No. 6. S

1845.

Communication from the Quarter Master General.

OFFICE OF QUARTER MASTER GENERAL,

To his Excellency, JOHN S. BARRY,

Detroit, January 31, 1845.

Governor and Commander-in-Chief:

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SIR :-I beg leave to re-call your attention, and that of the Legislature, now in session, to the necessity which is so apparent, of providing a safer and more convenient depository than we now have, for the military property of the State.

Referring to my late annual report, it will be perceived, that it amounted in value, at that time, at the rates at which it is charged in the annual distribution among the several States, to about eight thousand dollars. Since the date of that report, one of our fine brass six pounder cannon, heretofore in charge of the Scott Guards, of the first battallion of Frontier Guards, has been returned to the State, and it is expected that another piece, of the same description, will also shortly be returned, which, together, will augment the value of the arms with the custody of which this department of the State service is charged, to about twelve thousand dollars. To this amount there will be added during the current year, by the annual distribution of arms by the general governmen, at least six thousand dollars; so that altogether, the public property, belonging to this State, in the department of the Quarter Master General, may be estimated, at the next meeting of the Legislature, at nearly twenty thousand, dollars, and will probably exceed that sum, if, as may be reasonably anticipated, a portion of the arms, heretofore distributed, should be returned to the public depository.

For this large amount of public property, so important to the military defence of our extended frontier, no place of secure or convenient deposit has hitherto been provided. For the last two years, the basement of the Capitol has been used for this purpose. It has been

found, however, to be too damp for the safe keeping of arms, and a small apartment has been fitted up in the attic of that building, as a temporary deposit for unpacked stores. It is wholly inadequate to the reception of all this class of the public property, being entirely inaccessible to cannon and to whole packages of small arms. It is, moreover, too remote and difficult of access, in case of fire, to authorize the belief, that any portion of it could be removed in such an emergency, to a place of safety.

It required of the undersigned, a search of nearly a week, to obtain a place of deposit for the brass six pounder, returned by the Scott Guards; and the only place which could, at last, be found for that purpose, was a barn, in the thickly settled part of this city, which was rented for that purpose, and where it now remains. The place, however, is wholly unfit for the safe keeping of a piece of property valued at near fourteen hundred dollars.

In this state of the exigencies of this branch of the public service, 1 deem it a paramount duty to urge upon the Legislature, the con trolling necessity which exists for the immediate erection of a suitable building for an arsenal.

The importance and necessity of being prepared for defence against a hostile incursion, especially when it is considered that our State presents a frontier open to a foreign State, for an extent of nearly one thousand miles, is too obvious to need a single argument to sustain it. Taking this for granted, it is presumed that the Legislature will favor the policy of retaining at this point, as large a proportion of the military stores belonging to the State, as may be consistent with the proper and necessary discipline of the uniform corps in the interior. It follows, that even in the event of a removal of the seat of government, it will always be indispensable to have some place of deposit in Detroit, for the munitions of war, at the disposal of the State for its defence, in case of an emergency.

Waiving a more detailed argument to illustrate the necessity of providing a suitable building to receive our military stores, I remark, that in view of this necessity, I have taken considerable pains to ascertain the amount of outlay which will be requisite for this purpose, and entertain the opinion that a suitable building, of wood, twentyfive by forty feet, on the ground-two stories high-the first floor to

be used for cannon, and the second for small arms, may be erected at an expense of about six hundred dollars; and one of brick, for about one thousand dollars. These estimates do not include the cost for a site, which, it is believed, may be obviated by the use of grounds already belonging to the State.

Should a larger building be deemed necessary, the cost would, of course, be augmented. It is believed, however, that one of that size will meet the exigencies of the State for some years to come, and besides furnishing a depository for the public arms, it would also provide suitable offices for this department, and safe keeping of its records and files, and if requisite, for that of the Adjutant General.

There is another subject, of less importance, which I avail myself of the present occasion to suggest. Hitherto the small expenses for cartage, storage, &c., have been defrayed by the Commander-in-Chief, from the contingent fund. It might be well for the Legislature to make a small appropriation for this purpose, to be drawn for, upon presentation of the proper vouchers.

The subject of this communication was alluded to in my annual report; but its importance did not then present itself in so strong a light as at the present time, and it is confidently believed, that the measure proposed, cannot fail to arrest the attention and claim the early action of the Legislature.

I am, sir,

Very respectfully,

Your ob't servant,

EZRA WILLIAMS,

Quarter Master General, M. M.