The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-01-11
LIFE BY THE CANTEEN
Interesting Account Of an Incident Of
Soldier Life.
WHERE THE BOYS BUY GUM
The Government Is In Favor Of
kbolishing the Present Sys-
tenn, But rhe Officers
are Not.


the past five years. n recognized part of
the equipment of every military post in
this country and has for many years re-
ceiyed the endorsement of the authorities
of the British army. from which il was
borrowed by the United States army. II
has supplanted almost entirely the post
trader system and, viewed from n
civilians standpoint, corrects in n great
measure tho evils of that system, which
was for years disgrace TO the army in its
fearful results. In 1888, Captain Epstein,
u. 5. A., stationed at one of the posts in
the eastern portion of the department Of
Dakota, applied for permission TO estab-
lsh a company canteen for his men and
this request was granted. This marked
tho Inauguration of n new system and tho
pronounced success of Captain Epstein's
plan soon led other commanders TO adopt
il. In year tho company canteen had
become enlarged into tho post canteen
and this has developed into the present
form of the institution as il is seen at oil
the western posts. The new canteen at
Fort Missoula is considered by army Of
hcers a model one and the STANDARD re-
porter yesterday visited the establish
ment in company with Captain Lough-
borough, the officer in charge.
The canteen is a combination store and
club house, where the soldiers can obtain
at a low price articles of food and cloth
ing not included in the regular rations,
and such luxurIes as come within their
means. Candies, cakes, cheese, fruit,
cigars, toilet articles and some furnishing
goods are carried IN stock and arc sold to
the soldiers at cost. At the bar the men
can get beer, cider and soft drinks, no hard
liquors being sold, and in the club rooms
H.. tsslI n
opportunities for playing cards. Gam
bling is strictly prohibited and the charge
made for games is simply enough to pay
for the wear and tear of materials. The
canteen is equipped and stocked by n levy
made upon each company, which is paid
out of tho company fund.-" as it is
called.
Each company, according to the inter-
est taken by its officers, accumulates n
fund from the sale of surplus rations and,
sometimes, by giving entertainments.
Uncle Sam is liberal in his disbursement
of rations to the soldiers, there being al
most always a surplus left from tho COM
pany allowance of pork and coffee. This,
being the company's property, is sold and
tho proceeds turned into tho company
fund, which is drawn upon for table deli
cacies or for some means of making the
idle hours pass moro pleasantly. From
this fund tho company pays its levy for
the purchase of the canteen stock and
also the construction of the cantecn build
ing. In this way tho building costs tho
government nothing and, at the same
time, the men are providing a means for
furnishing themselves with wholesome
amusement at nominal cost. There is no
profit made upon any of the goods nam
died except beer and cigars. Whatever
profit is made upon these articles Is di-
vIded among the companies according to
the amounts which they have invested.
The cantccn is in charge of the camp
council, consisting of the senior line Of
iicer, next TO the commandant, the senior
captain and tho exchange officer. The
council at Fort Missoula consists of Ma
jor Mcllibbon, Captain Wilson and Cap
tain Loughborough. These officers at
tend to the purchases, keep the accounts,
through one of their number tho officer
in charge, and quarterly audit the BUSH
ness of the canteen. No man is allowed
n credit of moro than one.iifth his
monthly pay, and when a man fails to pay
his bill he is denied the privileges of tho
cantcen until he liquidates. The profits
of n well managed cantcen are considera-
BILE and in many instances tho companies
iAs
amounted 10 more than the sums which
they originally invested.
The Fort Mssoula cnntcen, as stated
above, is n model one. Ii was completed
last fall and is an attractive and well built
structure. Situated west Of the company
quarters, on tho bluff overlooking the
river. with broad grounds which can be
made very beautiful, IL Is n pleasant place.
even in winter. The rooms are all hard
finished, with high wainscotng in alter
nate dark and light woods. Tho lighting
is excellent and the rooms are all CHEEKY
and attractive. In the east wing Is Cap
tain Loughborough's Office, i'm the rear of
which Is a large club room, used for card
games. In the center of the building are
the store and billiard rooms. the latter
connecting with the bar room in the west
wing through a broad archway. In the
west wing, beside the bar room, is a sec
ond pleasant card room. These rooms
are all neat and clean and, when visited
by the soldiers, were occupied by num-
Der Of soldiers who were OFT duty, all
seeming TO appreciate the pleasant, CHEEKY
quarters. The lumber for tho construc-
ton OF the building was purchased at
Bonner, and the larger part of the work
was done by the men themselves. The
total cost OF the building was above 5000
and this will ali be paid by Feb. 1.
The advantage which the canteen seems
TO possess over the old post trader sys.
TEN. judging from the point Of view of a
civilian. are that the men are provided
with a wholesome form Of amusement
that the cost Is nominal; that drunken
ness is prevented; that there Is no posi-
bility Of a mans running IN debt for a
greater amount than he can pay and that
the men, having proprietary interest in
the place, take a degree OF pride IN il.
that adds 20 the efficiency Of the system.
The officers AT Fort Missoula are an
warmly in favor of the cluteen plan.
Captain LonghborougA was one Of ih.
early promoters Of the scheme. while tEa
other members 81 the camp council. M.
ior McKibbon and Captain Wilson. ar.
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