The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-01-03
TRADE WITH CANTEENs IN CUBA

Wholesale Houses Still Make some
thing Out of the Troops.
A big foreign trade seems about to open
up for Savannah merchants. Wholesale
dealers will get the benefit of il. Grocery
houses should make nice profits out of the
business.
This trade is that which will be COM
menced shortly with the regimental can
teens in Cuba. In a way this business has
already begun, and it should reach nobler
proportions soon.
The transports that will leave to-day will
carry canteen supplies to Havana for the
troops that sail aboard them The Mobile
will carry 50, 500 worth of goods for the
Fourth Illinois, while it will have $5, geo
worth for the Ninth
When the Second Illinois Regiment sail
ed some days ago it carried along
$1,000 worth of supplies. These ran out
not long since, and a day or two ago one
of the transports that sailed for Havana
carried another large quantity.
The government does not charge any
freight on the goods that go for the can
teens, and the trade is likely to be con-.
tinued as long as there is
a line of transports running be-
tween here and Havana The
canteens are regarded favorably by the
department and it endeavors to do what
it can to foster them. The purpose in
carrying on. the business is to see that the
men are supplied with goods that might
not be furnished by others. The canteens
are Established within the limits of the
camp, and nothing but the best in the
lines carried is handled.
There is great profit in the business as
the goods are turned over rapidly. No eff
fort is made. to stick the men. Capt. Bak-
er of the Fourth Illinois is member of
the council in his regiment that has
charge of the canteen or exchange as it
is officially known. He likes the idea of
running one, particularly in Cuba, where
it is thought there may be difficulty in
getting for the men just what they want
Judging from the celebrity with which they
have bought supplies that have gone on
transports already, il is not thought there
will be any trouble an getting rid of what
ever may be taken. For this same reason
it is thought there must be the difficulty
anticipated in procuring the things the
soldiers want.
Capt. Baker is of the opinion that there
will be quite a trade established in this
{ way between Savannah and Cuban ports.
All the regiments will doubtless desire to
have the canteens. Most of them have
carried them on here where the facilities
were even greater than desired for the men
to get all they wanted to eat, drink and
chew and smoke. The scarcity of goods
in Cuba will make the regimental officers
try to get canteens in operation for the
convenience Of the men.
The profits from the canteen are divided
among the twelve companies of regi-
ment in proportion to the number of men
sthey have This means that anywhere
from $25 to 500 a month is added to the
fund of each company. This company
fund is expended in various ways for the
benefit of the men, but principally in
furnishing delcacies for the sick. The
soldiers themselves run the canteen,
council Of three officers being in charge
Under this council the canteen officer man.
ages it. A non commissioned officer does
the real work of waiting on buyers and
is assisted by two or three men detailed
for the purpose.