Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1899-01-14
REFRIGERATED BEEF.
Lieut.-Coi. Smith, of tile subsistt nee De-
partment, Says 1t was Abundant
and Wholesome.

washington, Jan. S.-tomm!Ssary-
General Eagan, of the army, has made
public a letter from Licut.-C 4. i.
Smith of the subsistence department,
| touching the use of refrigerated beef
furnished to troops in Porto Rico
from that landed at Ponce. In this
letter Col. Smith says in part:
Officers who Favored Refrigerator Reef.
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: Maj. II. z. Birming-
ham, surgeon of the general hospital;
Capt. Irvine, Eleventh infantry, who
was acting as commissary for the
steamship lanama q think, loaded
with convalescents en- route to the
United States; capt. w. p. Evans, com
manding battalion Nineteenth infan-
try; Capt, Hoppin, Second cavalry,
commanding cavalry squadron.
No are Taken OF the Beef After Landing.
There were no preparation made
for the receiving and taking care of
the beef on shore. 1t had TO be un-
loaded by lighters and thrown on the
floor of the commissary storehouse
until the troops called for it in open
wagons. 1t was, therefore, subjected
to the worse possible usage in hand
ling. 1t was frequently IL to IS hours
| nff hn h,f h,i
issue to Capt Hoppin was over "a
hours in the storehouse. Notwth-
standing this the meat was in good
condition, except pieces which had not
been sufficiently protected, but could
be trimmed off with some loss.
Inspected the Refrigerator Beef Every
Morning.
81 inspected the refrigerator beef
each morning before it was issued,
and know that it was in good condi-
ton, except as stated above. Cases
where it was rejected were, | think,
due to the prejudice arising from the
appearance when out of the rcfrigera-
tor a short time and to the fact that
it was known the beef had been a
| long time on the vessel in Porto Rican
waters.
"The officers without exception to
whom | spoke condemned the use of
the native beef, which had to be con-
sumed the same day it was saugh-
| tered"
Col. Smith also has the following to
say about rations for the soldiers:
Complete Ratlons Almost A ways Avaif-
| able.
81 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 store house at
| Ponce could not issue the complete
ration, fresh vegetables not included.
These spoiled so rapidly that it was
deemed best to commute the ration
of them for several weeks, and give
the troops the money value to buy
other articles. Coarse salt was issued
| in lieu of iifie on soneaor-too occasions.
| were
| "Commissary stores had been so un-
Systematically unloaded at stores at
Ponce that it was hard to tell what
articles We're on hand in the island
in sufficient quantity to provide for
the wants of the soldiers.
What the Receipts VIII Show.
81 further beg to call your attention
to the receipts filed with my July and
August returns in your Office from the
commissary officer of each artillery,
cavalry and infantry command, which
left port Tampa for Porto Rico up to
August 16, with 60 days rations. These
receipts will show that complete ra-
tions were furnished to every vessel
with the exception of a small portion
of the fresh vegetables that it was
well known could not keep GO days.
Kations Abundant In Quantity and Excel
| lent In Quality.
81 further state that about 10 a. m,
October 10, on taking leave of Gen.
Henry, commanding United StAes
troops at Ponce, he requested me,
among other things, to say to the
honorable secretary or war on my ar
rival in Washington, that the rations
furnished to the troops in Porto Rico
were abundant in quantity and excel
lent in quality"
| rvCJrHMCNT At CAMTYAHn