The record-union., 1897-08-22
FOOD IN TABLETS.
RUSH TO THE GOLD FIELDS IN
TERESTS CHEMISTS.
A Years Supply Will Not Weigh
Over Thirty Pounds When
Packed.

Inc rush to the klOndlke has Surred
up the dealer in condensed food and
the chemist who condenSes the nutri-
ment from meats and vegetables into
the smallest space. Said one of these
men the other day, speaking Of the
heavy weights of food p-cspectors are
taking with them:
why, man, in an ordinary valise l
can put enough food to last a healthy
man a year and give him a menu just
as varied as he could find in a first
class hotel. He can easily t2ke an
other one of those vaiises, and when he
reaches Dawson City he can sell it for
5000. That's what a years supply of
good food is worth there. If he wants
to load himself down with a good sized
burden he can take four or five sup
plies, and he will be a comparatively
rich man the moment he reaches his
destination.
1.-TWO years ago a commission, ap-
pointed by the Secretary of War and
composed of experienced army officers,
made thorough Investigations, and in
their subsequent reports it was shown
that it would be possible for a large
army to move a distance from it's base
of supplies without the usual attend
ant wagon train and beef ''in the
hoof'' by supplying each soldier with
packet of condensed foods. 1t was,
however, reported that while foods of
this kind could safely be used in event
of emergency, it was not advisable to
furnish them when fresh foods were
obtainable
In the Chino-Japanese war the SOL
diers of the Mikado executed several
long marches with unusual dispatch
by the use of condensed foods. Each
soldier, in addition to a cartridge belt
carried what was called a dinner belt
This was filled with large assortment
of capsules, pills, buttons and small
packages, none Of them larger than
medium sized pocketbook The din
ner belt weighed but ten pounds, but
it contained enough nutriment to sus-
tain the soldier for thirty days.
The present scheme is to furnish
Klondfke voyagers with an assortment
of condensed foods somewhat similar
to that carried by the japanese. but
adapted to the peculiar needs Of the
men in the diggings.
Anything in the eating line can now
pN PNAA 0p III lOrlll. A EOOO
cup of coffee or tea is crowded into a
mass as thin and as small as a medium
sized button. 1t is already sweetencd
with saccharine product of coal tar
which is two hundred times sweeter
than sugar, and accordingly requires
but very small amount One IF these
buttons dropped into a cup of hot water
becomes Immediately a cup of good cof-
fee or tea.
'All kinds of soups are prepared in the
same way. The buttons contain a mix
ture of meat and vegetables, fully sea-
soned and ready for hot water. A sau-
sagelike affair, not as large as frank
furter, and made of pea meal, fat and
bacon, makes twelve plates of nutri-
tious soup.
"One of these essentials for Klondike
will be desiccated beef, an ounce of
which is equivalent to five ounces of
fresh meat. 1t is put UP in hard little
chunks-so hard that an ordinary knife
makes but little headway against it. A
tiny machine like a coffee mill grinds it
into fine shavings, which can be spread
on bread or used for soup making.
"A loaf of bread is compressed into
a mass not much bigger than a soda
cracker. When soaked in water it swells
up like a sponge, and when dried out
makes very fair eating. A loaf of the
same size is composed of a preparation
of flour, beef, fat and salt and contains
all the essentials of a plain but hearty
meal. This is somewhat similar to the
pemmican ration used in the British
army. Ten pounds of onions, carrots,
potatoes, turnips, cabbage or any other
vegetable are, by the condensing pro-
cess, crowded into one-pound cans, and
for soup making purposes are said to be
excellent.
'"The man who counts upon being a
millionaire through his scheme does not
expect to do anything this season, as the
time for leaving for Klondike is prac-
tiCally over. He expects, however, to be
in shape to launch his project early next
spring when the first steamer sails and
when the food supply in the mining dis
trict is practically exhausted.
"The kingpin of the scheme is to fix
up all kinds of fancy and plain drinks,
from cocktails and gin ffzzes to straight
whisky, in tablet form. A trunlful of
these tablets VII stock a fine cafe and
give the Klondikers all the pleasures of
life in big city New York Herald.
MARRIED MILES APART.