Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-11-19
IN A SIEGE.
Augusta Has Supplies Enough to Last
Six Months.
Her Great Resources Lay in Her Live StocI
and Horses.


Did any one when visiting Augusta s
we'll stocked grocery stores, ever think
what raid would be made on their sup
plies, il the grocers could not have the
chance to restock inside month? In
other words, suppose Augusta should be
besieged, how long would her supplies
last?
Many will think of their own well filled
larders, and without hesitation say they
could well withstand starvation for a
year. Doubtless, but how about the hun
dreds of families who keep only few
days ahead, and some not even a days
ration in advance? They would soon call
on Tor something to eat, after they had
cleaned out the grocery stores
suppose Augusta was surrounded by
the enemy. just without the limits of the
city boundary, and she had to fall back
on her own resources, especially at this
time OF the year when there could be
nothing raised There would be suffering
inside few months, so many men who
have thought of it say.
According to statistics, Augusta an
l.
sounds large doesn't it? Yet on the same
scale, 1t is what the people of the United
States eat. Each person is supposed to
eat 2io pounds of flour per year, and for
Augustus ten thousand strong it would
take the amount mentioned. That woull
be l0I4 barrels each month, and grocers
say If one was to take all the -four in the
city, both in their storehouses, and in the
family closets there would not be two
months of material to make up the "statr
of life"
This is reckoning on Augustus popula-
ton when the last census was taken
The population now is some 1000 larger
but we will assume that this number
would get out of town before the siege
set in, which is only fair estimate.
When 1t comes to the question of meats,
there is where we have cnch, for the
meats would hold out for long time
According to statistics, every person av-
erages 147 pounds of meat per year. This
seems to be large amount but statistics
cannot lie-very often. AT this rate 4265
pounds of meat would be needed to feed
the people each day. Possibly this fig
ure might be cut down to an even 1900
DUuiluS 10 MAKE even USurlng.
Allowing that all was used in the stor-
age and in the meat markets of the city
in month if not less than that time
there would still be enough to last three
or four months longer in the live stock of
the city.
Augusta has 925 cows, Is oxen, 1913 young
cattle, 1f9 sheep, 221 swine, which would
furnish at the rate of 1000 pounds per day,
fully 135 days. OF course after other sup
plies got short, more meats would have
to be eaten, so that would perhaps cut 1t
down to 100 days after the flour was eat
en- After that there would be no need to
starve, as long as 1902 horses were within
the limits of the city. Some would be
mighty poor picking, but little would
be acceptable al this time. Allowing
tat each horse dressed 400 and they
would doubtless average more. there
would be the source of another 100 days
feed This would make the resources of
Augusta in the meat line, fully 200 days
more than the -four.
OF potatoes each person requires 200
pounds per year, on an average. With
what is in the country, and what is in the
city, they would doubtless last longer
even than the flour so they may be set at
1900 bushels, or rs days of food.
OF coffee, each and every person is sup
posed to consume 1856 ounces. This would
bring the monthly consumption of Au-
gusta al about 1888 pounds. There is
probably not enough to last as long as
the -four, even if every one drinks it. 1t
requires "a ounces of tea to a person,
year, and this will take 1924 pounds of tea
for Augusta in month. Every person
ought, according to the statistics, to eat
% pounds of sugar in a year. This would
place the monthly sugar consumption al
60, 1872 pounds, or over 80 tons.
Leaving aside, however, this part of the
question, and basing the estimate on the
good substantial food, including the horse
flesh, Augusta could easily hold out six
months at least. BY that time the war
investigation would probably be over,
and whichever faction wins, be it Cen
eral Shafter or General Miles supporters
they would be up here, raise the siege
and help eat what was left. Then the son
would be ready for filling, and every man
could become his own farmer and culti-
vate what little land he had at his dis
posal even if it We're but the little by 6
door yard.
How soon would the effect of the siege
be over? Well, that's another question.
All the poor people would be owing the
men who had the we'll stocked larders
Some one would have to pay for the old
horses that We're killed, and there would
have to be new ten cent teams introduced
into the city. Taken all around, it would
take longer to get over the effect than
it would to eat up the whole supply.