The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-09-04
FOOD FOR U. S. ARMY.
Articles to Be Sent to the
Troops in the Phil
ippines.

The commissary bureau of the war
department is now working under high
pressure to provide food and subsist-
ence for the new army of the Philip
pines. The bulk of the material must
be purchased in this country and ship
ped from San Francisco, and the guam
titles to be transported are fabulous.
When it is realized that 100000 pounds
of food will be consumed every day by
the men in the Philippines, some idea
can be gained of the quantities which
will have to be provided. The com
missary department is constantly pur-
chasing food and shipping it across the
water, not only by the government
transports but by the private steam
ship lines and by every available mode
of transportation.
The first order for the new army of
$4,000 men has been made up by Acting
Commissary General Weston. This is
only the preliminary order, and similar
orders will follow in prompt succession,
so that there will be no intermission
in the supplies.
1t is interesting to observe some of
the items of this first order One of
the largest items on the list is seven
million pounds of flour. With this will
go 100000 pounds of hard bread, 10000
pounds of crackers and 10000 pounds of
ginger snaps. The first order for coffee
amounts to 100000 pounds, green and
roasted together. Five thousand cases
of corned beef and $4,000 pounds of
Goldfish form two important items.
The canned goods in the order in
clude everything which a first-class
grocer usually sells in can. Tona-
toes head the list to the extent Of $50
tons; $500 cases of green corn, 200 cases
of lobster, 1000 cases of salmon, 500
cases of fancy soups and canned
peaches, pears and apples In large
quantities. Other items are $1,000
pounds of chocolate, 1000 cases of con-
densed milk, 1000 cases of condensed
cream, 5000 cases of evaporated fruits,
5000 cases of oatmeal.
A welcome addition to the commits
sary stores which are placed on sale
will be 5000 barrels of ginger ale in bot
ties. imported and domestic. All kinds
Of daintles are provided for the men, in
fact, and fifty cases of mushrooms are
included, together with several thous-
and pounds of candy in half pound
boxes. Among the standard articles Of
diet are 10000 gallons of vinegar, 1900
pounds Of pepper. 5000 pounds Of Ameri-
can cheese and 1900 pounds Of Edam
cheese Five hundred cases of baked
beans are added to exc out the order
of uncooked beans.
Rice and sugar are purchased priuci-
pally in the Philippines, although some
quantities of finer sugar are included
IN the order.
Fresh beef Is sent from Australia to
Manila in refrigerator ships. The meat
is frozen, and is said to be of excellent
quality. 1t not only makes good soup,
but the men can get juicy cuts for
roasts' and steaks out of it also.
1t will take 1870 tons of bacon a
month to supply the troops. The com
missary bureau is making a speciality
of the bacon for the Philippines. 1t is
being cured in Chicago, especially for
this use, and after method designed
to preserve it from deterioration by eli
matte charges. The bacon is cured for
forty days by what is known as the
dry salt cure. 1t is then wrapped in
burlaps and placed in cases. the strips
being prevented from coming into con-
tact with each other to prevent bruis-
ing the meat.
One of the items of the big order is
10000 pounds of plug tobacco. There
will also go with this consignment II 900
pipes of assorted kinds. and several
thousand pounds of fancy smoking to-
baccos, Ill tin cans and packages.