The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1895-10-05

They Arc Better Clothed and Fed Than
Many Mechanics Oh Land-One of Them
Tells ID Reporter All About Their Sur
roundinGs and Treatment.
a marine was asked by u reporter to
give an account of what he received in
the service Of Uncle Sam and how ho
and his follows enjoyed themselves on
board ship. Tho following was his
story:
The government engages marines for
period of five years At the end of that
time the marine may quit tho service or
ho may re-enlist. There is no doubt Of
his being ablo to continue III the service
if he does his work honestly. There is
no worry about getting out of job with
Uncle Sam. During the first and second
years of the marines service he gets in
money, paid monthly, $13. The third
year ho gets $l4, tho fourth $50 and tho
sixth $40. If at the expiration of his
first five years service he re-enlists, ho
gets SIS II month, and if he onlists for
third period of five years he gets $40
month i'll money.
''That is the cash part of it, but that
is not half of what q man i'll the service
gets. The government clothes its men
besides, and i'll very good style. 1t gives
marine black helmet and q white
one. These two are supposed to last fer
tho period of enlistment, which is five
years There is no trouble about wear
ing them that length Of time, as they
are not often used The marino also gets
ono mdrcss cap II year, which is all ho
needs. He also gets storm cap each
year. That makes - articles of head
gear which the government supplies him
with i'll the course of five years, and OK
pericnco shows that that is quite suf-
ficient 1t is nearly three hats year,
ard there arc not many workingmen
Who buy Us many us that.
"The marine also gets ono full dress
coat, which, rs it is hot frequently used,
lasts five years very nicely He receives
fatigue jacllet each year and IN over
coat. He gets eight pairs of blue trou-
= sers and eight pairs Of linen ones in five
years, and experience shows that if a
man is careful lie does not need that
many. Ho is also supplied with 80 pairs
of gloves for tho five years He gets two
hdnncl ovcrshrts each year He also
has two understands and two pairs of
drawers each year. He also receives
four pairs of wooden socks and four
pairs of cotton socks each year. He is
supplied with three pairs of shoes each
year and ono pair of arctic shoes each
season. He receives two pairs of blan-
kets during the term of service He is
also given 10 linen collars and three
pairs of susponders during the same
time. That is the outfit in the way of
clothing which the government gives
each marine who joins the service.
These articles are all of first class mate.
rial, too, ana very serviceablc There is
no stint at all. There are few articles,
like neckties and handlicrchicfs, which
the marine must buy for himself.
If man is careful and economical
with his clothing, he can save fully
onc-haf of the allowance which he gets,
ana II he saves any part of it he is al
lowed so mach money for the clothing
he does not take. There are men in tho
service today who are taking only about
one'half of what the government al
lows, and at ihc end OF their five wears
service they Will bc paid in money for
tho clothes they did not take. The full
value of the clothing allowed to each
imam for five years is ?19S.
Tho sleeping accommodations of the
men arc very good. While on shore du-
ty 6 y live i'll houses and have beds,
but ihile OH shipboard they sleep in
han nocks Which the government fur
nisl es. The sleeping quarters both on
land and at sea, are clean and we'll ven
tilated. The food is.s''- lat man needs.
sometimes the .unmissary is not we'll
administered, and the men complain,
but they can soon get change if they
take their complaints to the proper Off
Ger The food is very good and of suffi-
cient variety for any one.
1.-The men OIL sbipboard also get all
they need free, and medical attendance
costs them nothing
Now this is the pay man gets as
marine i'll the navy. He is wellclothed
,and we'll fed. He sleeps in a good bed
d. hammock, has proper attention if
no is sick and draws handsome wages
in cash every month.
ellis Work is not at all burdensome
He has enough drill TO keep him in the
best physical condition and give his ap-
petite a keen edge. re has lots of time
for amusement. On shore he can play
billiards and pool fl8c at tho post, and
no may enjoy all kinds of exercise in
the gymnasium. The nen play baseball,
handball, football. They put the ham
mer and shot and enjqg themselves lust
as much as the college boys do The
government also has at each post and Oh
shipboard a library and = reading room,
where the men may entertain themselves