New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-06-05
DAY OF THE CAMP SUTLER GONE
SOLDIERS NO LONGER HAVE TO PAY EN-
ORRITANT PRICES FOR DELEGATES

SOLDIERS NO LONGER HAVE TO PAY EX-
ORBITANT PRICES FOR DELEGATES.
The day Of the camp sutler Is gone. In tho pres
ent war irresponsible camp followers VIII not pc
come rich Mt the expense OF soldiers In the ONh
War the foundation OF many fortunes II mol 'i'e
fortunes themselves, were secured through mo
privileges obtained by political and other influence
in camp and field. But about ten years ago inc
Government abolished sutlerships and establsheh
the canteen system. greatly to the benefit OF oo'h
officers and men. who now obtain the IuNur'es "a
existence at actual cost. and are not forceu 10
pay Eve prices all the bare necessaries OK
existence.
An Illustration Of the value % the privilege or
catering TO troops IS shown by the fact that re-
Gently an offer OF So 90 made FOR me privilege
OF exclusive salc in certain camp OF liquor anu
general supplies. despite the fact that the camp
was not likely to continue more than thirty days
What II would be worth In such a camp as the
one In Chickamauga Park. Georgia where O""
men arc massed with the probability OF the num-
Der being doubled may be irnaglnei.
The camp sutler has been a familiar figure IN M!
wars ~ the past The word. applied 10 the vcnder
OF provisions and liquors in camp. Is derived from
the Dutch. Il occurs In Shakespeare. Dryden.
Milton and Addison. The derivation OF tho word
shows that Il represented n calling when WAS
never classcd elevated.
AT the time Of the decision TO abolish The suffers
al forts and frontier posts the Government appro-
prlated about 10000 for the purpose of rcimhurs'ng
the men who had put wy buildings upon the r"scr-
vations FOR carrying on the work OF selling to
soldiers.
An Army officer familiar with the subject SAID a
day or two ago In discussing II: The present
war will see nothing Of the old-tme camp sutlcr.
who got rich from soldiers pay Tho ordinary
prices charged were about five times what tho men
would have had TO pay at home in the former day.
Now everything can be bought AT cost, II vas va.
ssrn nrr- hff ~ Hr a
down and ga, pork and heans. some crackers ana
cheese and raisins, which would cost Ten cents
here and pay a dollar for them. This WAS just a
sample OF the pront suffers made. or course. they
took war risks and few probably lost money
goods lost: hut the business was chiefly pron'
ness Of supplying il established The canteen at
each post. where things are sold az actual cost
There Is no expense for II IS IN hulains o~re6
BY the Government. and eniis,ed men manage II.
Offccrs wcll men pa,ronise the canteen Tor
doing Theirs is a certain allowance to officers for
fuel and in order TO equalirc thc pay at dincrrn,
places we have the quantity reckoned on m" oa'is
Of the average price. The allowance to a second
lieutenant. for three rooms, and SO on one cora
Of wood or It's equiyae ni month IL allotted to
It cost 80 az the place i f. supplied cord o.,
wood Is reckoned the equivalent Of Loo pounds or
coal Or ZG" to pound, OF I'M the so,
inequality between the cost 81 fuel IN different parts
the allowance ls desired the officer must pay FOR #,
at the market rate. For other things ne Govern
lowest price, and supplies Army men ~ this figure
an the country. For instance. II Boston Is tho
lowest market for beans all the beans for the
Army come from that city. and II sugar Is cheaper
in New-Orleans than anywhere else tho supply
comes from there.
The old time sutlcr used to sell at the Posts IN
war time 1900 $40 worth n day. four-nfths O,
which clean profit. Many men got rich in this
business in the civil War. They used TO sell whis-
surrepiitOusly 10 the men. Now beer IL sold NJ
The cantceng but nothing stronger. The beer
which retas here at cents a glass Ia sold at The
canteens at cents. and nothing Is yost. But the
old-;lme sutler store has given way 10 q place
conducted strict business principles. The poor
soldier does have 20 pledge his pay 20 mee' hs
bills. When the Government took the buildings
which the suffers had built for their business a
fair appraisal made There was some dissat-
isfacion. Of course. but others thought they got
the worth OF their investments. The buildings were
used far possible for Government purposes.
AT the camps established In the present the
troops can buy cost all that Is not supplied 70
them by the quarterfnasters and commissary de
partments Two big buildings FOR the purpose
were erected Camp Thomas"