No. 80. ADJUTANT GENERAL'S OFFICE, The following orders have been received from the War Department: The attention of all officers responsible for fuel, forage, and straw for the Army is directed to the frequent and large wastage of such supplies, particularly of hay, and the losses sustained at many posts by unnecessary accumulations of grain, and the absence of due precautions in connection with the storage of said supplies. While unexpected movements of troops may sometimes render losses unavoidable, it is believed that most of the damage resulting from mere length of storage would be avoided by proper care in providing, by requisition or otherwise, only such quantities of these supplies as can be fully consumed before the use of the new supply. In order to prevent such losses in future, as far as practicable, and to determine the responsibility therefor when they do occur, the following instructions are published: -: 1. All hay and straw, when received from any source, will be carefully weighed. Hay-scales for this purpose will be supplied, on proper requisition, to any established military post not already provided with them. Grain will be carefully measured or weighed, Wood will be carefully piled and measured, or weighed, and coal will be weighed. It will probably be found cheaper and more correct to determine quantities of wood received by weighing each load on the hay-scales before piling-the weight per cord being ascertained by piling carefully and measuring a sufficient number of cart or wagon loads which have been previously weighed. 2. Hay and straw received and accepted will be carefully stored in barns provided for that purpose, or stacked in some good and convenient location. Great care will be used in preparing the stacks. They will be properly raked down so as to shed the rain freely. The tops should be covered with old canvas, if possible, and kept in place by poles or ropes weighted at the lower ends with stones. Gunny-bags filled with earth, attached to the ropes, and pinned to the sides of the stacks can also be used to keep the covers in place. If canvas cannot be had the stacks should be thatched, Grain should be stowed in places protected, as far as possible, from rats. In granaries resting on foundation posts, these posts should be cased with tin plates, so arranged as to prevent rats, mice, and other vermin from climbing into the building. For the same purpose, the steps and platform should be separated from the walls by a space which a rat cannot leap, said space being bridged, when required, by moveable gang-planks at each door, which should be invariably removed when not in use. Were rats and mice thus prevented constant access, and water kept out of all granaries, those getting in by any accident would soon be compelled to leave for water. In granaries already built it is believed that, in most instances, the requisite alterations and additions for those precautions can be readily made; but if not, such other provisions as local conditions may permit should be devised and made. Fuel should be piled in wood-yards, or, in the absence of these, in places where it can be guarded from thieves. 3. Every officer responsible for fuel, forage, and straw, will, at the end of each quarter, verify by actual measurement the quantities of these supplies on hand-will take account of stock. If the hay and straw are in the stack, the quantities can be determined by ascertaining the cubical contents of the stack, then cutting therefrom a cube of definite size, not less than seven feet, and weighing it. The quantities of hay and straw in barns will be ascertained by proper measurement of the space occupied, and by weighing a portion as above. The quantity of grain will be verified by weight or measurement. If in a bin, the number of pounds can be ascertained by measuring the bin, allowing 2,150 cubic inches, or 125 cubic feet, of space to the bushel, and in weight: of corn, fifty-six pounds to the bushel; barley, forty-eight pounds to the bushel, and oats, thirty-two pounds to the bushel; or, if there are scales at the post, by weighing ten or more bushels of the particular grain on hand to determine actual weight of that grain. The quantity of wood and coal will be ascertained by weight or measurement. If the quantity of coal on hand is determined by measurement, ascertain the number of cubic feet, and weigh one or more cubic feet. The quantities thus determined will be certified to by the officer responsible for the property, and his certificate to this effect will be attached to the property return on which the stores are borne. The commanding officer of the post will see that the verification of the quantities of fuel, forage, and straw by the Quartermaster is made as required, and he will make and send to the headquarters of the department in which he is serving, or, if at an arsenal or rendezvous or independent post or depot, to the Quartermaster General of the Army, through usual channels, at the end of each quarter, a certificate to this effect, and that the quantities shown to be on hand are, in his opinion, correctly stated. These certificates will be made in triplicate, and one copy of each will be filed with the records of the post. 4. In case of any excess or deficiency in the stock on hand shown by this examination, a Board of Survey will be convened at once to fix and determine the quantity of each to be taken up or dropped, and the responsibility therefor. If to be dropped, a full statement of the cause of the deficiency will be given for information of the officer who reports the quantities on hand and the officer who approves or disapproves the report of the Board of Survey. BY COMMAND OF GENERAL SHERMAN: OFFICIAL: E. D. TOWNSEND, |