anm document

Various reports on supplies
for government personnel (1897-1917)
in ANM 1 N 127 fonds anciens

© 1999 by Jim Jones, Ph.D.
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Capt. Besançon à le Colonel, Lt. Gouverneur p.i. (Bamako, July 13, 1897)

This letter describes the Bamako garrison's millet requirements from July until mid-November when the local harvest began. The garrison consumed 2,800 kilgrams/day, which amounted to 347 tons overall. There were already 110 tons in warehouses and Captain Besançon expected to receive 3 tons/month from Siguiri (12 tons in all), 12 tons each from Kankan, Bougouni and Kourousso, 90 tons from Segou, and 50 more that were already enroute from Segou. That added up to 298, leaving them 49 tons short.

NOTE: From 1899-1904, the file on the "ravitaillement de Bamako" consists largely of telegrams concerning the shipment of grain, the relocation of officers, and orders for supplies. There is nothing for the years 1905-1909 or 1911-1916.

"Les membres du Conseil d'Administration du 2ième Regiment des Tirailleurs Sénégalais à M. Lt. Gouverneur du Haut-Sénégal-Niger" (Kati, March 7, 1910)

The military post at Sokolo was closed and all of its supplies, except that necessary for local civilian administration, were moved to Goumbou.

A. de la Feroinière? (illegible), commerçant à Gao-Niamey, à Lt. Gouverneur du Haut- Sénégal-Niger" (Bamako, November 18, 1910)

This letter protests a new regulation that priced supplies for the Soudan at the same level as supplies in Dakar. The merchant specifically mentioned wine prices, which would drop 1 franc/liter as a result of the new regulation, and said that it would be impossible for merchants to fulfill their contracts to supply government posts at those prices, especially in Niamey. (NOTE: Not stated, although clear from the tone of the letter, is that transportation costs make things more expensive in the Soudan than they are at Dakar.)

There were two drafts contracts for commercial resupply of French posts: one for land transport and the other for boats. The boat contract mentions that the government will provide animal skin containers called mezoueds at no charge, but the transporter will have to reimburse the government 10 francs for each one lost or damaged.

Leméter, commerçant à Kati,
to Gouverneur du Haut-Sénegal-Niger, letter (Kati, July 5, 1917)

This letter refers to a request from the administrator at the Mines de Falémé for 30 tons of millet. Leméter is a merchant at Kati who wants permission to buy the millet in Bamako and ship it to them. Transport was to be provided by the Maison Antoine Massad, while M. Porte, Administrateur en Chef de Colonies, Commandant de Cercle de Bamako, had already given his permission.