Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1931-09-10

NI. l1tiCS, CiCIh III tUt qudItCl iiidStCi
department and nephew of the COM
manding officer, General Nelson A.
Miles.
faith in the combination locks anC
would prefer a safe with a key"
On the same day he wrote to th'
chief commisSary of subsistence, de.
partment of Dakota, st. Paul. that al
measures have been taken to protec
the stores, that are possible with the
means at my disposal. I hope in a few
days to have the stock under roof. W.
have no lumber for floors. You car
form ONE idea of the difficulty o
communication when 1 inform you thar
your letter of Sept. 2 and IL only
reached me today"
Much to his disappointment, Lieu
tenant Randall was informed early il
October that the commanding Officer
at Fort Buford found it impossible fol
the safe to "be sent to me this winter
AS money is accommodating I should
have a proper place to keep it safely.
he wrote to the chief of commissary
subsistence at st. Paul.
Lieutenant Randall, however, wa
able to reduce the mount of money in
paying vouchers for fresh beef. as he
informed the commissary headquarters
at st. Paul, early in January 1877. q
have disbursed a large portion of the
funds now on hand. The paymastel
who came here could not furnish me
with checks. You must not depend or
me sending you money by checks as
the risk is very great and it is only in
exceptional circumstances that I would
be willing to risk sending you checks
much as l wish to transfer the funds. .
With the prospect that the canton
ment established in August, 1876, would
be retained indefinitely as long as there
was need for the enforced removal of
the rowing bands of Indians TO their
respective reservations, some consider
alton was given by the war department
to the plan of self-support from the
standpoint Of acquiring and providing
, food supplies. This is evidenced by the
communication written by Lieutenant
Randall on February 5, 1877. In ac-
knowledging receipt of a circular let
ter from the chief commissary of SUBJ
sistence, headquarters, department OF
Dakota at st. Paul, he gave the follow
ing account of the erection of facili-
ties then in contemplation.
First, we have two root houses al
the post. They are ample in size to
hold the stores that should be kept ir
such places.
Second, there is no oven yet COM
pleted. A bakery with six small ovens
six feet by four and a half feet is ir
process of building. The non-arrival Of
the brick, lime, etc, prevented the
building Of the large oven. The com
panies have erected small ovens Of
their and a good supply Of fresh
soft bread is to be obtained.
Third, the beef is excellent; no fault
has been found with it.
Beef is killed from day to day as
needed for use. The beef is the best ]
eve saw in service; some of the cattle
killed would be taken for stall fed. AS
I know nothing of the practice of kill
ing quantities of beef and freezing il
1 am unable to give an opinion on the
comparative merits of the two plans
referred to by you.
Il think hay car be obtained in the
future at a reasonable rate. I know the
@. M. department has not been for
tunate in obtaining hay this past year
but in the future the difficulties may
be avoided.
Fourth, I do not understand if it is
intended for the subsistence depart
ment to go into the manufacture Of
corn meal; I would be opposed to it.
ut may not be out of place here tc
call your attention to the fact that as
our is a new post no files or orders
are at hand"
Reference is frequently made in the
communications to the forwarding OF
receipts in acknowledgment of invoices
Every article of food destined for con-
sumption by the officers and soldiers
is carefully recorded.
An interesting sidelight is given OF
the practice that was in vogue among
the soldiers who used hops in the nan
ufacture of yeast. The supply of hops
ran low during the winter of 1876-1877
The commissary officer called the at
tention of the Post Adjutant to the sit
uation.
Il have the honor to respectfully call
the attention of the commanding Off
Ger to the small supply of hops now
on hand" wrote the supply officer on
February 6. 1877, "twenty-seven pounds,
and to suggest that the sales be limited
to a half pound per month per COM
pany, and to recommend that the COM
panies be directed to club their hops
together for the manufacture Of yeast
Uniformly the valedictories Of the
communications are couched in words
hat convey a deep Of respect,
Much space is also taken up with the