El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-01-20

AZ
wise-tO an army which has been
4 driven from its native soil, Mex
leo. into the United States. is an ex-
pensive pastime. Witness: Uncle SAM
alias the American government VIII
have to dig down in his pockets anu
paw out the tidy sum of $1,000 every
day for housing and feeding the 49OU
federal prisoners and refugees VINO
began arriving at Fort Bliss TUESDAY
morning from Maria In other Wofos'
it viii cost the American people nearly
81 every minute that the prisoners and
refugees remain as guests IN this
country.
Feeding Is the Biggest Item.
Feeding Of the MeGicans is, natural
", the biggest single item Of expense
connected with the internment Of the
federal army and its 1867 women and
children at Fort Bliss. With only
brief time for preparation to receive
the prisoners, army officials mere are
facing the biggest problem that mas
yet arisen on the border. Every man
in the commissary QUartermaster' de-
partment at FL PasO has been working
overtime for several days in order to
complete preparations for the care OF
the prisoners.
When the last Of the ten trains used
to transport the federals and their
camp followers from Maria to Ell Paso,
has unlOaded its cargo Of destitute
humanity at Fort Bliss, there VIII De
exactly 4498 MeXicanS IN the prison
camp. It is possible Ina5 Two or more ore
prisoners will be added to the list
before that time, making the total an
even 1900 If the entire population
of Deming, n NJ, moved TO FL Faso
in three days, this city would pc rae
ing the same problem that cOntronts
the military authorities at Fort Bliss.
There are 70 federal prisoners now at
Fort Bliss Of the thousands coming
from Maria, 1852 are soldiers and Of
ficers, and the remainder, 1867, are
women and children.
Food Alone Is 1902 Daily.
twill cost approximately SlOyz a
day to feed the prisoners, total OF
sS2.779 a month That they will be
held here at least three months IS
highly probable so the board bill
alone viii reach close to the 100000
mark Although there is no basis
from which to estimate every expense
now. it is Conservatory estimated by
army men that the United States Will
have paid out at least $4,000 before
the guests" are returned to their
fatherland-
All Bought In Ell PasO.
Conforming to the old saw, Its an
i'll wind that blows nobody good FL
Paso will benefit by the bringing of
the prisoners here, even though the
government loses money. Every pound
of food consumed by the refugees, eN-
cept bacon, will be bought from FL
Paso wholesale houses. The bacon IS
purchased in Chicago under a speclal
government contract
Nearly % cents a day, 2S.5 cents 10
be exact will be spent on every man,
woman and child in the prison camp
for food alone. Other expenses VIII
bring this per capita estimate up TO
25 cents daily. The monthly feed Dill
would build two structures like the
EI Paso Y ". c. A., while the daily
expense money would buy one meal
for two thirds Of the total American
population Of FL PasO-
VIII Be Given Native Food.
What Will they eat2 The prisoners
themselves are probably more inter-
ested than their hosts in that ques-
ton. Meat and bread will be the main
items Of their daily menu, with beans
and chile running a close second
Military authorities have decided TO
give them their native food as much as
possible. This is a departure from
the usual custom for up to this time
Mexican prisoners have been served
the regular American army rations,
which rarely included chile or fri
jOles."
a day. Nearly 24OO pounds of beef
a day will be served to the prisoners.
About two and a half tons of flour
will be dOled out every day and the
women who accompany the army viii
be allowed To COOK II as lutY IKE
Army cooks viii bake bread for the
prisoners, but it is probable that flour
tortillas will be more popular. These
will be cooked by the prisoners them
selves. Bacon, in 900 pound lots, will
be served at each meal, if the pris-
oners desire it. The monthly bacon
bill viii total $3420-
The inevitable Cup Of Coffee.
The inevitable cup Of coffee will be
given to each prisoner at every meal
This serving Of the universal bever-
age viii cost the government Sis
day, or S3542 a month. The China
mans principal dish, rice, will be set
down before the prisoners in SOC. pound
lots daily orioles" and chile pep
pers viii be consumed at the rate Of
1900 pounds every "a hours, or about
S159 worth q day. Potatoes and onions
are also on the bill of fare, $50 pounds
of each weighed out every time the
sun rises.
Sugar and Salt, S67 Daily.
viii accompany each meal and Uncle
Sam viii pay out $67 day for these
two items. Five hundred pounds Of
lard viii be used daily, at a cost Of
approximately $50 a day. Canned
milk viii be used at every meal, and
$50 cans will be consumed every day.
Cost. forty dollars. Nearly 800 pounds
Of prunes will be dealt out every "a
hours, while six gallons of vinegar
will also be tapped.
Already the feeding Of refugees has |