Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1891-05-06
MARINE MEALS,
Uncle Sans Sea-Soldler Enttens EImself
md Still Has - Surplus.

y
rs he would IKE to have it appear a
simple. crude aid unsatisfactory affair,
is nevertheless, if all accounts are to DO
believed, the subject of considerable
study, amendment and manipulation,
all with the purpose of giving to the
sca-soldicrs the bes- that can Ec pro-
cured for the money Uncle Sam allows,
SAYS the Brooklyn Eagle. In the course
Of n 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
mootcd question regarding the marine
ration. The quartCrmaster of tho
marine corps cdvcrtises 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 specifics the
quantity and quality of the rations to
bc 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-ninc cents per one
hundred rations, or little over thir-
teen and onc-half cents day for L
marines feed. 1t is only n couple of
,'2ars ago that bid of over seventeen
urntS a ration was accepted by the Gov
eminent. &c.. 49,. ......
One hundred rations must contain the
following quantities: Scventy-five
pounds salt pork. or one hundred and
twenty-five pounds fresh beef, about
one hundred and twelve pounds of
flour, fifteen pounds beans, fifteen
pounds sugar, ten pounds coffee or one
and Cne-hGlf pounds of tea, four pounds
salt, four pounds soap, four quarts vim
cgar, four ounces pepper, one and one
half pounds candles. Uncle Sam con-
tracts for these ratiOnS and sends them
along with machine-lille regularity, but
he does not have n law that one hum
drcd marineS shall use up SO much stuff
in q day, whether they want it or not,
and here is where the cunning and
economical sea soldier gets in his most
effective work. For, with rare genius
for controlling circumstances and
tactical capacity much superior to that
required for dress parade, he manipu-
lat2s the ration until it becomes q thing
for Il 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 ovcrSupply for the some.
thing like two hundred men at the
Flushing Avenue barracks, even if they
were all on hand Ill the time, is worth
n good deal: and when to that are added
the rations of those who arc away for q
little while it is worth more So the
needs Of the men are calculated with
moro 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?
We'll, an officer of the post is COM
missioned by the commandant to put
out his money TO the best advantage in
securing additional cdibles which shall
lend variety, if not luxury, to the re-
past. The caSt-iron Government ration
is not. burdcnCd with the quality of
cpicurcun variety, as Il glance ct the
above list may reveal. With the soInet
thing over two hundred dollars month
put into his hands for the purpose the
OiilSCI WHO DuJS Jnc CXtraS gets pOta-
toes (whcn cheap more, 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, pruncs, 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 andprovidc gymnastic apparatus,
and in general, to purchase means of
amusing and bcncfting the men. 1t is
beyond question that the malcontents
among the men who grumble about
quantity or quality of their food are
vastly in the minority.