The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-02-25

complete and satisfactory understand
ing as to refrigerated beef Suisse
quently he learned that General Miles
assumed command, but he never COM
suited with him, and he did not know
that General Miles knew of the beef,ar-
engagements.
Replying to Colonel Davis, he said
that Colonel Sharp, Chief Commissary
for that expedition, was furnished
something like $250,O0O credits on the
United States as an offer to send cash
was made, but declined. This state
ment was intended to. bear upon Cen
eral Miles statement that funds for the
purchase of supplies in Porto Rico were
not available.
Here were read kilograms between
General Eagan and Colonel Weston the
latter in Tampa, relative to the send
ing by a packing firm of beef refriger-
ated to Tampa, to test how long II
would keep after removal from the ice
boxes with a view to the making OF
contracts after the breaking out OF the
war. The beef when removed from the
ice boxes and hung up was declared SER
viceable within forty-eight hours
whereas that left in the box after ice
disappeared could not be used after
eighteen hours Frozen beef was de-
clared by commissary officials at Tam
pa as the best solution of the fresh
beef problem until circumstances were
such as would admit the prompt deliv-
cry and use of refrigerated beef.
"Ample and complete" declared Gen
eral Eagan. was the authority of the
Io Pioa
to purchase beef on the hoof for any
emergency or at the will OF their re-
spectiye commanders. Reports re-
ceived. he said, showed without excep-
ton that the native beef was not nearly
so satisfactory as the refrigerated beef.
The latter tends to displace beef on the
hoof, wherever both are equally avail
able"
Were any ratons of any kind asked
Colonel Davis, ''sent to the troops at
any time as an experiment."
Five thousand pounds of the Dole
beef" responded General Eagan, "a
canned preparation that made nice
H amburger steak, were sent. 1t found
its way to Porto Rico, was used, and
everybody was delighted with it, 1t
was very expensive, and was not pur-
chased any further"
He then reviewed the first shipment
of refrigerated beef to Santiago, which
he considered as experimental because
the value of refrigerated Def had not
then been established finally. Aside
from these, absolutely no other expert
mental shipments were made, General
Eagan declared with great emphasis.
"On the contrary, he added, Il fought
all the time against it,"
WAS anything furnished on the pre-
tense of experiment." asked Colonel
Davis, suggesting General Miles not
able allegation.
mo, sir; never; not to the value of
a penny replied General Eagan, indi-
eating consciousness Of the query's sug-
gestiveness.
General Eagan then said many per-
sons had offered alleged preservative
processes, but he never entertained any
such propositions, and the department
never had any connection whatever
With any method of preserving beef
other than the ordinary refrigerating
process.
He said he received on August sd
General Miles telegram from Porto
Rico asking that no more refrigerated
beef be sent, as he could secure native
cattle. At that time a cargo of refrig-
Grated beef was on the Manitoba, con-
signed to Porto Rico: freight was paid,
and it was allowed to proceed. Had
that not been the case, said General Ea-
gam it would not have gone. After
that no more was sent to General Miles
forces.
The witness detailed the supplying of
troops in and for the Philippines,
canned roast beef being sent. No COM
plants had been heard. The Austral
ian frozen beef was delivered at 8 cents
at Manila, the Government paying $500
per day while the ship was detained at
Manila. The Government Isl now erect
ing large refrigerating plant at Ma
Mia to avoid the expense of the ships
detention, it being the purpose to con-
tinue the use of Australian beef.
Il would like to say" said General
Eagan, ''in regard to the abuse of this
timed roast beef, that when it was
kept in the holds of vessels or exposed
in the tropical sun the effect is like
that of the sum on the best canned but
ter in Arizona. 1t remains perfectly
good, though it becomes very repulsive
in appearance"
He said if nothing better was Sc
cured it was to be eaten from the cans,
but only in emergencies, the real inten-
ton being to use it with condiments
and with vegetables.
Replying to Colonel Gillespie, General
Eagan said the question of the meat
component of the army ration for the
tropics was never discussed with the
commanding General. General Miles,
nor was his opinion asked. General
Shafter was not consulted, nor to his
knowledge did either ever inquire at his
office. Witness was very busy, and the
opportunity was not offered. Had it
been he would have seized it.
Colonel S. B. NJ. Young, Third Cav
airy, Major General of Volunteers COM
handing the Second Corps, told of San
tiago campaign experiences with beef.
No complaints about the timed roast
beef Were heard.
Major A. H. Bowman, Second Infan-
try, had no complaints from his COM
mand in Cuba. He did hear however,
unofficial complaints from other COM
mands that the canned roast beef was