The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-07-15
Food for Uncle
Sans Soldiers

Chicago's part in UNFOLDING Uncle
Sans hands in war times is much more
important than the outside world real
ICES or rival cities are ready to admit.
II does not consist in the fact that 1000
men have already gone TO the front to
light for the flag. and that over lf'oOo
more are enrolled in tentative o~rganiza-
tions waiting the call. but the fact that
from as to so per rent. of the subsistence
stores used by the army in the held
come from Chicago's manufactures.
This applies particularly to meats.
II the army in the field could be fur
nished fresh meat. IL such meat were
o~btainable. or, having been obtained.
could be kept fresh and untainted, the
supremacy of this city would not be so
great. But field rations include but lit
tie fresh meats. Cured or picked goods
are the sole source of rec~uperation the
men have. This kind of food, with hard
bread, black coffee and an occasional OPP
portunity TO pick up a fowl or steer
from the enemy, a seizure of fruits, etc,
IL what the boys face from the time
they take the a and sign the muster
rolls. Since the war commenced the
government has purchased canned ana
cured meats sufficient to subsist the
army of 200. 900 men for 40 days. OF this
vast amount Chicago has furnished over
as per cent.
Corned beef. bacon, beans, coffee and
syrups were the elements of the soldiers
diet i'm the civil war. Hard-tack in those
DAYS was a much tougher friend than
he is to-day, but still he is a monoton-
Gus fellow at best. But in the matter OF
meats the boys of the army to-day have
much the best of IL. For instance, here
is a list of the meats which the govern
ment has been purchasing for the
troops: Roast beef, packed in two
pound cans: potted ham, roast mutton,
k and smoked sausage, cooked
corned beef. bacon and barrel or mess
beef. These are all staple articles ana
are used by civilians freely. They are
meats. too, which are eaten with relish.
This shows the difference between the
food of the civil var soldier and that
furnished him who goes forth TO battle
against Spain.
Exact figures relating to the amount
of food supplies purchased by the gov
nme at any one originating point
are unobtainable, but sufficient data
have been obtained to show that within
the last month the United States have
DOuEnl DUN, bVb DbuIbS VI dhiitu 49,
barreled meats for the troops in the
field. OF this amount somewhat more
than 1900, 900 pounds were furnished by
Chicago packers. This means that up
to late Chicago has furnished sub
sistence for the entire army of volun-
teers of 12S, 900 men and has furnished
enough TO keep the wolf from tent maps
for about six weeks.
Contractors for such supplies are
very 10th To give out the figures. They
say that when it becomes noised aboui
at the stock yards that they have gov
ernment contracts, the drovers anf
commission men Immediately advance
prices on all grades of stock and thus
cut down profits. As the government
does not pay retail prices for goods
supplied, the big packers receive linn
tied profits, and do not care to share
them with others. But the following
table is approximately correct. j
shows the proportion of meats of eacf
class furnished by the local firms eithe'
20 the commissary's depot here or for
warded to other departments: