The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-08-28

per cent. of flour is sold in the best con.
venient market, and, after paying the Sigh
expenses for running the bakery, the pro.
ceeds are divided among the companies.
As the army is now distributed, the great
or part of it being in permanent garrlsons
almost every command has extensive gar.
dens, which are cared for by men detailed
for that work. These gardens serve a two
fold purpose. They not only supply a
great variety and abundance of vegetables
the men would not otherwise have, but they
almost invariably produce in excess of the
demands upon them, and this surplus ie
sold. the money going to swell the oompany
fund.
Almost all the organizations raise hops,
the refuse from the kitchens being suffi-
cient to feed them, and as hogs are very
prolific, the company not only gets fresh
pork for itself, but is able to put pork in
the market. Cavalry troops often keep
cows. This gives them fresh milk, and the
feed costs nothing, as they take it from the
forage for the horses. Very few companies
but b have a billiard or pool table,
which not only affords amusement to the
men. but also does its share toward better
ing the mess. A nominal charge-two and
a half to five cents a game-is made upon
the men for playing. payment to be made
pay day." The table will earn from 500 to
$50 . month, the money going into the
mess fund.
But the greatest step toward lettering
the food of the men and lettering their
condition in several other ways was the es-
Enlistment about two years ago of the can
teen system. Formerly the post trader was
he corraled about all the money there was
sfloat. To him the soldier paid a big
price for poor tobacco and poorer
whisky, and never derived any benefit from
his investment. The canteen has driven
him out, and he Is no longer to be found
- ok Sh~rr
convenient to have him as the proprietor of
a general store. and to furnish a club and
barroom for officers.
The canteen ia a purely cooperative af-
fair. 1t if conducted by an officer and its
employees are listed men on extra duty paw.
II sells nothing stronger than beer, and is
designed as a place of recreation for the
men, In that it is supplied with card and
billiard tables, a ~readingroom and fro
quently a gymnasium. 1t is furnished with
Il lunchroom and deals in those little arti-
Giles that a soldier needs, such as towels.
soaps, brushes. cleaning materials, station
cry, etc. Everything is sold at q very mod
crate price and yet the ultimate profits are
great, because the sales are 80 large. These
profits are divided every month, and thew
come directly back to the men who spent
the money. They drop into the capaoious
NAV OF the company fund. and will range
all the way from $50 to $3.50 a month for
each organization.
From the foregoing it is easily learned
how with a prosiao government ration of
pork and potatoes, the troops can vet in
dulge In turkey and cranberry sauce. The
company fund is what does it, for it is pro-
vlded by law that this fund must absolutely
Dc expended for nothing but the mess. *
GOOD many things are undoubtedly pur-
chased from it which are not eatabie. and
are charged up on other items which arc. |
but the company fund does good work. It
buys ralsins for the duff, canned and dried
Zee, fish on Good Friday and turkey on |
Christmas, and puts ham and eggs on the /
tabls for breakfast on Sunday morning. Ia |
1t, then, to be wondered at that the soldier |
could forgive all the military sins OF that
onicsf VINO deserted a short time ago from
for carrying off in his flight the comn.nx
Gle. oni