Telegram-herald., 1890-04-13

TIE eansesn has long bees featars
CT ghs Eaglish army life Yet few
months 2go very tes posts q cur frontier
had xtysn gp the 0l3-t2shiOEe6 post sut-
lsr. snd only > fragment ol our army
Las ever seen cantseas writes Port
Douglas c. p correspondent q tho
81 Louis Repabie. We sll el1ag -
the ante -bellum custom Of swelling the
bank account Of = trader appointed by
the War Deparsment and supporting the
cluster OF saloons md dance houses THAI
nay Do foGnd on the ostskirts OF al
military reservations Is VAS natural
ead almost inevitable that more than
half the garrison be iatoxlcased once
each month, when the paynASter, Me-
phist0ph sles-like, distributed shining
temptsrs 10 the men, that the guard
house be crowded; that he courts-mar-
tial exparience a rush of business; that
the sober element Of the men md their
duties doubled BY the absence or drunk
enness OF the other half that many
good men. disgusted with such associa-
tiOns, deserted, and that fair proper
ton OF tho .'s0aks." awakening q few
days later % find AL their pay squan-
dered, took French leave Of a place
where they had 70 work q month 20 pay
for one good spree.
In February. 1850. post commanders
were authorized 10 establish canreens,
provided no trader held license foe a
store, but this published permission
necessarily applied % but few posts
IN October post traders were forbidden
70 sell liquor, cigars, etc, 70 tho men,
and cantecns were established by order
~ al posts.
That this was wise move in tho in
terest OF good discipline, the semi
annual reports of commanding officers,
recently rendered. testify unanimously.
At this post Z canteen was opened Octo-
bor %. Early in November the troops
were paid. Not man deserted all that
month, and OF garrison Of fve hundred
men only three men were in the guard
house within tho week following pay
day. light battery of artillery STA,
toned at the post enjoy the reputation
Of losing more men by desertion than
any other organization in tho army, yet
but ono man ha3 deserted from IL since
the opening OF the canteen.
Our canteen occupies a vacant set OF
barracks admirably adapted for the pur-
pose. Across one end Of the dormitory
bar was built, with running water,
racks and trougks beneath it for clean
ing glasses, and behind it large re-
frigerator with capacity for four hun
dred barrels and several dozen bottles of
beer, besides wine, fruit, etc. Shelves
for wine, tobacco, cigars, cigarettes and
mineral water, and false flooring in
sections complete the equipment Of tho
bar. This main room is furnished with
billiard and pool tables, card tables and
a counter and showcase where toilet
articles. pipes, stationery, stamps and
stamped envelopes are sold at wholesale
cost prices
In this room no charge is made for
any game, and provision is madc fo- all
games that arc known 10 q club life or
saloon, even the oantprescnt horse-rac-
ing machine being on the bar.
Leaving the billiard room and passing
through a small room devoted TO chess,
ono enters the restaurant dining-room
and kitchen, where ~ cost price are
served to order fresh oysters in any
style, ham and eggs, sausage, sand
wichcs. wailes, pies, cake, coffee, tea
and milk.
The other wing Of the building con-
sists of my Office, store-room for to-
bacco, wine and material for the restau-
rant, an officers club-room and dormi-
tory for the enlisted men on duty at tho
canteen. The officers room is carpeted
and draped with curtains, while
throughout the building are window
shades, handsome chandeliers and wall
paper.
Under this wing of tho building Is a
large cellar, drained and lined with ce-
ment, in which is stored keg beer. bar
rels Of bottled beer, cider, cigars, fruit,
I oysters, butter, eggs and ice, besides
two large chests Of cigars.
The cantecn is open from daylight TO
ten o'clock at night, and makes pleas
/ ant home for the enlisted men who have
/ in their barracks none OF the conveni-
/ ences found at this, their club--oom.
/ After their cash has been spent each
man may buy on credit, settlement be
ing made at the payment Of his oom-
pany In this way a man Is encouraged
70 spend his money continuously
through the month. instead Of throwing
It away on one payday spree.
/ As an economical aid 70 housekecp-
/ e-s, married officers and soldiers are
supplied with oysters, fruit, eggs, but
tor and wine at small advance over
the cost price, and Of course much lower
than they could be bought a. markets
| outside the army
! OF the financial suocess OF the can
/ teen system there can be no doubt Dur
I ing the months OF November and De
I cemher this oonteen has made a ne;
/ profit of s1.s6s.35. Furniture worth
5000 has been bought and paid for. and
- January stock Of goods worth
more than = thousand dollars was on
hand. The cash receipts average more
than s.. 900 month
Goods FOR The canteen are purchased
IN large lots a. very close prices-beer
F b7 thu carload of Eastern breweries
and other goods in proportion, 60. though
evcrv thing is sold az lover prices than
could - obtained In the city. there IS
suflcient proat to yield revenue OF
s. 600 monthly This revenue is die
tributed quarterly 20 the companies
serving a. the post. srrl under each Cap
tain supervision IA spent for The pur
chase Of deliracies for the mems mesa.
sfgns - approaching n.arh.
he a-lirrra L. ra.,---o-l saaa.. q. 4. l.