The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-01-09
EXAMINED THE BEEF.
Colonel Smith Says 1t Was Superior to
Ration Beef.

Washington, Jan. S.-Commissary
General Eagan of the army to-day
made public letter from Lieutenant
Colonel A. l.. Smith of the subsistence
department touching upon the use of re-
frigerated beef furnished to troops in
Porto Rico from that landed at Ponce.
In this letter Colonel Smith says in
part:
Among others to whom the refrig-
Grated beef was issued ] remember the
following officers as having spoken of
the immense superiority of it over the
native beef: Major H. P. Birmingham.
surgeon of the general hospital; Cap
tain Irvine, 18th infantry, who was act
ing as cOmmissary for the steamship
Panama Il think. loaded with con-
Valescents en- route to the United States;
Captain w. P. Evans, commanding bat
TALON, 18th infantry: Captain Hoppin,
I'd cavalry, commanding cavalry squad
ron. There We're no preparations made
for the receiving and taking care of
the beef on shore. 1t had to be unload
ed by lighters and thrown on the floor
Of the commissary storehouse until the
troops called for it in open wagons 1t
was before subjected to the worst pos
sible usage in handling. 1t was fire.
quently y or Is hours off the vessel
before being issued. One issue to Cap
tain HOppin was "a hours in the store
house. Notwithstanding this the meat
was in good condition except pieces
which had not been sufficiently pro-
tected, but could be trimmed off with
some loss. l inspected the refrigerator
beef each morning before it was issued,
and knew it was in good condition ex-
cept as stated above. Cases where it
was rejected We're, | think, due to the
prejudice arising from the appearance
when out of the refrigerator a short
time, and to the fact that it was known
the beef had been long time on the
vessel in Porto Rico waters. The Of
hcers without exception to whom l
spoke, condemned the use of the native
beef, which had to be consumed the
same day as slaughtered"
Colonel Smith has the following. to
say about the rations for the soldiers
I further beg to call your attention to
the fact that with the exception of soap
and candles for two or three days, there
was never time after my arrival when
the main storehouse at Ponce could not
issue the complete ration, fresh vegeta-
bles not included. These spoiled so rap
ldiy That 1t was deemed best to COM
mute the ration of them for several
weeks and give the troops the money
value to buy other articles. Coarse
salt was issued in lieu on one or two
occasions. Commissary stores had been
that it was hard to tell what articles
We're on hand in the island in sufi-
Gent quantity to provide for the wants
of the soldiers. I further beg to call
your attention to the receipts filed with
my July and August returns. in your Of
flee, from the commissary officers of
each artillery, cavalry and infantry
command which left Fort Tampa for
Porto Rico up to Aug. Is with so days
rations. These receipts will show that
complete rations We're furnished to
every vessel with the least exception of
a small portion of fresh vegetables
that 1t was well known could not keep
sixty days. further stated that about 10
a. M, Oct. II, on taking leave of General
Henry, commanding troops at Porto
Rico, he requested me, among other
Things, to say to the honorable sacre-
tary OF war on my arrival in Washing
ton that the rations furnished to the
troops in Porto Rico We're abundant in
quantity and excellent in quality
Colonel Smith was on duty at Ponce
from Aug. 25 until Oct II, when he was
ordered to Havana.