The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-02-27
ARRAsMITH ON ARMY STORES.
RATIONs ISSUED AT CHICkAMAUGA
WERE ALL RIGHT.

Supplies Were All Passed Upon Be
fore Being Issued 10 the Troops.
Says Refrigerated Beef Was SUfii-
cient in Quantity and Excellent in
QuaIity-of All the Supplies Used
There Very Small Amounts Were
Condemned.
Washington. Feb. 26.-The army board
of inquiry has received the report of Maj.
J. M. Arrasmith, late commissary at Camp
Thomas, Ca. upon the character of the
rations issued at that point, The report
covers the rations supplied to the 1000
soldiers modified at Chickamauga Park.
1t says:
All stores unfit for sale or issue were
acted upon by a board of survey, and in
all cases were condemned prior to issue
to troops, with the exception that in few
instances damaged potatoes and bacon
We're returned to the depot commissary and
exchanged prior TO condemnation,
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 5000, 600 pounds of this beef,
and in a hot climate,~without losing a
pound of it, indicates the splendid condi-
ton of the beef and the care exercised in
handling it.
The Supplies Condemned.
The bread condemned was purchased in
i. H.
troops were here, and prior TO the erection
of the bakery at this camp. The bread bak-
ed here was very good. l have never seen
better bread issued to troops.
The bacon condemned was a portion of
the large amount sent to. and stored in
Chattanooga for use of the army at Chick
amauga. 1t detemorated rapidly i'm this
climate, and portion of it became infect
ed with shippers, and when shipped out to
camp, some of it had to be condemned and
replaced by good bacon. The greatest care
was taken by the depot commissary for
the preservation of ala subsistence stores,
and any damage that occurred was due to
climate and natural causes, and was Incl
dent to 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,
mans having Deen driven through the boxes,
penetrating the cans.
Only 1872 pounds of canned roast beef
was received here, and this amount was
sold to officers and men of the command,
and gave entire satisfaction.
Greatest Care Necessary.
The greatest care was necessary for
the preservation of vegetables in this ell
mate, particularly al about the time that
the supply of old potatoes was exhausted
and the new potatoes were beginning to
arrive. Five thousand, four hundred
pounds of sugar were damaged by a heavy
rain storm, which, owing to the roof of
the building being defective, flooded a por-
ton of the commssary.
The quality of the rations furnished was
excellent, and probably the best ever is
sued to an army of $1,000 men. with the
exception of some potatoes and bacon that
spoiled, owing to natural causes, and this
slight defect was quickly remedied by be-
ing replaced by a good quality of the
same, and taking into consideration the
fact that approximately 100000 pounds
of subsistence stores were shipped here
and issued, the percentage of loss is ex-
ceedingly small Respectfully,
T A