The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-05-04
COST OF RATION UP
QuartermaSter Detachment Re-
ports Advance to 1904 Cents.
Price Highest Yet Recorded for
Feeding Funston Soldiers.
BEEF SHOWS A SHARP RISE
Present Value Nearly Double
Days of Cheap Prices.
Barracks 72S Leads in Program
for Visitors Day Here.
BY sERGT. SAMUEL sosLAND.

According to the monthly compila-
ton of the subsistence division of the
camp Quartermaster detachment 1t
will cost more money to meet the
board bill of soldiers at Camp Fun
ston in May thsn in any other month
since this cantonment was opened for
the National army. The cost of the
ration for May, as computed by the
Subsistence division. over which Capt
F. T. Windle presides, is 1904 cents.
This is for the garrison ration, which
includes three meals for each soldier
a day. In the manual of the quarter"
master corps the word ration is used
quired for one soldier each day.
Records of the Subsistence division
show that the cost of the garrison
ration passed the Accent mark only
once before in the period since the
opening Of this cantonment last Sep
TENDER. In December, 1917, the cost
OF the ration was 40.2S cents, the
month. In April the cost of the ra-
ton was $500 cents. When the camp
opened, last September, the Subsist-
ence division, which was then in di-
ported the cost of the garrison ration
as 1858 cents. In october the cost
dropped to 1854 cents. In November
the cost was 1928 cents. Last Janu-
airy the cost was 1920 cents, in Feb
ruary it was 3s.42 cents, and in March
the cost was 1880 cents.
Many soldiers outside the quarter
master detachment do not understand
the method used in computing the cost
of the garrison ration, nor the sig
nificance of the figures reported each
month to supply officers and mess
re he nrYa tov- CT raI
defines specifically the quantities of
each of the various commod les which
make up the garrison ration. Thus,
each garrison ration contains, accord
ing to the manual, 20 ounces of beef,
18 ounces of flour. 20 ounces of
potatoes, 1.2s ounces of prunes, 81
ounces Of sugar and specific quantities
of lard, butter, condensed milk, Gin
namon. pepper. salt, sfrQp, coffee and
other foodstuffs- Each month a new
piled. based on the cost of stores pur-
Chased here or received from depot
Quartermasters. The cost of the ration
nuctuates with the changes in the
prices OF the component articles. Mess
sergeants are permitted to substitute
various food products for the compon-
emit articles. but the defined COM
modities are the ones from which the
cost of the ration is computed.
A few days ago supply officer of
one of the artillery organizations who
was once stationed in the Philippines
and whose record of service in the
army is long, remarked, on being told
of the advance in the ration, that he
once had charge of rationing troops
when the same ration cost the govern
mint % cents Those, CT course, were
the days of cheap prices.
Beef shows the principal advance
among the articles in the garrison ra-
ton this month. The cost of beef in
the present month is 1899 cents .
pound, compared with 1872 cents a
pound in April and 1854 cents q
pound in February and March. Market
reports, together with army announce
ments of new beef purchasing plans,
point to an even higher price for beef
here in the month OF June.
1t is interesting to note that, at the
new ration cost. a mess sergeant who
feeds 100 men may spend $40.2S daily
for the three meals, compared with an
expenditure of 5000 for the same
number of soldiers in April. The
savings over which there is so much
gossip will, however, be no larger un-
more of the products which are not
changed in price and less of the
articles which have advanced. But
beef is popular at Camp Funston, and
cents a pound in April to 44.595 cents
the present month. Bread costs 4.255
cents a pound, against 4.253 cents q
pound last month.
In view of the higher cost of food.
stuffs, it behooves every mess sergeant
and every cook, so officers of tho
camp quartermaster detachment feel
to be more careful than ever to make
the most of the food they receive for
the soldiers in their respective bar
racks. Thousands of dollars are spent
daily by the war department to feed
tS at "a Stnr
the degree of satisfaction with the
messes depends largely upon the cooks
and the mess SergeantS.
A soldier was sent last week to the
office of Capt. Knudt Boberg, assist
bal message from his immediate
superior. After going to his office, in
warehouse s, the soldier returned.
Sir, Captain Boberg is not there"
the soldier reported to his commander.
The officer, who was DESTROYS of
having the message delivered prompt
ly, went to Captain Bobergs office to
make inquiry.
"PshawI" the soldiers commander
said on returning. Captain Boberg
is in his office; only his mustache is
gone"
Congratulations are in order to
Barracks 72s Of the quartermaster
detachment. Today, visitors day at
the camp, it will give a dinner at
noon and a dance from 1 to o'clock.
The soldiers of this barracks have
contributed freely for this affair, and
, have invited all the officers of the
detachment. The dinner and dance
doubtless will promote good feeling
and cheer among the men. Soldiers
who have been too busy with their
duties in recent months to win fair
friends for the occasion have been
favored it is rumored, by associates
who have asked their loved ones to
bring a pretty friend" along for
squad partners.
Lieut.. w. /. Rucker, who is now in
charge of the Finance division. deliv-