The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-10-12
The Chief Commissnry Officer.

Z
Lieut. Col Edward E. bravo. chief
commissary on General Brooke's staff. N
his report which is included in that Of
General Brooke, says
In December. 1900. the District of Porto
Rico was attached TO this department
and on January 5. 1901. proceeded 10 san
Juan. =. r.. TO inform myself as to the
best mode Of supplying the troops sta
toned in that island The commissary
depot at San Juan had been ordered
abandoned by the late commander Of the
Department Of Porto Rico. but after
careful Investigation into the conditions
obtaining there. / recommended Ihdl me
depot De continued. This was deemed es-
SeuIiaI iHasmUCh as Porto Rico rs de-
pendent upon this country for it's supplies,
and IL Is necessary that "a depot De main
tanned 70 store a reserve above current
needs so as TO meet any sudden enersen-
CieS. and also to have il as a distributing
point for articles required at the various
posts ] instructed the district chief
cOmmissaTy 10 cause comm lssarleS TO send
acquisitions to him monthly. he TO ship
from his stock in depot the articles they
require calling on this office each month
for quantities sufficient TO replace those
invOiced. All r'quisitions are required bas-
ed on a three months surOly plan. one
months supply on hand. one en- route, and
one 10 be furnished on the requisiuou,
thus enSuring the men good fresh stores
. every thirty days.
The dIsc0ntinuance Of the transport
service TO the island win work hardship
90 the officers and men stationed there, as
this was the Only means the subsistence
Department had Of sending ptrlsnauic ar
ticles To them the commercial liners run
ming between New York and Porto Rico
not being provided with colo storage IA
ciIities beyond that already contracted for
by private parties. Its immediate effect
has been 20 force the acceptauc. OF a bid
. for fresh beef delivered in Porto Rico at
. L. u cents Der pound. whereas III delivered
I'm New York on board the transport Nc
CI.ilan. which has an ample cold storage
plant. the meat could De- had for IA
] cents per pound. a saving 20 the Suuslst-
. Cnce Department % over 5000 on the beef
used each month in Porto Rico, or APP
UrDNimarCly 5000 year The Tefrlge-
I rating plant on the Mcclellan is sufficient
/ to freeze her fun cargo, SO mat "a cold
storage space Of any desired capacity
could have been obtained and kept at any
needed temperature This would have
enabled the Government 10 ship in cold
/ storage 10 the troops In Porto Rico, not
only their fresh beef. but also all stores
which dCteriOrate in the hot, close holds
/ Of vessels sailing IN those tropical waters,
I such. for instance, as pork. bacon. hams.
| lard. butter. olive oil. etc. This would not
/ only reduce eventual losses on til 81
/ stores. but, aside from the matter Of dol
lars and cents, would give the troops 1T
/ those stations more satisfactory and heal
/ thy foods.
My experience leads me 10 believe the
Subsistence Department should not only
supply. but that IL should also furnish the
means Of handling and preparing. the
food Of the army in fact, II alone should
have charge 81 and provide every thing
needed in connection with supslsung tne
soldier, from the time stores are IuT-
chased until they are consumed Under
the present system Of supply. one depart
mout buys tho food. another furnishes the
facilities TO prepare II. and stiN another
the utensils with which 10 eat IL. Fur
thcrmore. -four bought 10y the Subsistence