Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1885-07-31

could 10 purchased at the lowest
prices. Ari4id fulf llment of all con-
tracts was exacted and made under
the safeguards his experienced fore
sight had placed around him. #s5
To the purchase Of the soldiers RAJ
lions, some years since, was added the
procurement Of over one hundred
articles for his comfort md conven.
fence and that Of the officers Of the
army and their families "a military
post, all disposed otto them at first
cost. There are few posts il the army,
in any locality, that will not show
some supplies procured by the sub
sistence officer in New York city, and
some Of them many of the important
articles which those stationed there
receive. Under recent act Of con-
gress, all supplies must be advertised
tor, except in very extreme emergency
cases. This opened competitionto all,
and upon the purchasing officers IS im-
pOsets the duty of selecting from the
numerous bidders and their samples
the articles at the lowest prjee-d,lali-
ty and condition considered. An5ex-
tensile knowled ge of all such articles
should be possessed by officers OF the
subsistence department., and many
have from long experience and associa-
ton with the soldier-.knowlng his
Wants--close observation and study,
qualified themselves for these trying
and responsible positions Some have
a specially Of certain articles, and are
we'll and thoroughly skilled therein.
r Upon the receipt of the order for
supplies, public proposals are sent out.
if the stock held on hand by the depot
officer will not permit the order to be
filled from it. Such quantities are ac-
cepted as are required. after a
thorough comparison with the sample
submitted. These articles are trans
ferred to the quartermasters depart
ment for transportation to the posts
desiring them. AL bids arc required
to be carefully distracted, and even
the envelopes in which they are re-
ceived sent with them to the subsis-
tence bureau in Washington, u. c.,
for examination and supervision. No
act of the most unimportent character
can be done without thorough know
ledge Of it by the revising authorities.
At the end of each month every article
purchased, its mode OF procurement,
its price, quantity obtained. name of
seller and amount is reported to the
Washington Authorities. A monthly
report is also made of every cent re-
ceiyed, paid out, and every pound or
pint purchased or on hand must be
satisfactorily accounted for by COM
plete and explicit vouchers, setting
forth also the authority for purchases
when made. Whilst the labor of pur-
chasing, inspecting, and shipping army
supplies is complete and accurate,
there is NO less complet eness in the
careful and unyielding exactions of
accounta bility which the government
requires by reports and returns of its
army agents. g. 49,.
The large, varied, and unlimited
market IN this city is for the purchase
Of subsistence supplies not only the
very best but the most important in
the country. The subsistence depart
ment has always tried to select for
its purchasing officer here one Of 1ts
most experienced members, whose
main object is advancing, projecting,
and securing the public interest.
There has never been a defalcation at
this depot since it's establishment,
nor have the duties required to be
performed here failed to meet all de-
mandS.