Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1882-08-10
The Military Academy.

AS &AAAAotSA y AASVNSAAJs
We published in our last ssue the COM
munication of DR.. Jones in reference to tho
actual expenses of n pay cadet as fixed by
the Board Of Visitors. We know DR.. Jones
to be friond Of education and an honest
and conscientious citizen, and believe tho
same Of his colleagues on tho Board. Our
article VAS writtcL US friend to tho institu-
tion and to draw out information upon
matter Of public importance. We are sa,is-
fed the estimates of the committee as to the
actual expenses of q cadet have been honestly
mado and that their conclusion is justiGablc
under that estimate, but rs each itcm of OK
ponsc is speculative VIC beg lcavo to differ
i With tho result, without knowing tho item
ICED cost. We do this both upon tho ground
that the institution is partially supported by
State funds and because the aggregate as
compared with the expenses in other insttu-
tions appears to us cStravagant, especially
when we consider tho discipline and economy
usual in military institutions. In tho first
place The State furnishes $4,000 in money,
tho use of the buildings nnd furniture and
books, for if the latter have to be now bought
they become n fixture, )usting succession Of
students, which makes their cost year tri-
flo. This fund is gift by the State to n State
institution and while as consideration it
demands tho FREQ education Of 68 beneli
Charles from the counties, it cnurcs to the
benefit of all pay patrons Of the academy to
the extent Of limiting their expenses to the
actual outlay and q small margin for contin>
goncies.
We do not know at what valuation the
various items of expense were put by tho
committee, nor arc wo sufficiently familiar
with prices to know how to fix values on
them, but VIC do know board, clothing, fuel
lights and medical attendance should be
rated much lower than in colleges in the in
torior of the State Our knowledge of this
is based on admitted facts. All will admit
that Wholesale prices are much below retail
prices, SO that in buying clothing Of one kind
for $50 students, aud We take it both their
fatigue and dress suits will bo alike,
tho coat will be 33 per cent. under tho usual
cost of dress clothing bought hero
and there at different times and places
Tho samo is truo Of books, The profit on
which has to DO large when tho number
wanted is unknown and when in purchasing
the merchant may lock up Ills capital in
tho will of any new teacher. In this con
nection, too, what about bonrd2 Supplies
can be laid in ut Wholesale prices with
almost mathematical certainty, us the number
of studnnts are known. Besides, these sup
plies are bought at the door Of the institution
and not shipped hundreds Of miles and cold
at retail with profit both CT the freight and
students Mt colleges in tho interior. Wo
allego what must DO admitted, -four,
hominy, bacon, rico sugar, coffee, fish and
all tho substantials Of life, save beef and
butter, eggs and few country products not
OF common use, are cheaper in Charleston
than in the interior. Lights arc also far
cheaper and rs to washing for cadets, it is
limited almost entirely to underwear. They
clean up their own rooms, &C., unless wo arc
mistaken, and both cooks and the amount to
bo cooked are obtained with knowledge OF
tho number to be prorisioned. Everything
points to greater cheapncss in military
academy than in other institutions and we are
unable to sec how colleges arc ru n at 5000 to
$3.50 per year, including expenses, while
this Institution with good rooms and build
ings furnished, and Sl2. 600 in money by tho
State and ono professor without cost by the
United Statos, requires $500 per year. We
may bo greatly in error, especially rs VIC
know nothing personally about such institu.
tons nor the cost Of clothing, &c., adapted tc
them. We certainly want tho institution te
( succeed, rs it affol ds species of education
and discipline wo admire and which emi-
nently fits men for success in tho active
dutics Of life. In former days it has fur,
nished our State with somo Of her brightcs
ornaments in law, medicine, agriculture
merchandise, tho ministry and soldiery. W.
want it to succeed and do not want the State
to be loser OH pay cadets, but wo believe it,
patronage and consequent usefulness vii
largely depend on its Offering its advantage;
mt as low figures as possible. If tho present
rate, $500 per year, be a correct estimate lei
it stand. IF it can bo reduced, wo are
satisfied, after trial, tho board will reduce th,
cost to actual expenses.
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Even the peanut crop promises an abund