The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1918-05-31


states. subsistence for the foycos 60, /
~ 1000 Inspection. purchase. plan
nihg held bakeries and the ike
branches Of these subdivisions sna-
eiaiize In beef, in milk, in -four in
canned goods and other required foods
ne proportions of single purchases are
Almost staggering The other day the
ui'lslon was casting about for li,,la
ihatter OF 57OO0,0OO cans of SCUM TO
supply the army for stated period.
And so II goes down through some
-Jo items of supply running from ham
70 shoF strings and from metal polish
to macaroni.
formerly the work OF the food pur
chase was distributed. Depot quarter
masters In various sections Of the
country bought supplies In conformity
win The tone Of their localized market
area. Soon, however, IL became clear
that this function must be centralized
III washington under the control OF the
divisional experts. As a result the di.
VISION operates along lines OF high eff
Hciehcy Its system of records shows
constantly the state of supplies a,
nome and abroad, enabling il to follow
any commodity from the point of pro-
uuction to the port of embarkatIon,
wiliie the volume of purchase permits
airect relation with the manufacturer
ana the elimination of the mlddieman.
by the application OF this central con
troll principle there was saved TO the
government in the purchase Of ration
ltems needed for the month of April
S161. 1909.
, ms centralized control is also a
FACTOR in expeditions action. Not long
ago there came from General Pershing
requisition for 24,OOO.O0O rations TO
he supplied "at once" By the terms
ration" 1t should be explained, is
meant the complete food supply Of
one soldier for one day. Within TWEEN
ty-four hours the division had located
points of production capable Of sup
: plying this large demand. had placed
E the orders and was able TO report the
E tulhllment of the reQuisition unda:
e way.
System Of Purchasing.
n While the buying is thus controlled
9 the actual purchases are not made in
q Washington. The purchase depots a
. various points telegraph to the divi
sional officers price quotations on sup
4 plies, with recommendations as TO thei
= acceptance. The divisions experts
study them in connection with thei
market reports and confidential list
), of prices from the big food industries
Then from the divisional offices goe,
the telegraphed word to the depots Il
purchase or decline.
: From the depots the food goes Il
the various camps and environments
. where 1t Is issued to the fighting organ
q izations by the quartermaster II
= charge Each company, battery o
. troop, each separate detachment. oper
- ates its own kitchen with Its enllste,
cooks working under a mess sergeant
- Here the food is prepared for break
fast, dinner and supper.
= The whOlesomeness of every foo,
, article must ne bSSuEtu DtlOEe IL Cbl
:. be placed in the soldiers possession
D.. The armys system of inspection 1
n thorough and uncOmpromising II be
IS gins at the source of supply and con
A. tinueS until the food is actually con
70 sumed. The records at Washington
show the capabilities, character ant
standard of every establishment pur
% veying food to the army. The inspeC
y tors know fruits, vegetables. meat an
NJ other articles of purchase. The arm
% specifications are clear and exact. The
s. must be met. The inspectors max
" ~ sure they are met. And the receiyln
70 officers at the depOtS, assuring then
10 selves that there has been no de'eri6
% ration In shipment thus make the!
~ contribution to that continual inSpe'
% tion which ceases only when the foo
70 has ceased 10 exist.
~ The bureau of markets Of the de
nartment Of agriculture, with repr,
sentatlves throughout the countr
b. whose duty ii Is to report on cond
~ tlons in the periShahle food markets
IL gives full help To the army inspection
,r The bureau Of chemistry Of the sam
n dapartmpnt also lends its powerful al