Plentywood herald., 1931-09-24

however was SO, ,488 pounds. Further
loss was expected IF the weather should
at any time turn warm for many days
at a time" The commissary officer
stated in his report to st. Paul that he
did not think our misfortune with this
lot of potatoes was any reason why such
stores should not be purchased in Mon
tana in the future, as they are superior
in quality to eastern potatoes, but 1t
would be required to have the potatoes
in perfect order when shipped, and
they should be run down by boats, or
If the river was too low, by a more
rapid mode of transport than by bull
wagons. Had plenty of water to run
the river this year."
Lieutenant Randall divertS the atten-
ton of his correspondent to an incident
that happened on another occasion
which illustrates the painstaking care
he exercised in handling the food sup
plies. "The year following our unfor-
tunate potato transaction at Fort
Union, which you doubtless remember
he continued in his letter to the chief
commissary of subsistence, department
OF Dakota, st. Paul, Il had occasion to
buy quantity Of potatoes in Byoe
Basin, Colorado, country similar in
its products and climate from all I can
learn, to this part Of Montana from
where these potatoes came, and found
by care that I could get potatoes to
the post was serving at in good order
by the exercise of judgment in buying
them and care In shipping them. I did
not haul them as far as this lot was
hauled, but brought them distance OF
about 100 miles over the divide between
the Arkansas and Platte, place noted
for bad storms and cold weather. 1t is
a great source of regret that we have
been so unfortunate in this case, and
we leave this matter for remedy in the
hands of the proper authority. I have
the potatoes in good root house and
they have been carefully stored. The
whole amount has been dried by arti-
ficial heat and picked over by hand"
The winter season did not offer the
only hazards to potatoes and. other
perishable commodities received at the
cantonment. The chief commissary of
subsistence at ST. Paul, on June Z, 1877
was informed by Lieutenant Randall
that "a misfortune had befallen the
shipment of potatoes made by Lieuten-
ant Worden, 7th Infantry, A. G. S..
to me from Fort Ellis. BY the wreck OF
the boat the whole Of the potatoes, ex-
cept two sacks weighing 167 pounds
were lost. The need of potatoes here
being SO great the loss is greater than
can be measured by the money value
of the stores lost. The action of board
of survey has been asked"
1t was not in potatoes alone that
risks were involved. On June 3, 1877
Lieutenant Randall directed a COM
munication to the post adjutant asking
that "the action Of a board Of survey
Lieutenant Campbell, 22d Infantry, A
c. S., which in my opinion is unfit fol-
issue"
! Fresh beef was considered to be
equally important to be included in the
food supplies at the cantonment. -Four
months after the arrival Of the troops
on the Yellowstone river, at the mouth
of the Tongue, estimates for subsistence
stores, and stores for sale, for the Pc
riod commencing Dec. /, 1876, and end
ing June 80, 1878, were made in accord
ance with orders on the subject from
department headquarters Fresh bee.
Of fine quality and in any quantity car
be procured from middle Montana
Lieutenant Randall informed the chie1
commissary of subsistence at st. Paul
The purchase of cattle on hoOf re.
quired the employment Of a butcher
The matter of the engagement of Ser.