Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1888-10-04
Uncle Sam. Grocery.

Just south of the bureau of engrav-
inS and printing, west Of Fourteenth
street and facing the river bank,
stands a large frame building, with
one-story L extending along the alley
way, says the Washington CrItic.
This is the United States commissary
depot for the supplying of subsistence
stores to the soldiers Of Fort Myer and
the arsenal. This depot also furnishes
to the families of retired officers resi-
dent in the city groceries and pro-
visions at lower rate than they could
be purchased of city dealer. The
United States commissary department
buys in large quantities direct from
the importers and wholesale dealers
all the provisions used by the army.
AS Uncle Sam is n cash customer
and large consumer, his trade is sought
for, and he is quoted very low prices
on all he buys. The army officers are
allowed to get groceries at first cost
from the cOmmissary depot-that is,
they can buy one barrel of flour at the
pro rata rate the government paid for
1000 barrels, which were bought not
in open market, but from the dealer
offering the low est price in answer to
the departments proposals for sup
plies. A Critic reporter dropped into
the depot storehouse here, long, low
building, the interior looking like q
grocery store. The air was tinged
with the subtle flavor of coffee, spices
and bacon.
Great piles of salt meat stacked high
in corner. Sacks of fragrant coffee
from Rio and Java. Boxes of black
and green tea from China and Japan.
Little packages of spices and peppers
from the isles of the Indies. Case
after case of canned tomatoes, corn
and fruits. Barrels of rice and hon.
my. Casks of sugar and molasses and
frkins of butter. Caddies of tobacco
for the enlisted men, and row after
row of boxes of Havanas, Reinas and
Perfectos for the officers. Hanging
from nails on the wall were canvas
covered hams and lengths of breakfast
bacon, and last, but in greatest pro-
fusion, a seemingly inexhaustible sup
ply of that joy and comfort of the army
the succulent bean.
The government buys nothing but
the best goods, and it goes without
saying that if it is possible to get pure,
unadulterated articles of food the offic.
ers and men in the United States serv.
ice have them. The majority of the
retired officers living in Washington
avail themselves of the opportunity of
saving small percent of their grocery
bills by purchasing their supplies from
the commissary. 1t is no unusual
sight to see several fine equipages
drawn up before the door of the store
house, while the owners of them,
officers wives, are inside the building
selecting and ordering their supplies
of groceries. An account is kept with
those who purchase from the commits
sary, and prompt payment is required
at the end OF every month.
The depot keeps small delivery
wagon, which delivers to any part of
the city the orders filled by the store
keeper. The plan of selling groceries
to the officers was inaugurated several
years ago for the protection of those
stationed at far-western and inaccessi-
BILE posts. These men we're compelled
to buy their supplies from a sutler,
and the prices were often so exorbl-
tant that the margin between the ex.
penses of soldier stationed there and
one in the east was quite a large
amount. The system not only saves
money to the officers, but gives them o
hetter class of supplies,