New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1885-07-29
Feeding On Army.

Feeding IN Army.
For many years prior to the Mexican
war, writes New York correspondent
to The Albany journal, purchasing
commissary for the United States army
was stationed at New York city. The
extent of the depot and the amount OF
supplies there obtained were very
limited for some time in consequence
of the small size of the army. 1t was
not until the commencement OF the
rebellion in 1861 that the labors of this
depot reached increased magnitude
and great proportions. With over
million of men in the field to be sub
sisted, a very great quantity of the
articles of the ration meats. flour,
hard bread, sugar, coffee, teas. salt
for many Of them,
were obtained in this city. Not unusal-
" cargo after cargo Of coffee was pur-
chased for the troops. At several times
during the war special purchases of this
article were obtained abroad, as 1t
could be so procured more economl-
cally for the army. Under the man
agement of then colonel, afterward
Brig. Gen. A. B. Eaton, commissary
general of substance, United States
army, the purchases were very ex-
tensive. Col. Eaton had corps of
experts, well tralned,-some Of the
best merchants in the city,-as inspec-
tors and adjustors, and secured for the
government the best articles which
could be purchased at the lowest
prices. A rigid fultillment of all con-
tracts was exacted and made under
the safeguards his experienced fore
sight had placed around him.
10 the purchase of the soldiers ra-
tons, some years since, was added the
procurement of over one hundred
articles for his comfort and conyen-
fence and that of the officers of the
army and their families at military
post, all disposed of to them at first
cost. There are few posts in the army,
in any locality, that will not show
some supplies procured by the SUBJ
sistence officer in New York city, and
some of them many of the important
articles which those stationed there
receive. Under a recent act of con-
gress, all supplies must be advertised
for. except in very extreme emergency
cases. This opened competition to all,
and upon the purchasing officers is inn
posed the duty of selecting from the
numerous bidders and their samples
the articles at the lowest price-quali-
ty and condition considered. An ex-
tensice knowledge 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 speciality of certain articles, and are
we'll and thoroughly skilled therein.
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 &C.
cepted as are required. after a
thorough comparison with the. sample
submitted. These articles are trans
ferred to the quartermaster' depart
ment for transportation to the posts
desiring them. All bids are 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, ID. 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-
ceived, paid out, and every pound or
pint purchased of 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 cxactions OF
accountability which the government
requires by reports and returns of its
army agents.
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 fol
it's purchasing officer here one of Its
most experienced members, whose
main object is advancing, protecting
and securing the public interest.
There has never been a defalcation al
this depot since its establishment,
nor have the duties required to be
performed here failed to meet all de-
mandS