Show U S soldiers best clothed men in the world ion nov 16 increased cost in tho construction of army buildings Is a feature of the report of gen humphrey quartermaster general of the army he says that contracts awarded for tho construction of the current fiscal year show an increase over tho fiscal year of 1903 of about 12 per ceni he estimates that the approximate cost of buildings is 36 per cent more now than three yeara ago and from present indications there is every reason to expect a continuance ot this advance this Is due to the increased cost of building material especially the higher grades of lumber and also the increase in the cost of labor he suggests tho consideration of measures looking to the adoption of concrete and iron construction in large permanent buildings which would be more costly at first but on account of their stability would compensate for the additional outlay further large appropriations will not be required tor the construction of military posts in the united states unless some of the old posts now occupied are abandoned those now under construction will be sufficient tor the cavalry field artillery and in now serving in this country A number of posts established and built thirty or forty years ago have outlived their usefulness and on account of their dilapidated condition have required much to keep them in repair gen humphrey recommends that some ot the old posts abandoned or be rebuilt in whole or in part the construction of quarters in the philippines has progressed very satisfactorily facto rily and when fort W A mckinley near manila Is completed there will be ample accommodation for all white troops in the division and this post will be one of the most comfortable ever provided by any country for troops in the tropics there was remitted to the by the bermaster ter master department during the fiscal year the construction ot military post exchanges has progressed in line with other the total appropriated for this purpose during the past several years amounting to on this point gen humphrey says the buildings constructed have been planned to meet all the purposes proposed by the act establishing them and are conveniently arranged and fur ta this end jt is my opinion now that the gymnastic equipment is elaborate it would be better it alie athletic equipment were confined to a fe wot the simpler apparatus in common use and bowling alleys pro elded A considerable portion of alio report Is devoted to the clothing ot the army and gen humphrey explains that thac issue of the new olave drab uniform was suspended in many cases in order to the largo stock of blue uniforms which were on hand lie says that when been worked oufa and completed the united states army will be the best clothed body ot men in ahe world speaking of complaints and criticisms he says that they have upon investigation vesti gation been found to arise from inattention to orders careless useless issue personal bias or lack of information gen humphrey strongly urges the purchase of coal concessions on the island of batan lying off the southeast coast of luzon and estimates that a saving to the three branches of the government in the philippines of a year can be made by securing coal at this point instead of from australia and japan as at present it la estimated that the earnings of the army transports have exceeded the cost of the service by gen humphrey strongly recommends the retention of the transports and in this connection saya |