound; hay cut by the troops These prices, of course, are in coin, as greenbacks cease to be currency after you pass Salt Lake. I think all of these forage rates too high, and the difference in the prices at the dependences not justified by the difference in distances. The contract at Camp Winthrop especially looks very singular compared with those at Lyon and Smith. An easy calculation will show that the cost of maintaining these four posts at such rates is enormous. Much of it, it is plain, comes from not selecting the Chico route to supply these posts; and I am unable to understand why this was not done if economy is desired. If there be two hundred animals at Camp Warner, including the cavalry thereand there are probably more-their grain alone, from November 1 to April 30, will cost $135,360 in coin. I think if the district quartermaster, Captain Eckerson, had visited the posts in person, and studied their resources, he would have been able to make better con tracts than these, and I am unable to acquit the department quartermaster of his just share of blame. Why did he sanction contracts at such rates?

Lumber costs in the rough $60 per thousand in coin, and shingles $6. The same remarks as above I would repeat as to lumber.

VI.-RESERVATION, PUBLIC BUILDINGS, ETC.

There are properly three reservations at Fort Boise-first, the wood reserve, an island in Boise river, a mile south from the post, containing 343 acres; second, the bay reserve, some three miles northwest, on Boise river, 503 acres; and, 3d, the main reservation, about the post, containing 640 acres. The wood reserve might as well be thrown open to pre-emption, as the wood has all been cut off, and it is of no further use. The hay reserve gave us 300 tons of hay this year, about half the price of contract hay, and should be kept, if the post is maintained. The main reserve is one-half a mile north and south by two miles east and west, and runs quite down to Boise city, which is already pushing up to the reserve, as close as allowed to. It is quite as small as it should be, and I would not recommend its further reduction. The post is located southwest of the centre of the reservation, a half mile or so from the centre of Boise city. a town now of some 2,000 inhabitants. The buildings are intended for two companies. They are of a light sandstone, which abounds on the reservaThere is good frame stabling for about 100 animals, and a new cavalry stable (frame) is just being completed-capacity, 90 horses. The company quarters require new floors and some patching, but the general condition of the buildings is good. The storehouses are ample for present post and depot purposes, though one small one was burned down some months since.

tion.

A report on these buildings is herewith enclosed. A map with drawings of same is on file in the quartermaster's office, and I was informed copies had been sent to you by Lieutenant Tobey, 14th infantry, formerly quartermaster. The post was established in 1863 by Major Lugenbeel, 19th infantry. A map of the same is on file in the quartermaster's office, obtained from one on file in your office, as appears by certificate of General Dana. There is no record at the post of the reservations having ever been officially declared, but this I judge has been done. The location of the post is bad; it is too near Boise city, and the ground itself is broken and irregular. The officers' quarters are on one plateau, the company quar ters and parade ground on another several feet below, and the storehouses, shops, stables, &c., are jumbled together very singularly. The post is unenclosed, and the public road to Idaho city passes directly through it. The general effect of the post is bad, and this impression is not removed by a study of its military value.

In view of the facts, I repeat my recommendation that Fort Boise be abandoned, and recommend that the reservations be thrown open to pre-emption, and the public buildings turned over to the Interior Department, for use of the Territorial government. The territorial government has no buildings at Boise city now, and I understand is an applicant for these, in case the post is given up. They would suffice well for the purpose indicated, and the United States would at the same time save the cost of rent, or of erecting new buildings.

VII.-EMPLOYÉS.

The roll of employés foots up forty-two men, at a monthly cost of $3,905. Rations and quarters are also allowed in the main. I think the number unusually large, and recommend the discharge of at least the acting forage master, whose work can be done by the wagon

master or storekeeper, and of all the carpenters, except two; also of the six teamsters and two laborers, whose work should be done by detailed soldiers, as it is purely local. If the post is broken up, of course the whole expense will be saved. The "freighters" and "hired animals," entered on the report herewith, come under the head of transportation, which I have already noticed fully.

VIII.-CEMETERY.

There is a space of ground one-quarter of a mile northeast from the post where there are nine soldier interments and many citizens. As yet this is the common cemetery for Boise city also. It is unenclosed, and is no credit to the post in its present condition.

