Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-02-02
Marines at Navy Yard Try Many
Varieties of Tobacco.
Habit Has Declined Among Enlisted
Men In Recent Years, but Many
Demand It-Fraerant Weed Is
Held Necessary.

New York-Mastication is one of
the accomplishments of the able sea-
men of Uncle Sans navy. Not the
ordinary digest-your-dinner chewing,
but mastication extraordinary, and a
score or SO of the strongest-jawed jack
les in the Brooklyn navy yard are
busfly engaged in a terrific molar
grinding contest to determine scien-
tifically for the benefit of the entire
navy the best chewing tobacco to use
during the coming year.
Several large packages of various
brands have arrived at the navy yard
for inspection. The commandant ap-
pointed a board of inquiry of officers
to Rave the men properly test the va
r1eties submitted and report their Sc
lection to him.
The consequence is that any one ia
miliar with the practicability of
Uncle Sam will be instructed as well
as amused by paying a visit to the
navy yard. There is no chemical test,
no scientific or analytical examination
OF the tobacco leaf. The men simply
bite off the plug ann chew an equal
length of time each IF the 80 brands
submitted and decide apon their favor
ite
A visitor walking through the navy
yard noticed the extraordinary energy
with which the sailors were testing
the tobacco. From Sands gate to the
commandments office near the dock
rTh h.
is nearing completion, the old she'll
backs encountered were busily and
conscientiously engaged in that chew
ing test. When addressed the man
always replied promptly and respect
fully. but in monosyllables, and ener-
getfcally continued their jaw wagging
Investigations. The white bosom of
the snow looked as though it had been
raked with nicotine schrapnel
On board the United States battle
ship Connecticut detail of testers
were busy. Every now and then the
connoisseurs would consult the time
keeper to see if they had given the
proper time to the brand upon which
they were engaged. When the time
allotted to each brand was up they
would carefully drop it into the ocean
and take a bite from another plug
A gunner's mate, who was pointed
out as an authority, gave an interest
ing chat on the practical side of to-
bacco testing and its benefits.
You see, mate" he said to the re-
porter, 'baccy amt luxury in the
service. It's just as much a necessity
to the sailorman as powder is ter a
lassie's toilet table. | amt chawed
but IS of the brands, and so fur l
amt found one like, but expect ter
be able to tell the board by tomorrow.
'Baccy's a great help on long cruise.
It's coolin' in hot weather, and warmin'
in cold. 1t softens yer troubles when
yer lonely and a long way from home
and those you love. l tell yer, sonny,
many a jacky thanked the quid in his
cheek when the first shot was fired
at Manila and he felt his knees trem-
bling. He just chewed harder till he
got the order to fire, and then O. course
be didn't care"
Inspector Ryan of the provision and
clothing department who was recently
transferred from Seattle, talking in ia
vor of Uncle Sans practical method
of testing the tobacco said that the
chewing habit isn't as prevalent among
the officers of the navy as in former
days Mr. Ryan intimated that the
habit was discouraged, and that pipes
and cigarettes had to a great extent
usurped the chewing plugs place in
the hearts of the sailor.
Like the gunner's mate, Mr.. Ryan
said that tobacco to the sailor was an
absolute necessity, and, Uncle Sam rec