Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1891-03-12
MARINE MEALS.


Uncle Sans sea-soIdier Fattens Himself
and Still Has a Surplus.
The meal of the merry marine, much
as he would like to have it appear
simple, crude and unsatisfactory affair."
Is nevertheless, if all accounts are to be
believed, the subject of considerable
study, amendment and manipulation,
all with the purpose of giving to the
sea-soldiers the best that can be pro-
cured for the money Uncle Sam allows,
says the Brooklyn Eagle. In the course
Of a tour of the Flushing avenue bar
racks recently reporter was put in
possession of what appear to be the
facts in what has been recently q
mooted question regarding the marine
ration. The quartermaster o. the
marine corps advertises each year for
proposals to furnish rations for the
various posts from July to the end OF
June following. Bids are opened in
May and the contracts go to the lowest
bidders. The Government specifies the
quantity and quality of the rations to
be supplied by the contractors and the
goods have to pass inspection Com.
petition in the bidding has lowered the
figures, and this year the lucky bidder
secured the contract for the supply Of
the Flushing avenue post at thirteen
dollars and thirty-nine cents per one
hundred rations, or little over thir-
teen and one-half cents a day for a
marines feed. 1t is only a couple OF
years ago that bid of over seventeen
cents ration was accepted by the Gov
eminent.
One hundred ratiOns must contain the
following quantities: Seventy-fve
pounds salt pork or one hundred and
twenty-five pounds fresh beef, about
one hundred and twelve pounds Of
-four, fifteen pounds beans, fifteen
pounds sugar, ten pounds coffee or one
and one-half pounds of tea, four pounds
salt, four pounds soap, four quarts vim
egar, four ounces pepper, one and one
half pounds candles. Uncle Sam con-
tracts for these rations and sends them
along with machine-like' regularity, but
he does not have n law that one hun
bred marines shall use up 50 much stuff
IN day, whether they want it or not,
and here is where the Gu uning and
economical sea soldier gets in his most
effective work. For, with rare genius
for controlling circumstances and a
tactical capacity much superior to that
required for dress parade, he manipu-
lates the ration until it becomes a thing
of beauty and much to be enjoyed aud
for long time. Thus very seldom "a
man eats all the Government allows
him. But what is left is good stuff,
provided it isn't cooked, so why not sell
it? Now the oversupply for the some
thing like two hundred men at the
Flushing Avenue barracks, even if they
were all on hand all the time, is worth
a good deal; and when to thitt are added
the rations of those who are away for
little while it is worth more. So the
needs of the men are calculated with
more or less nicely, and what is saved
is sold to various dealers with whom
arrangement is made. The proceeds
create fund. What does the marine
do with it?
Well, an officer Of the post is COM
missioned by the commandant to put
out his money to the best advantage in
securing additional edibles which shall
lend variety, if not luxury, to the re-
past. The cast-irou Government ration
is not burdened with the quality OF
epicurean variety, as a glance at the
above list may reveal With the some
thing over two hundred dollars month
put into his hands for the purpose the
officer who buys the extras gets pota-
toes when cheapmore, when dear less), |
vegetables for the soup, more beans, !
mutton and sausage, and instead Of the |
forequarter of the beef nice stew beef; |
also oatmeal, milk, prunes, and the /
like. The officer who buys these things |
has to show his receipts and have his |
accounts audited by board Of fellow
officers. Part Of the saving from the
ration goes to stock the library, buy !
games andprovide gymnastic apparatus,
and, IN general, to purchase means Of
amusing and benefting the men. It is
beyond question that the malcontents
among the men who grumble about |
quantity or quality Of their food are
vastly in the minority.