Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1901-07-31
NAVAL BOOKSTORES
WHAT 'JAcKY"' GETS TO EAT IN
UNCLE SANS SERVICE,

The American Navy Is Better Fed
Than Any other Navy In the World.
What II Costs the 0fHcers to Run
the Wardroom Mess.
The United States government gives
its sailors only 80 cents a day each to
live on, but the American navy is bet
ter fed than any other navy In the
world. In fact, "jaclSy" lives better
than the average mechanic on shore.
AS the appetite of a seafaring man
cannot be appeased by angel food the
provisions are Of the most substantial
kind.
All naval vessels are liable to be sent
on long voyages or to be stationed
where markets are inaccessible, and
the stores purchased for the crew must
be such as will keep for a long time
and not become damaged by changes
Of climate. Naturally salt pork, corned
beef, hard tack, beans, -four, sugar.
canned fruits and vegetables are car
ried in large quantities and must of ne
cessity constitute the main part of the (
daily Tations. With these staples as
basis many appetizing combinations
can be made. At sea fresh meat and
vegetables are not to be had, Int while
In port or within reach of a market
the navy regulations require the issu-
ance on certain days of these desirable
additions to the food supply. In the
olden days no fresh meat was included
in the navy ration, and 'jacky' was
compelled to subsist largely on corned
beef, knownin the sailor vernacular as
salt horse" owing to the fact that
some INSCRIPTIONS contractor at one
time long ago passed Off horsefiesh for
beef In a navy supply. The barrel in
which the salt meat is kept Is to this
day known as the harness cask."
The enlisted men, are divided into
messes consisting of from IS to "a men
each. Every month the mess elects
one Of its number to the position of ca
terer, and he looks after all matters Gu
linary during his term. To him the dai
ly allowances Of staple foods are ISSUED
each morning by one OF the paymas
ter's men, known as the "Jack of thu
dust" presumably from his handling
flour. The ships cooks then prepar
the supplies for the table. Each mes
is usually allowed from four to SIS
committed rations-that Is, the catere
is given the value of such rations 1
cash and is thus provided with a fun
of from $50 to $54 per month wit
which to buy fruits. vegetables, fist
butter and other items which are nc
included in the list Of articles furnishe
| Irr 10, F,,r tai. y,
table still further 1t is customary fo
each man to "chip in" a dollar or tw
each month out OF his own pocket.
The old time shellbacks looked wit
| glee upon plum dun dinner, but sue
dainties as that seem commonplace
the new style navy men, who on hol
days and frequently on Sundays hay
delicacies like roast turkey with era
berry sauce, celery, oranges. banan;
and even ice cream.
II "jacky" has one failing in Il
commissariat line. it Is his craving
pies of any constituency or nationalit
He will eat them on any occasion al
in any place. The ships cook. IL he
ambitious, takes advantage of this al
makes up a tempting array Of pi
from materials which he purchas
from the paymaster and retails them
the sailors.
The government does not discrir
nate in the allowance for food suppl
In the navy as between officer and
listed man-that is, it did not up tc
year or two ago. when every man
the ship. from the admiral down tc
coal HEAVIER, received 80 cents each d!
Now the discrimination is that the c
HEAVIER continues to draw bis 80 Ger
while the admiral and all other offic
except the gunner, carpenter pharr
cist, chief machinists and the ma
cadets receive absolutely nothing
their subsistence on board ship. M;
who visit naval vessels and are enf
tanned at dinner or luncheon are he
to remarksthat the government
vides very good living for its ofic,
not thinking that the entire cost Of
repast has come out Of the officers
pockets.
The cost of an officers living on
Of our vessels varies considerably.
port where much entertaining ha
be done and where there are I
priced markets the mess bill. as /
called, sometimes runs as high as
or $40 a month for each officer an
rarely less than S25 a month. This
resents merely the actual cost Of
food and the incidental expenses of
mess. as the government furnishes
servants, crockery, fuel and table Ii
In connection with this subjec
may be interesting TO note that the
tain of a war vessel does not eat
the other officers, but has a seps
establishment for himself and is
vided with a cook and a steward W
only duties are to wait on him.
fiagships the admiral also eats a
The wardroom mess usually incl
all officers above the grade of Ell
and on most vessels consists OF
10 TO 20 members. Junior officers
naval cadets constitute another !
known as the steerage mess.-C. A