Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-02-28
RATIONS AT CAMP THOMAS.
An Excellent Showing Made by Major
Arroyysmith's Report.

The army board of inquiry has received
the report of Major J. NJ. Arrasmith, late
eOmmissary at Camp Thomas. Ga. upon
the character of the ratiOns issued at that
point. The report covers the rations sup
piled to the 1900 soldiers modified at
Chickamauga Park from May, $685. to
January. 1899. and is made in accordance
with an order from Gen. Miles.
The table accompanying the report shows
that J.16-},9Go pounds of refrigerated beef
were issued without the loss of a pound.
Of corned beef there were issued in travel
satiOnS IJO.OD twO-pOund cans. of which
Two were condo mined. OF 6O.0O0 three
POUND cans of baked beans. nine cans were
condemned. OF 2io,tsO cans of salmon.
two cans We're found spoiled. There Were
Issued 6.561.;3e0 pounds of soft bread. Of
which 5,24J baked outside the camp were
condemned. of 4299.1O0 pounds of po1a-
toes G4aOO pounds were rejected before
issue OF 1.12S32o pounds Of onions $500
We're rejected OF 49,. .OS three-pound cans
of tomatoes 81 wera condemned OF 101 80
gallon cans 164 were condemned. All these
CCndemnatiOns We're before issue to the
troops. out of thirteen and a quarter mil
lion pounds of bacon 139, s{S} were condemn
ed before issue. This had been shipped in
bulk from western army posts and became
heated on the way and in the stOrehouse
at Chattanooga All other itams of the
ration Were in good condition.
The report says:
The $3.50 pounds of beef condemned and
destroyed was local beef purchased in Chat
tanooga-
The refrigerated beef was sufficient in
quantity and excellent in quality and the
fact that the depot ccmmissary inspected
and issued over JOOOODO pounds of this
beef. and in a hot climate, without losing
i pound or IT. indicates the splendid CON
a'tion or the beef and the care exercised in
handling it.
The bread condemned was purchased in
Nashville during the time the regular
herr a al Fn-ill
OF the bakery at this camp. The bread
BAKED mere was very good. l have never
seen better bread issued to troops
ne bacon condemned was a portion of
the large amount sent to and stored i'm
Chattanooga for use Of the army at Chick
ahlduSd, II deteriorated ia pidly in this
ciihdtr. ana q portion of it became infect
ca with Fkippers. and when shipped out
10 camp some of it had 10 be condemned
ana replaced by good bacon The greatest
Cdft was taken by the depot cOmmisSary
Tor the preservation of all Subsistence
stores ana any damage that occurred was
aNe 10 climate and natural causes and was
incident to the service. The canned beef
ana baked beans We're very good and
showed no signs of fermentation The dam
age 10 the two cans Of the former and the
nine cans Of the latter was due to accident
nails having been driven through the oox-
IS, penetrating tbs cans
Only 49, pounds of canned roast beef was
received here. ana this amount was sold
70 officers and men of the command and
gave entire satisfaction
The greatest care was necessary for the
preservation of vegetables in this climate
particularly at about the time that the
supply Of old potatoes was exhausted and
tne new potatoes Were beginning to arrive
Five thousand four hundred pounds of
sugar were damaged by heavy rafnstorm
winch. owing TO the roof of the bui dina,
being defective. flooded portion of the
ccmmissary.
The quality Of the rations furnished was
excellent. and probably the best ever issued
20 an army Of GlO0J men. with the excep-
tlon or some potatoes and hCcon. that
spoiled owing 10 natural causes. and this
slight defect was quickly remedied by be-
ing replaced by good quality of the same
and. taking into Consideration the fact that
approximately 3,VD0.V9 pounds of sub
slSteIce stores We're shipped here and is
sued. the percentage of loss is exceedingly
small"