Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-01-09
Lieutenant Colonel Wood Reports
Satisfaction in the 9TH Corps.
MEAT SENT TO PONCE PRAISED
Result of Agricultural Department
Inquiries.
PROF. ATWATER'S STATEMENT

The discussion of the quality of the beef
furnished to the army during the war has
had the effect to draw attention to the
present state of affairs, so far as relates to
the troops now garriSoning Cuba. Commits
sary General Eagan has given out the fol-
lowing report he has received from Lieut..
Col E. o. Wood chief commissary officer
of the 18th Corps, Gen. Lees command, to
show how the troops in the vicinity of Ha-
vana faring in the matter of fresh
meat:
Il have the honor to state for your in
formation the following facts in reference
to the quality of the supply of fresh beef
furnished the troops of this corps under
my direction as chief commissary since the
organization of the corps in May last, be-
HeVing that my experience in the field con-
stantly with troops for the past seven
| months may be of some value as a matter
of record:
Universal Satisfaction Given.
From the 31st of May to the 18th of
December l have had dealings with the
Cuddahy Packing Company, Armour &
Co. and Swift & Co., all of whom have
supplied refrigerated beef to the troops of
this corps and it has given universal salts
faction.
1T took some time to teach the volun-
teer troops how to properly handle the
meat after issue from the refrigerator car,
ana during TINS process OF teaching there
We're naturally few complaints, but in
eNery instance, when it was the fault of
the contractor, II was immediately replaced
~ So anu W mere ~ was me Ia ulI
of the company cooks in not using proper
precautions Gas was generally the case) it
was corrected by more caretui oversight
No Bad Meat Issued.
Constant inspections were made OF the
company kitchens and messes, and type
written instructions we're distributed
throughout the corns In This vav and
- - -. =,
~ ~ ~ ie "Set az
ways gave complete satisfaction, ana the
health and good condition of this command
was due in the main to this fact-that no
/ bad meat was ever issued, the percentage
| of sickness in the 18th Corps being far less
than in any other of the corps.
while stationed in jacksonville l made
several inspections of the refrigerator plant
of Armour 81 Co, and always found the
meat in good condition and all the appur-
tenanceS spotlessly clean.
With regard to the canned roast beef
furnished by Armour & Co, it has never
been issued in this corps except as part OF
the travel ration, and no complaint as to
its quality has ever reached me in my
official capacity.
After seven long months in hot eli
mate, and with the prospect OF many more
in the Island Of Cuba, | am Of the opinion
that refrigerator beef, If 1t Is properly nam
died Immediately after the issue, will give
better satisfaction than to nave lean grass
fed Texan steers sent here to be Killed ana
eaten on the same day
Renort to Cen Lee
r., w, -, .,o a. e,,,; 40
vi '. wv '.-.' -. ~, ~,
tract OF a letter written py MIN 10 MAJ.
Gen. Fitzhugh Lee, commanding the 9TH
Germs on the same general subject.
a.. s;.a,..,, - oo., ;,.,,, fr1, ,,oe
N "
IN quarters rom AiniouI - 10 ualis
nauled out 10 the vicinity VI ,iie camps
Between ana > am a ere" OF armour
men are lhere 10 hahdle the meat. Inc
brigade ana feslmental coflnlssarles are
there with their wagons; the quarters OF
beef are weighed, inspected by the brigade
commisSaries and then delivered to the regi-
mental wagons and hauled to camp. If the
brigade c0mmlSSary rejects any quarter OF
beef as tainted OF otherwise unfit for issue,
it is Immediately replaced by the contractor
with another quarter. If any regimental
commiSSary objects to taking any of the
meat, it is at once replaced by the con-
tractor at the request of the brigade COM
misSary This inspection is final. After
the meat is hauled away from the and
taken to the regiments, no further COM
plants on the part of regimental officers
surgeons company cooks can be enter
tanned, and if subsequently the meat is
found to be Objectionable it is only due to
ahe careiesshess OF the regimental commits
nroner Instructions for tic bo,aiiner &c &c,
caring for the meat. In this hot and damn
climate, the moment REFRIGERATED beef is
taken from the car it should be carefully
coseieu win cream paullns or canvas,
900 ~ ~ oin ole sun anu mes cut up at
TO the comnanv ti+ha ''ne ~ iii euidteIy
ice (which Is fnrnisba5n "a 80 '. pu' On
fire To cool, tn ,,1lel+ o.>>1irl Pu' on tlle
e. co is evcaI1ant ~, oiit pi'u ny al iiiouF
livery from q refrioen.a pu' ailei ue-
handled nronerI,, WI ,,i 81 gar mus Dc
.Vhenp,,a, - 80. III e "ieiiou' any ueiay;
reacbad Nc 49, - ottu o Goltlplalht mas
reatin,,. ~ .idNe at once gwen such d.
q, 80 $50 nc. ~ iau peeh Corrected except
III IN 81 aaili Eases Where feGlmental boards
fi 1890, ti f mater IN thelr own hands
" o4ir go III 81 my custohil ana condemned
onp7 s5in5 ssh % oeeI, When careful
"a '5u S..Ioious mining away OF the faint
Gu Parts Woula nave lett the bulk of the
i, sweet aho geod-thus causing use
aeSS vast VI tIie most desirable part of the
soiulei ration constant and unceasiug
aupet Visiolt anu attentlon is given the
tusaoioii y. d proper 1000 supply for the
.loo I}s III inns corps, ana 1t is believed by
iile .ha' any coLhplalht IS groundless so far
ss me auliiiliislratioh Oh the commissary
u ,p 'iIent Is concerned, ana that is en-
ersls uue W ene Almost criminal negh-