The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1891-04-25


uncie sans s~a-soidler Fattens Himself
aud stii Has = surplus.
The meal OF the merry marine. much
a ne would like 10 have II appear
simple, crude. and unsatisfactory al
fair. Ii nevertheless. II all accounts arc
10 be believed. the subject OF consider
able study. amendment. and manipula-
ton. all with the purpose OF giving 10
the sea-soldiers the best that can De
procured for the money Uncle Sam al
lows says the Brooklyn Eagle. Ia the
course OF tour OF the Flushing Ave-
nue. barracks recently n reporter Was
put la possession OF what appear TO be-
the facts in what has been recently u
mooted question regarding tho marine
ration. The quartermaster OF the ma
rine crops advertises each year Tor pro-
posals 10 furnish rations for the various
posts from July 10 the end OF June
following. Bids are opened In May and
the contracts 60 20 the lowest bidders
The government specifies the quantity
and quality Of the rations TO be supplied
by the contractors and the goods have
| 60 pass inspection. Competition In the
bidding has lowered the figures, and
| this year the lucky bidder secured tho
| contract for the supply OF the Flushing
avenue post at $3.50 per 100 rations
or a little over 1874 cents day for
marines feed. II IL only couple OF
years ago that bid OF over IL cents n
ration was accepted by the government
| One hundred rations must contain
| the following quantities: 75 pounds OF
salt pork or l25 pounds fresh beef,
| about il2 pounds of flour. 10 pounds OF
| beans. 10 pounds OF sugar. 10 pounds
of coffee or II pounds of tea, pounds
salt. pounds OF soap, quarts Vine /.
\ gar. ounces OF pepper. IA pounds OF
candles. Uncle Sam contracts for these'
\ rations and sends them along with ma
\ chine-like regularity. but he does not.
| have law that 100 marines shall nsu1
I mp SO much stuff In a day, whether
I they want IL or not, and here IL where
/ the cunning and economical sea SOL
| der gets In his most effective work.
For with rare genius for controlling
/ circumstances and "A tactical capacity
much superior 10 that required for
dress parade he manipulates the ration
until IL becomes thing of beauty aud
much To be enjoyed and for long
time. Thus very seldom man eatss
all the government allows him. BLp
what Is left is good stuff. provided IL
isn't cooked, so why not sell itg Nav
the oversupply for the something Ike
200 men at the Flushing Avenue bar
racks. even II they were all on hand
all the time. Il worth good deal; and
when Ia that are added the rations OF
those who ARE away FOR little while IN
Is worth more. So the needs OF tho
men are calculated with more or lass
nicely. and what Is saved is solnto
various dealers with whom arrange
ment Is made. The proceeds craate us
fund. What does the marine do with
itg
L Well. an officer OF the post'is som-
missioned by the commandment tn put
out this money 20 the best advantage
in securing additional cdibles which
shall lend variety, II not luxury. 10 the
rcpast. The cast-iron government ra-
tion IL not burdened with the quality
Of epicurean variety. as "A glance at
the above list may reveal. With the
something over 5000 month put into
his hands for the purpose the officer
who buys the extra gets potatoes
(when cheap more. when dear lcss).
vegetables for the soup. more beans,
mutton and sausage, and instead of the
fore-quarter 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-otiicers. Part Of the saving
from the ration goes 10 stock the
library. buy games, and provide gym
nastic apparatus, and in general To-
purchase means OF amusing and benSr-
itt,ng the men. II Is beyond question
that the malcontents among tha.Innu
who grumble about quantity or qualify
OF their food arc vastly In. cbao I'M
nority.
The Land OF DUCKS.