Evening star., 1898-11-17
bad Food for Naval Cadets.

To the Editor of The Evening Star:
A great deal has been said and written
about the miserable condition of the build
ings at the Naval Academy, Annapolis
and now, after many long years, the gov
errment Is aroused TO the absolute necessi-
ty Of erecting new buildings in the place of
the old condemned ones.
However. | don't believe many people
outside of Annapolis know how poor is the
food the cadets have 10 live from one
years end to another.
Being allowed no vacations or changes,
when they are permitted to come out lnto
the town the way they enjoy the fare at
the poorest sort OF boarding houses makes
one realize what they must have to eat day
in and day out. Their meat is ''stringy''
and tough, cooked 10 a cinder and general
ly cold, it being all carved before they sit
down.
The vegetables are unrecognizable often
and, although the food may be bought for
good food, it is very badly prepared, and
therefore most unwholesome.
One officer complained of the oatmeal
once, as it had worms in it. The officer of
the day, who takes his meals with the
cadets, is obliged to write his criticisms
and remarks the food, and they have
often put: Vile, atrocious, uneatabie,
etc, showing their appreciation of how
miserable it is, from their occasional one
days enforced experience
The boys have to eat ii. They are hun
cry. They are working their bodies and
strengthening and nourishing food.
Some of the fellows have contracted
stomach troubles and have been obliged 10
go to the hospital for a month at time,
because they simply couldn't eat. and many
of them one sees with faces broken out as
result of drilling, working and studying
SO nard on unhealthy food. The boys are
so tied down they cannot complain or utter
any protest, or they VIII receive some pun
iShment.
If all this is not believed. / suggest ask
ing the cadets privately letting them I'M
derstand that no stigma will be cast on
them for their honest opinion.
Now, the cadets have to pay for all this
and a large mess" bill, too, each boy Civ
ing $23 per month. At colleges like Yale
and Harvard a good, plain table is provided
for 81 and 81 week. and even on board
the ships the younger officers only pay
about s. per week and are well served.
At West Point the cadets, fourteen of
them at a table, have a roast brought in,
and one of them carves for the rest, each
boy then getting good helps and plenty of
it, and, moreover, hot food. Their mess
bill is SO per moath.
At Annapolis. l understand, the contract
for providing the food is given to one man
or firm. Six thousand dollars per month is
the sum supposed TO be spent on the table
at the Naval Academy.
Where does the money go? 1t can't possi
bly, be spent on their miserable fare. The
boys come from all over our great coun-
try-north, south, east and west They are
cur future naval officers, and such an edu-
cation as they must have before they are
prepared to represent US all over the world
is unequaled in any nation, as 1t is well
known the course of study and drill at
Annapolis is SO severe ii is pure case of
1.-The survival of the fittest.'
Is it right. you fathers and mothers every
where, who have sons there or may some
time have sons there. that this matter
should not be looked into, and that good.
plain well-cooked food should not be pro-
vi6ed?
our splendid navy, which is so well man.
aged in every respect. | venture to send
this letter, hoping it will produce the effect
of having this matter promptly and thor
oughly investigated. k N
November 10, 1895.