The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-07-04
But the Members of Company A
Would Appreciate Grub.
SEND THEM THE MONEY
Accompany FUR Would Come in Mighty
Handy. Especially When ANY OF h
Boys FAN nl-A Suggestion for
Patriotic Citizens to Heed.

Great Falls. July 3.-A letter received
from a member of Company A, and not
intended for publication, woul indi-
cate that much might be done by the
citizens of Great Falls to relieve the
situation at Camp Merritt. The fact
that the boys have not been receiving
the best Of food, OF the kind which
would be most likely to preserve their
good health. is not wholly new. A let
ter from a member OF the Lewistown
company recently made somewhat
harsh comment on the conditions pre-
vailing, but the suggestion made in the
present letter is new and a very SEN
sible one. The letter in part reads as
follows:
Some time ago we heard that there
was q movement on foot to purchase a
flag for Company A, we being the only
that was flagless. We are
not the only company that is nasless,
but we are the only company that has
received no support from home. We do
not want a flag, we have no use for
one, and would not be allowed to carry
one II we had 1t. But we do need the
price of a flag. If the people of Great
Falls raised or intend raising any fund
for the purchase of a flag. it could be
put to much better use by sending the
money to us to be used in our company
fund. Nearly every company in the
regiment has received money from
home for its company fund.
You understand that each man is
allowed a certain ration-so much beef,
so much coffee, etc. This is just barely
sufficient to satisfy the hunger of the
men. To vary the monotony of the
regular ration, we must purchase veEe-
tables and like articles out of our com
pany fund. Palatable food for the sick
must come from the same source. Be
sides this, there are many articles, such
as aprons, dish towels, tools, etc, that
seem absolutely Indispensable, yet are
not furnished by the government
Again. a man is taken seriously Ill,
whom IL is not considered safe to send
to the field hospital. In such cases II is
necessary to procure accommodations
at some other hospital. Heretofore we
have arranged to pay such costs by
private contributions, but our salaries
will not ALLOW us to do that in very
many instances.
The people of Virginia City, a little
town without a railroad, raised 5000 or
$500 for their / do not write
to you in this vein. that you may be
induced to get out and beg for us, but
I merely wish to say that If the people
have intended to present the company
with a flag or any other token of their
friendship towards us, or if they wish
TO demonstrate their patriotism in a
practical manner l can conceive no
better or more sensible way han by
contributing whatever they desire to
our company fund. j can assure you
that any contribution will be thank
fully received and judiciously expended.
We do not ask IL for Injuries, but for
necessaries, and IL the people should
realize that a little liberality on their
part may be the means of saving ,he
lives of some of our boys. / am sure
they o respond promptly to this
appeal, which is mad from no selfish
motive on our parts, but because of a
stern realization that II is a necessity.
II you know of n desire on the part
Of any of the people of Great Falls TO
help their soldiers, / wish you would
mention these facts n encourage any
such movements"