Evening journal., 1915-09-15
New News Of Yesterday
An Upright Government
Contractor
By Holland.

The late Captain Frederick c. Wagner
who by reason OF his authority as pro
vost-marshal of New York city in Civil
War days. WIS brought into close rela-
ton with many who were prominent
either as soldiers or as financial aids OF
the government, was speaking to me one
day of some of the benefactors who were
developed by the exigencies of the war,
but whose services were at the time not
widely recognized and have now been
forgotten.
Capt Wagner had especially in mind
John i. Wilson. lie was a merchant in
Now York city whose business was the
manufacture Of flour. Soon after the
| volunteers were equipped and put in the
field. it Became necessary TO place very
heavy contracts for food. The armies
were supplied for the most part with
what was then called pilot bread. OF
hardtack, sometimes known as ship bis
cults. This was especially available for
the army because a large amount OF
nomishment could be compacted into a
small volume These biscuits were easily
carried in the haversack They retained
their good qualities for many days and
it was easy to make them crisp by bak-
Z ing them over a fire for a moment or
two
Mr.. Wilson. according to Capt. Wag-
ner, had gained a good reputation in the
/ business world through his invention OF
/ certain machinery which was a great
4 labor saver in the making of bread lie
was also known to be a man of the high
est integrity. Tho government appealed
10 him for a contract for flour involving
large amount each day. His contract
called for the delivery of 5000 barrel,
of Aour a dav. His was one of the some.
what rare cases when inspection showed
that the quality of the article bought
by the government fully met the specif
cations
Mr.. Wilson made a good deal of money
through these transactions. but it wal
all honestly made. He was, however
greatly concerned about the service h,
might render 10 the government outside
of the execution of an important con
tract of this kind. In conversation will
Capt Wagner, he said that he was him
self personally unfit for military duty
otherwise he would have enlisted. Never
thcless, he wanted to do something il
the way Of aiding the government. Iii
reasonable profits upon his contract
were large. He therefore, made mp hi
mind that if he could not 90 to tho wa
himself he could send a substitute. whicl
he did. That, however. was not of suiii
cient service. in his view. After consul
tation with Gen. Chester a. Arthur. the
member Of the staff of the eoyerno
Of New York, and twenty years late
President of the United States. Mr.. VIII
son offered at his own expense to rails,
arml and equip an entire reqi
mcnt. The offer was accepted. tn
regiment was enlisted. The men wer
equipped IN tho best manner possible an
tho regiment saw considerable servic,
The cost If raising and equinninn a req
ment Of 600 men cut considerably int
the profits which Mr. Wilson received O
account Of his -four contract, but he a'
snred Capt WAGNER that IL was no NOR
than a fair return to the government o
account of the favors nc mad received a
y contractor and also = fair service rer
dered hv him 10 the Union armies.
Copyright, 1918 by 2. J Edwards. A
rights reserved.)