Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-08-15

the MERRIAM PACK.
The Latest Regular Army Reports OF the Year.
Competitive Tests Of Infantry Packs.


meeting with success in all parts of the
United STATS and in other countries. 1t
is the result Of the careful Investigation
and thought of Col. Henry c.. Merriam
OF the 18th United States Infantry. 1t
CONFINES haversack and knapsack, serves
for lightest or heaviest marching order
and is un1ivalled for comfort and conyen-
fence.
1t is approved by the United States
army and has been adopted for the
National Guard of New York, New Jersey
aud other states and by Austria and
France. The following testimonials will
speak for themselves:
Company A, 3rd U. S.. Infantry,
Fort Smelling, Mimi, Sept. 10, 1894.
Post Adjutant, Fort Smelling, MINI.
Sir:-I have the honor to make the
following report upon the relative merits
CT the experimental ~knapsacks, viz: the
Merriam Pack" and the Dodge Yoke, "
Issued to my company Tor trial.
These knapsacks were received Feb
ruary goth lsst q have been in constant
use, by different men in my company ever
since. They have been carried Oh drill,
and field manGuvres: on marches aud In
railway carriages. The longest time they
have been carried continuously, was on
the march to Lake City, Mimi, a period
" five days. The result Of my persona
observation, and the reports of the men,
determine the following facts
The Merriam Pack is preferable t.
any knapsack yet issued. 1t is easier to
carry, more quickly adjusted, and can be
mace to hold more than the old knapsack,
or the dodge" yoke, besides being more
readily accessible. | would, however,
recommend that this knapsack should
be made of stronger materials, moro
especially the straps.
The dodge yoke cannot be repackod
at inspection in much less than ten
minutes after opening knapsacks, unless
it be packed in a manner especially for
that purpose, and when SO packed il
cannot be carried for any length of time,
on account of the clothing being on the
top Of the yoke. 1t has II lateral motion
when carried, tending to abrade the
shoulder. 1t interferes seriously with
the handling Of the rifle and is So much
in the way when lying in a prone posi-
ton, that a soldier cannot ire ut ali
rapidly, besides making it difficult for him
to crawl or creep. 1t Is most inconveniont
foi railway travelling, owing to its III
adaptability In this respect, one dodge
yoke was broken on the trip to Gran1
Forks, \. D., during the strike on the
Great Northern.
Very respectfully, Your obedicnt servant,
(signed) Jno. W. Hannay,
Captain 3rl Infantry, Com'dg Go. "a"
Fore smelling, Mimi, Sept II, 1894,
| Adjutant SRI Infantry,
oir:-I have the honor to report that
the Merriam Packs and Dodge Yok, s
issued to my company in February 1894,
have been thoroughly tested in competition
with the present Govt. knapsack; they
have been in constant use, and carried
on all marches, field exercises and trips by
rail made by the company since that date.
The objections to the Yoke are; un-
handy to pack, IL requiring two men TO
roll the blanket etc. but one shoulder
to carry the rife on rifle cannot tc
handled with facility, especially on the
skirmish line; cumbersome and incon-
~venient when travelling by rail in camp
there Is no plac, 10 keep toilet articles, etc.
1t has no iliands Or admirers.
The Merriam Pack has given the best
satisfaction aud nearly all my men prefer
it to any othcr. Two or three of my men
still prefer the Govt. knapsack. l az,
satisfied that it is the best knapsack |
have yet sCcG. l would recommend, how
ever, thar before it is adopted by the
army. change be made in the manner OF
fastening the wooden supports at the
upper corners of the pack, the buckskin
tnrungs tore out the leather there. |
have q number of packs damaged in that
way.
Very respectfully, Your obcdient servant.
tsigncd) J. Hale,
Capt. 3rl Inf, Comd'g Co. &C"
Fort Smelling. Mimi, Sept. IS, 1894.
Tho Post Adjutant. Fort Smelling, Mimi.
sir: In cnmI liance with instructions
from yonr Office dated, September 18th, 1894,
| have the honor to make the following
report upon the experimental equipment
issued to Company Oh Bird Infantry.
Twenty Merriam Packs, twenty Dodpc
Yokcs and one Palmer equipment wers
| sued to the men of the company Feb
ruary 9th, 1894. Since that time they
have been carried by the men upon all
occasions when in heavy marching order,
viz. as four inspections, on four practice
marches from the post including field cx
erci. es, during which the men exchanged
equipments from time to time so as t.
test their relative merits, and upon n
march OF five days to Lake City, MINI.
With the exception Of II man who
prefers the old blanket bag to any of the
experimental equipments, all of the men
are in favor of the Merriam Pack.
After careful observation, covering the
whole time since the equipments in qucs
ton were issued TO the company, am al
the opinion that the Merriam Pack is de-
cidedly superior to all others used by the
company.
Very respectfully, Your obedient servant.
(signed) J. H. McRae,
LIST Liout. 3rd infantry, Com'dg Co. "H.
Fort Smelling, MINI, Sept. II. 1894.
The Pest Adjutant, Fort Smelling, Mimi.
Sir: l have the honor to submit the
following report rs a result OF expert
ments made to determine the relative
merits Of the service blanket bag, tho
Merriam Pack. and the Dodge Yoke.
urha continents were, | think, very