The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-02-27
THE RAT|ONS ALL RIGHT
The Best of Food Served at Camp
Thomas.
SHIPPERS IN THE BACON
But the Climate Was Responsible for
the Poor Quality-The Canned
Roast Beef Gave the Great
est Satisfaction.

Washington. Feb 26.-The army board
of inquiry has received the report of
Major j. NJ. Arrasmith, late commits
sary at Camp Thomas. Georgia. upon
the character of the rations issued to
the 1900 soldiers modified at Chicka-
manga park from May, 1898, to Janu-
airy. 1899. and is made in accordance
with the following order from General
Miles:
War Department, Inspector Gener-
ais Office Washington, Jan. %, 1893
Major James NJ. Arrasmith, Depot Com
missary, Chickamauga Park, Ga: Sir
The commanding general having re-
ferred to this office for investigation
and report the matter of unsatisfac
tory food issued to the troops during
the past year. l have the honor % re
quest that you furnish me at your
earliest convenience such Information
as you have or can secure bearing upon
the general subject. but especially con
corning the food received during the
military operations in the recent war
with Spain, particularly refrigerated or
canned beef, and all component parts
of the ration destroyed, whether prior
or subsequent to issue to troops. Very
respectfully. Z. A. DARLINGTON,
Acting Inspector General"
To this Major Arrasmith replied from
Chickamauga park, under date of jan
q, 1899. His report, in substance, fol-
lows:
'All stores unfit for sale or issue We're
acted upon by board of survey and in
all cases We're condemned prior to issue
to troops, with the exception that in
few instances damaged potatoes and
bacon were returned to the depot COM
missary and exchanged prior to con-
demnation.
THE $500 pounds of beef condemned
and destroyed was local beef purchased
in Chattanooga. The refrigerated beef
was sufficient in quantity and excellent
in quality, and the fact that the depot
commissary inspected and issued over
100000 pounds of this beef and in a
hot climate without losing pound Of
it indicates the splendid condition of the
beef and the care exercised in han
ding in.
THE bacon condemned was a portion
of the large amount sent to and stored
in Chattanooga for the use of the army
at Chickamauga; it deteriorated rapid
ly in this climate and a portion of it
became infected with shippers, and
when shipped out to camp some of it
has to be condemned and replaced by
good bacon. The greatest care was taken
by the depot conmissary for the pres
ovation of all subsistence stores and
any damage that occurred was due to
climate and natural causes and was
incident to the service.
THE canned beef and baked beans
We're very good and showed no signs of
fermentation. The damage to the two
fo,,
the latter was due to accident. nails
having been driven through the boxes,
penetrating the cans.
only 1872 pounds of canned roast
beef were received here, and this
amount was sold to officers and men of
the command and gave entire satisfac-
tion.
The quality of the rations furnished
was excellent and probably the best
ever issued to an army of 10000 men,
and taking into consideration the fact
that approximately 100000 pounds of
subsistence stores were shipped here
and issued, the percentage of loss is
exceedingly small
The table accompanying this report
shows that 5163, 900 pounds of refriger-
ated beef We're issued without loss Of
pound. OF corned beef there were is
sued in travel ratons 100000 wo-pouni
cans. of Which TWO were condemned.
OF $4,000 three-pound cans of baked
beans, nine cans were condemned
OF 100000 cans of salmon. two cans
We're found spoiled. There were issued
6,567, 800 pounds of soft bread of which
5,245 baked outside the camp We're con-
demned Of 4.229,120 pounds of pota-
toes. $4,000 pounds were rejected before
issue. OF 1,12S,320 pounds of onions,
1900 pounds We're rejected. OF 232 800
three
condemned. OF 101,200 gallon cans. 1874
were condemned. All these condemna-
tions We're before issue to the troops.
Out of thirteen and quarter of mil
lion pounds of bacon, 1873. 1863 were con-
demned before issue. This had been
shipped in bulk from Western army
posts. and became heated on the way
and in the storehouses at Chattanooga.
All other items of the ration were in