, 1874-07-29

never Chu 10 any UII1hS w WhllO 90 II
always be supplied with fresh members, ought
to be given up as soon as possible. fist. Tho
mas wants a Music Director, let them pay for
him we have certainly no use for him. A
music band for balls can soon form itself, if
such is required.
To maintain that for the detachment at
Ohristiansted, the large Barracks is to be kept
up, is, to say the least, absurd. To keep that
clean and in proper order gives enough to do in
itself. The Fort, on the contrary, is an orna-
ment to the town, a solid building, not requir-
ing so many repairs, which formerly has had
sufficient room for 40 Artillery men, and an
Artillery Officer Of superior rank, a Lieutenant,
etc. Why not Immediately abandon the large
barracks the sooner the better, even if it were
to BIZ given away, and use the fort as barracks,
as in Frederiksted. If this cost toe much, for
the present, before it is finally settled what is
to be done, then rather place a larger force
in Frederiksted.
The business of the Depot might also be
otherwise arranged, as every Commander of a
Company might manage that as far as his COM
pany is concerned.
Such a stock of Inventory as is now kept
would also appear TO be unnecessary, as a
yearly h~citation for what is required by each
company would certainly be more Suitable.
The large building now used as a Depot might
thus be disposed of. The sO-called Bake-Yard
might likewise be sold. 1t may indeed be
agreeable enough to the Purveyor to have that,
but are the soldiers in Chrisfiansted cheaper
fed than those in Frederiksted because the
Purveyor has this advantage ? That there is
at the Hospital a dwelling for the Purveyor, is
reasonable enough, being situated 80 far from
town.
A considerable reduction and amelioration,
or step in the way of progress, it would be if
the large Military Hospital could be given up
to another class of sick, who cannot long con.
tinne to existin the unhealthy apartments with
which they have hitherto been obliged to be salts
fed. the soldiers being sent to the building
higher up, the upper story of which is ap-
propriated to officers etc.
Bv the last Military Ordinance it was alrea-
DIV enacted that the post of Military Physician
(Overlege) should be abolished on vacancy,
and the soldiers be attended to by a civilian
according to agreement. 1t would appear suit
able that the salary of the Land Physician
should be increased by a few hundred dollars,
and that once for all it be enacted that these
two posts be united as long as the Military is
continued. 1t would seem proper that this
only royalty appointed physician should be so
salaried that he could apply more time to the
Quarantine affairs, Vaccinations, the Hospital and
other nuDllC DuSll6SS ONel II WuOlO hoLdluS UO-
cause he, as the counsellor Of the Police in all la
hour questions, ought not to be allowed to have
estate practice, which should be exclusively
left to the other physicians.
Among improvements, if not retrenchments,
If MIGHT be considered, if he following changes
were attempted in the purveying Do away
with the soldiers dinner and give them the mo-
new instead, as we'll as bread establish a can
teen, which should be open, say, from 2 to 8,
and have the selling tn same as the present
canteens and be bound to provide tea and cof,
fee as hitherto. This canteen should of course
be kept within the fort and be subject to rigid
inspection, not so much to see that certain arti-
Giles are kept, for that would find its own level,
but to see that good articles be kept, and such
q licence should be subject to being taken away
Immediately when there was reason for com
plant.
1t may be objected that care should be taken
that the soldier should be obliged to have at
least once a day a warm meal. He may be
obliged to pay for it, but not to eat it, and
every one who has seen and will see what takes
place at dinner time, will know that he gene
rally gives away his soup. This is indeed
also as bad as possible, and cannot be other
wise, as long as the purveyor is TO deliver so
large a portion Of soup from the given quantity
of meat, RICE and peas soup which otherwise
ara favOured dishes, the latter especially, with