Connecticut western news., 1895-10-17
UNCLE SAM'S NAVY.
HOW MARINES OF THE UNITED STATES
 ARE CARED FOR.
They Are Better Clothed and Fed Than Many Mechanics on Land-One of Them Tells a Reporter All About Their Sur roundings and Treatment

Many Mechanics on Land-One of Them
 Tells a Reporter All About Their Sur roundings and Treatment.
 A marine was asked by a reporter to give an account of what he received in the service of Uncle Sam and how he and his fellows enjoyed themselves on board ship. The following was his story:
 "The government engages marines for period of five years. At the end of that time the marine may quit the service or be may re-enlist. There is no doubt of his being able to continue in 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, SIS. The third year he gets $14, the fourth $15 and the sixth $16. If at the expiration of his first five years service he re-enlists, he gets SIS month, and if he enlists for third period of five years he gets $l9 month in money.
 ''That is the cash part of it, but that is not half of what man in the service gets. The government clothes its men besides, and in very good style. It gives a marine a black helmet and white one. These two are supposed to last for the 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 marine also gets one undress cap year, which is all he needs. He also gets storm cap each year. That makes 12 articles of head gear which the government supplies him with in the course of five years, and ex- perience shows that that is quite suf- fcient. It is nearly three hats a year, and there are not many workingmen who buy as many as that.
 "The marine also gets one full dress coat, which, as it is not frequently used, lasts five years very nicely. He receives a fatigue jacket each year and an over coat. He gets eight pairs of blue trou- gers and eight pairs of linen ones in five years, and experience shows that if a man is careful he does not need that many. He is also supplied with 30 pairs of gloves for the five years. He gets two flannel overshirts each year. He also uhS bWO 1WO pulIo O1 | drawers each year. He also receives | four pairs of woolen socks and four | pairs of cotton socks each year. He is | supplied with three pairs of shoes each | year and one pair of arctic shoes each season. He receives two pairs of blan- kets during the term of service. He is | also given 40 linen collars and three pairs of suspenders 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, and very serviceable. There is no stint at all There arep few articles, like neckties and handkerchiefs, which the marine must buy for himself.
 ''If a man is careful and economical with his clothing, he can save fully one-haf of the allowance which he gets, and if he saves any part of it he is al- lowed so much money for the clothing he does not take. There are men in the service today who are taking only about one half of what the government al lows, and at the end of their five years service they will be paid in money for the clothes they did not take. The full value of the clothing allowed to each man for five years is $198.
 "The sleeping accommodations of the men are very good. While on shore du- ty they live in houses and have beds, but while on shipboard they sleep in hammocks which the government fur nishes. The sleeping quarters, both on land and at sea, are clean and well ven- tilated. Thefoodl is all that man needs. Sometimes the commissary is not well administered, and the men complain, but they can soon get a change if they take their complaints to the proper off cer The food is very good and of suffi- cient variety for any one.
 "The men on shipboard also get all they need free, and medical attendance costs them nothing
 "Now this is the pay a man gets as marine in the navy. He is well clothed and we'll fed. He sleeps in good bed or hammock, has proper attention if he is sick and, draws handsome wages in cash every month.
 His work is not at all burdensome. He has enough drill to keep him in the best physical condition and give his ap- petite keen edge. He has lots of time for amusement. On shore he can play billiards and pool free at the post, and he may enjoy all kinds of exercise in the gymnasium. The men play baseball, handball, football. They put the ham mer and shot> and enjoy themselves just as much as the college boys do. The government. also has at each post and OF shipboard library and a reading room where the men may entertain themselves with books and papers.
 "Out of their wages the men must pay their barber and laundry bills, which together amount to about $2 month.
 f.Besides this the marine is taken care of in his old age. If his life has beer honorable, at the end of 20 years service he may retire to the Mariners home where he will have room to himself good table, three suits of clothes $ year, tobacco free and $3 month. Il he does not retire until after he hal served 80 years, he then gets three-quar ters pay and three-Quarters of all al lowances of clothing, besides a good home and good board, for the rest of hi life.
 ''It will be seen that Uncle Sam i. not niggardly in dealing with his men If they do their duty, they receive goot treatment, and are we'll fed and clothed and draw, all things considered, very fair pay. "-New York Telegram. New York is first in beans, raising 1,111,5l0 bushels; California being sec l