A report of these graves has been made to you, and Captain Eckerson intends to enclose a proper portion of the ground as soon as practicable. This, however, should have been done before, and head-boards erected, &c., as required by existing orders. If the post is abandoned the soldiers' graves should be enclosed by stone, for obvious reasons.

IX.-FIRE DEPARTMENT.

The post has no protection against fire, except a small stream on the south, which runs dry in summer. The nearest water then is the Boise river, three-fourths of a mile off.

I directed buckets and barrels of water to be placed in all the storehouses, &c.; but the post may be regarded as practically defenceless in case of fire.

A recent fire there destroyed one of the storehouses, though built of stone. I was unable to ascertain the loss of property, but it was not large.

X.-ACCOUNTS.

The accounts of Captain Eckerson had been rendered for September, and those for October were well under way. With slight exceptions they were correct. His cash on hand, November 17, consisted of $87 90; counted and found correct.

Your attention, however, is called to his indebtedness, which, October 31, amounted to $297,409; by December 31, judging by his contracts out, it will reach $525,854. To off-set this he had notice of $60,000 en route from Colonel Hodges, chief quartermaster, department of Columbia-a "drop in the bucket." Vouchers more than a year old are still afloat in the Boise market, and the selling price there is now twenty per cent. discount; at the dependencies the discount runs up to thirty and forty per cent. The effect of this is to discourage all small dealers, and to throw the government business wholly into the hands of men who can afford to float vouchers, but who, of course, charge the government back again with the cost of this on their next contracts. Besides, is not the fact disgraceful to the quartermaster's department in the present condition of the treasury? Of course the present high prices in the district of the Boise for all services and supplies have been caused largely by this state of our vouchers, and the quickest way to remedy the matter hereafter is to pay as we go. I do not see that Captain Eckerson is responsible for this, as he has made his estimates regularly, and has called attention to his heavy indebtedness, both present and accruing. But I think somebody is, and I recommend that funds be ordered to Boise at once, to extinguish everything, and keep matters paid up hereafter. It will avail but little to send checks, as drafts on New York and San Francisco are generally at a discount at Boise city. But if currency can be sent in proper quantities, so as to restore the credit of the quartermaster's department, we shall be able to supply all the posts there at a very great saving hereafter. Why cannot this be done, and the quartermaster's department thus be saved the fierce abuse that now assails throughout the district of the Boise? Why cannot we pay our debts promptly, as well as the subsistence and other departments?

XI. MISCELLANEOUS.

Captain Eckerson's file of general orders from your office was good, though not full. I instructed him to write for the ones still wanting.

RECAPITULATION.

I. I recommend that Fort Boise be broken up and abandoned, as no longer of any value, either as a post or depot.

II. I recommend Captain Eckerson, chief quartermaster, district of the Boise, as a good post quartermaster, but think him unsuited to handle a district or department.

III. I recommend that the surplus animals be sold at Boise city, at auction, early in the spring.

IV. I recommend that the dependencies of Fort Boise be supplied hereafter from San Francisco, California, by the Chico route. The result would be a saving of twenty-five per cent., if not more.

V. Should Fort Boise be maintained, I recommend that it be supplied with coal hereafter, as fuel, instead of wood, from a mine at Farewell Bend, on Snake river.

VI. I think the forage contracts at Fort Boise and its dependencies too high, and that they reflect upon both the district and department quartermaster.

VII. In case Fort Boise is broken up, I recommend that the public buildings be turned over to the Interior Department for use of the territorial government, which has no accom. modations now at Boise city, the capital of Idaho Territory.

VIII. I recommend that the employés at Boise be reduced by the discharge of laborers, teamsters, &c., and the substitution of enlisted men. Also that the larger part of the car

penters be discharged.

IX. I recommend that proper funds be sent to Fort Boise to extinguish present and accruing indebtedness; vouchers now at a heavy discount.

I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

JAS. F. RUSLING,

Brevet Brigadier General and Inspector Q. M. D.

Brevet Major General M. C. MEIGS,
Quartermaster General U. S. A.

P. S.-Certain reports of Captain Eckerson's, not herewith, will be forwarded as soon as received.