Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 26.djvu/237

Expense of erecting a fort ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

50,000

Arms, equipment and ammunition ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

17,690

Camp equipage ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

1,184

Transportation of troops to Chagres, thence by land to Panama, and again by sea to the Columbia river ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

25,000

Transportation of supplies, by sea, round Cape Horn, to the Columbia river ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

25,000

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$224,467

If the troops and supplies are carried in Government vessels from Panama to the Columbia river, the expenses of transportation would be about $20,000 less. And if they are sent in transports from the United States, round Cape Horn, to the Columbia river, the whole expense of transportation would amount to about $43,000.

After the first year, the annual cost of maintaining the post would be as follows:

Pay of 355 men per annum ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

$32,760

Clothing per annum ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

11,006

Pay and emoluments of 21 commissioned officers per annum ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

19,987

Annual supply of ammunition ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

1,607

Contingencies, including the pay of overseer and laborers, and living, in lieu of $25,915 for subsistence ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

9,000

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$74,360

To the Honorable Mr. Cushing, member of the Committee of Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives.^[1]

Independently of the letter of the Secretary of War, Mr. Cushing received another January 7th, from Mr. Paulding, Secretary of the Navy, to whom he had addressed the same questions. Mr. Paulding also expressed the opinion that the best protection to give to the citizens of the United States in Oregon Territory would consist

1. Documents of the 25th Congress, No. 101. Appendix K, p. 22, February 16, 1839.—de Mofras.