EXTERNAL RELATIONS. 139 



Quarterly abstracts A, C, I, 2, 3, with their vouchers would be 

 sent to the Ordnance Office as now, for comparison with returns 

 from other officers reciprocally accountable for the stores they 

 enumerate ; but the other abstracts, which are now based only 

 upon the unsupported statements of the Commanding Officer, it 

 would seem not inexpedient to entrust to his own auditing. 



The saving in labor would probably easily permit the rendering 

 of the return at least quarterly with the force now employed ; 

 and as it would be possible for the return and its substantive ledgers 

 to exhibit the actual amount of each kind of material on hand at 

 any time, the ledgers and the return could easily be checked by 

 a random inventory. 



This is only an indication of what may be done with a system, 

 the elements of which are true and consistent ; it by no means 

 follows that it is necessary to develop it to the fullest extent in 

 order to secure some of the benefits which follow the application 

 of the principles on which it is based. 



The following schedule, relating to transactions with material 

 by foremen and Storekeepers, illustrates the nomenclature of 

 abstracts proposed. For its fuller interpretation see Chap. XIII. 



