The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-02-27
THOMAS RATIONS
MAJOR ARRASMITH MAKES REPORT
TO ARMY BOARD OF INQUIRY.
Gives Figures and Table Showing Re-
Tina Had to BE Condemned.

WASHINGTON. Feb. 26.-The army board
of inquiry has received the report of Maj.
j. NJ. Arrasmith, late commissary at Camp
Thomas, Ga, on the character of the ra-
tions issued at that point. The report COW
ers the rations supplied to the 1000 soldiers
modified at C-hickamauga Park from May,
1898, to January, 1899, and is made in ac-
ccrdance with the following order from
General Miles:
'War Department, Inspector Generals
office. Washington, Jan. %, 1899.
ITO Mai. James M. ArraSmith, Depot Com
missary. Chickamauga Park, Ga:
"Sir-Ihe commanding general having re-
ferred to this office for investigation and
report the matter of unsatisfactory food
issued to the troops during the past year,
l have the honor to request that you furnish
me at your earliest convenience such in
formation as you have or can secure bear
ing upon the general subject, but especial
ly concerning 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,
IF. A. DARLINGTON,
Acting Inspector General"
To this Major Arrasmith replied as fol-
lows:
"CHICKAMAUGA PARK. Ga, Jan. o.
Col. H.. A Darlington, acting inspector gen.
eral, Washington, ID. c.: Sir-In compli-
ance with instructions contained in your
letter OF the 23d inst. l have the honor to
submit the incloSed report relative TO ra-
lions issued at Camp George III. Thomas,
Chickamauga Park, Ga; also amount con-
demned and sold or DESTROYED. All stores
unfit for sale or issue were acted on by "A
board OF survey, and IN all cases We're con-
demned prior TO issue to troops, with the
exception that in a few instances dam
aged potatoes and bacon We're returned TO
the depot commlssary and exchanged prior
to condemnation.
The $500 pounds of beef condemned and
destroyed was local beef purchased in Chat
tanOoga. The refrigerated beef was suffi-
cient IN quantity and excellent in quality,
and the tact that the depot commissary
inspected and issued over 5,O0O,0JJ pound
OF uhfs beef and IN Il hot climate without
losing a pound of it indicates the splendid
condition of the beef and the care exercised
IN handling 1t.
The bread condemned was purchased in
Nashville during. the time the regular troops
We're here and prior to the erection of the
bakery at this camp. The bread baked here
was very good. j have never seen better
bread issued to troops.
The bacon condemned was a portion Of
the large amount sent to and stored in
Chattanooga Tor use of the army at Chick
ahhauga. II deteriorated rapidly in this CHI
mate ana a portion of 1t became infected
with Shippers, and when shipped out to
camp some of it had to be condemned and
Iep4aceu Dy good bacon. The greatest care
was taken by the depot commissary for the
preservation of all subsistence stores. and
any damage that occurred was due to eli
HidlS anu natural causes and was incident
10 the service. The canned beef and baked
beans were very good and showed no signs
of fermentation. The damage to The two
cans of the former and the nine cans of
the latter was due to accident. nails hav-
lngs been driven through the boxes. pene-
rating the cans.
only 192 pounds of canned roast beef wore
received here, and this amount was sold TO
officers and men of the NINA and gave
entire satisfaction.
THE greatest care was necessary for the
preservation of vegetables in this climate.
particularly at about the time that the sup
ply or old potatoes was exhausted and the
new potatoes were beginning to arrive. Five
thousand four hundred pounds of sugar were
damaged by a heavy rainstorm which, owing
to the roof of the building being defective,
Hooded a portion of the commissary. The
quality of the rations furnished was excel
lent and probably the best ever issued to
an army OF 5000 men, with exception of
some potatoes and bacon that spoiled owing
to natural causes, and this slight defect
was quickly remedied by being replaced by
q good quality of the same; and taking into
consideration the fact that approximately
31,900,OO0 pounds of subsistence stores We're
shipped here and issued, the percentage of
loss is exceedingly small. Respectfully,
y. NJ. ARRASMlTH, Major and c. S.
~. 5. V. Depot Conmissary.-
The table accompanying this report shows
that ~o,l63,930 pounds of refrigerated beef
were issued without the loss of q pound. OF
corned beef there were issued in travel ra-
tons 10000 two-pound cans, of which two
were condemned. OF 60,00 t~hree-pound cans
OF baked beans. nine cans were condemned.
or 10000 cans of salmon, two cans were
found spoiled. There were issued 6,567. 800
pounds Of soft bread. of which SPAS baked
outside the camp were condemned. OF A.
299,lN pounds of potatoes. 81, 800 pounds were
rejected before issue. OF LIS, 800 pounds
OF onions, 2,S0 were rejected. OF 232, sos
three-pound cans of tomatoes, 81 were con-
demned. OF 101, 800 gallon cans, 14 were con-
demned. All these condemnations were be-
fore issue to the troops. Out OF thirteen
and a quarter millions pounds of bacon, 49,
S63 We're condemned before issue. This had
been shipped in bulk from Western army
posts and became heated on the way and
in the storehouse at Chattanooga. All other
items of the ration were in good condition.