Thomas Jefferson Papers

Enclosure III: Estimate of Military Expenditures, 14 March 1801

III
Estimate of Military Expenditures

Army
amounts now (exclusively of marines who are 1,100) to about 5400 men
The present expence is
 1. Ordnance department including fabrication of muskets 100,000
 2. Indian department & defensive protection of frontiers 100,000
 3. Pay, subsistence, clothing &c. of army 1,000,000
 4. Quarter master departt. & contingencies 200,000
1,400,000
Congress had reduced the Army in 1797 to 3200 men
On the supposition of a similar reduction the expences may be
 3. Pay, subsistence &c. ⅗ of one million 600,000
 4. Quart. master & contingencies ⅗ of 200,000, but on account of abuses may be stated at one half 100,000
 1. } Ordnance the same—indian & defens. protect. say ⅘ of prest. exp. or 180,000
 2. 880,000
Under the same head may be arranged
 1. Fortifications now 200,000 dollars—reduced ½ 100,000
 2. Arms now 400,000—reduced to ¼ or 10,000 muskets a yr. 100,000 200,000
Proposed expense 1,080,000
Navy
The Secy. proposed a yearly expence of
 1. Six frigates in constant service, but on peace estabt. includ. the exp. of 7 laid up 387,257
 2. Marines on peace establishment 207,310
 3. For completing docks, building houses &c 400,000
   for finishing the six 74s 2,174,000
2,574,000
which he proposes completing in 4 years 643,500
4. For yearly purchase of timber of one 74 & one 44 117,387
Total 1,355,454
Instead of which the sum allotted would allow only
 1. Two frigates in service, others laid up
& pay of marines attached to the same
150,000
 2. Purchase of timber, finishing the dock here
& perhaps one more
170,000 320,000
1,400,000

This is grounded on a supposition that after this year Congress will not authorize the immediate finishing of the 74s. & that the other places purchased for navy yards, & the purchase of which was not authorized by law (a), will be sold

(a) See the law passed 25th Feby. 1799, authorizing the purchase of timber 4th Vol. page 267 & Stoddart’s last report dated 12th Jany. 1801 page 5th from line 14th to line 32 & page 6 from beginning to the words “been expended” at the end of 2d paragraph—

MS (DLC: TJ Papers, 110:18959); undated; entirely in Gallatin’s hand; on verso in Gallatin’s hand: “No. 3.”

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