Plentywood herald., 1931-09-17

the latter is issued only to Indians"
Further explanation is made relative
to the contingencies 1t was the opinion
of the commissary officer that the food
supplies intended for the use of the
occupants of the fort should be elastic
in order to allow for shrinkages and
losses. 'The contingencies, he wrote,
''are put at One-fourth and are based
on losses in transit, fire damage, pos
sible increase of the strength of cavalry
companies, prospective increase Of
strength of infantry companies, to af-
ford sales to enlisted men and troops
suddenly called into the field, and pro-
vide for any large body Of Indians sur
rendering or taken captive.
II have known troops to live on ten
ounces Of flour and very little else,
simply because the subsistence depart
ment did not make the contingencies
sufficiently elastic"
In view of the circumstances recited,
the commissary officer was unable to
make further revisions in the requisi-
tions, and fortifies his position in the
further comment in his reply.
I'm view of possible renewal Of
active hostilities, have called for an
additional $4,000 rations of bread, drop
ping an equal amount from the flour.
Referring to the requisition for sales
to officers, etc. should the number Of
troops included in the requisition re-
main at the post, do not we'll see
where any revision with view to cut
ting down can strike in. The officers
look to the A. C. S. and if he has
neglected their interests, woe betide
him. The acquisitions were made in
accordance with the instructions of my
superiors, are based upon strong prob
abilities, and 'extravagant' is harsh
term to apply to them.
"If a better knowledge exists at de-
partment headquarters, there and there
only may revision be safely attempted" ;"
During the previous month of June,
in what is described as the annual rise
in the Yellowstone river, steamers ar
rived at the fort landing and unloaded
their cargOes of fOodstuffs. On May %,
the Steamer Fanchon brought 27,500
pounds of flour and 468 boxes of hard
bread, "the latter being part of the
amount ordered from Fort A. Lincoln,
D. T. Four days later the Steamer jose
phine arrived at the Cantonment with
an extraordinarily large list of sub
sistence stores which we're transferred
by Lieut.. William j. Campbell, 22nd In
fantry, in consequence OF the evacua-
ton of the post at Glendive Greek, M.
T. The cargo included 3,457 pounds of
bacon, 8,460 pounds of hard bread, and
quantities of beans, Rio coffee, tea,
candles, soap, salt, pepper, ginger, ham,
canned Holsters and fruits, the list in
Guiding Colgates, French and Turtle
Oil soap, as we'll as plug and Gilt Edge,
Durham and Vanity Fair smoking to-
bacco.
The Steamer Arkansas arrived at the
Cantonment on June 8, carrying one
of the heaviest cargoes, including l32,-
100 pounds of flour, 1850 pounds OF
hard bread, 10000 pounds of beans
23,103 pounds of green coffee, $4,000
pounds of sugar, besides 68 barrels OF
the same commodity weighing 20,l4C
pounds, rs boxes of candles 247 boxes
of soap, 10 sacks and three barrels OF
salt, besides miscellaneous lot of 9th
er foodstuffs. On that same day the
Steamer Fanchon tied up at the land
ing with a smaller cargo, which includ-
ed 9,579 pounds of plug, and 100 pounds
each Of Vanity Fair and Durham smok-
ing tobacco to which reference as tc
the quality of the latter commodity
will subsequently be made.
The date is omitted in the next COM
munication chronicling the arrival OF
the Steamer Ashland with list oi
subsistence stores and property which
included among other articles 36,l8t
pounds Of bacon in 366 sacks, and 19, SOC
pounds OF potatoes from Fort Steven
son, d. T.
On June %, the Steamer Tidal Wave
unloaded 26,l38 pounds of hard bread
and 1873 sacks of bacon, while three
days later the Steamer Savanna
brought 80 sacks of bacon, and the
Steamer Rankin, on that same day un.
loaded a miscellaneous lot of stores
The total Of these cargoes apparently
attracted the attention Of the army
authorities at st. Paul with the result
that inquiry was made with the posi-