The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-03-06

inaugurated by the new adninistra-
ton. Under the old regime the can
teen was a sorry spectacle. Then there
was always a preponderance of empty
chairs and tables, and even the billiard
hall, in which all the tables are used
free of charge, did not often resound
with light-hearted laughter and the
click of the worries even during the
bad winter weather. The change has
indeed been great, due no loss TO the
efficient and accommodating men now
employed in the several departments,
than to the excellent judgment dis
played in the selection of The varied
stock on hand in the mercantile
branch.
The check system, by which the
patrons of the exchange may be
credited for period of thirty days,
has won its way against all opposi-
ton and has fairly proved TO be a
popular plan for the accommodation
of the enlisted men. In fact, a soldier
need not spend a tenth of his pay out
side the garrison if he does not sport
civilian clothes. Right at hand he finds
that all his needs have been carefully
considered and provided for, and con-
sequently he is more content TO re-
main at home than formerly. under
the old system of post traders stores
and their many attendant evils. such
as the sale of whisky co and the run
ming of gambling tables Looking
back over the waste places, as 1t were,
in the service, one wonders how such
miserable institutions were permitted
to exist. In those days a soldier was
charged outrageous prices for nearly
everything he bought and there seemed
to be no place for him in the social
fabric if he did not drink and gamble,
in Short blow in his months wages
almost as soon as he received it.
There is probably only one feature
of the exchange that could be improved
upon and that is the literary depart
ment, though the reading room has
never been included in the exchange
proper The post library, in addition
to the few company libraries. has been
considered a sufficient provision for the
literary inclined young men of the
post who do not drink beer or prOwl
around at night, but there is one
thing that is undoubtedly making it
self felt in the ranks today, and like
many other things in the military
world. it is slow to be recognized, and
that is there are more men who are
students and artisans in the army at
the present time than those who do
little more than drink beer on the
NIISu lcoL pIONUCdIlOH. II CleT9 were q
few good books and magazines in the
exchange it would be a benefit that
would result in an increased attend
ance at that worthy institution.
AS TO the post library it is too often
deserted and one of the causes may be
that the lights go out at a ridiculously
early hour in the evening" o'clock
The most valuable and interesting
books gradually disappear and no new
ones have been added in the past three
or four years. What delicious reading
those reports of the secretary of war!
How many great ambitions have been
formed from perusing the pages of the
ordinance reports and the tones of the
quartermaster- general! 1t is presumed
that the post library is maintained by
the war department to better the men
tai qualities of the enlisted man and to
induce him to spend in reading the
time he might be otherwise induced
to spend in neighboring saloons. AS
to smoking in the library that is still
an open question, as it is remembered
that 80 per cent of the enlisted men
smoke and will spend a much greater
portion of their time in library
where they are permitted to sit and
read and smoke, free from Interrupt
ton. than in a library where the con-
ditiOnS are different.