Martinsburg statesman. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1869-1906, 1906-02-23
UNCLE SANS SECOND NAVY

GOVERNMENT MAINTAINS A
TRAINING SCHOOL FOR
REVENUE OFFICERS.
Plenty of Work and Study-Lack of
SOCIAL Events q Feature of This
Governmental Schooi.-Daiiy Re-
gime of the Cadets.
Uncle Sam has one governmental
school which, while little known, is
well worthy to rank with West Point
and Annapolis in the thoroughness OF
the mental and physical training
which 1t gives its graduates. This un
heralded educational institution is To-
Gated at Arundel Cove on Chesapeake
Bay, about six miles from the city of
Baltimore, and its purpose Is to pre-
pare for their profession the cadets or
future commissioned officers of the
United States Revenue Cutter Service
1t is only within few years that the
general public has been awakening
to a realization of the opportunities
and advantages open to an officer in
Uncle Sans police force Of the sea, :"
In consequence of which there has
been of late marked increase in the
applications for admission to the cadet
school. Any young man not less than
IL nor more than 25 years of age and
not less than s feet inches in height
is. If unmarried, eligible to appoint
ment as cadet, but no person. should
delude themselves with the idea that
1t is easy to get into the ca1ee corps,
for the entrance examinations are
quite as severe as those at either West
PoiAt Or Annapolis.
However, all the examinations for
the selection of cadets are strictly CON-
petitive. Political and social influ-
ences are entirely eliminated and this
Is unquestionably the most democratic
school under the government. The
cadet spends three years at the train
ing school, each summer being devoted
to practice cruise on a bark-rigged
vessel during which the young men get
a taste of all kinds of sea duties and
incidentally store up good health for
the academic year, which extends from
October to May.
The pay Of cadet is $500 year
and ration of 80 cents q day, out Of
which allowance he is required to pur-
chase uniforms and textbooks and
meet his mess expenses. The sum OF
SO per month is also withheld from
the pay of each cadet in order that
upon graduation he can purchase the
uniform and outfit of commissioned
officer. When the cadet graduates he
receives commission as third lieu
tenant in the Revenue Cutter Service
at salary of $1,400 per year. Three
promotions will bring him to the rank
of captain with $4,000 salary per year
and an increase Of ten per cent. for
each five years service.
A Strenuous Life.
The cadets at the training school on
Chesapeake Bay lead strenuous ex-
istence. They turn out" at $50
o'clock in the morning and after half
an hour allowed for dressing, report
for drill which continues for forty-five
minutes ere the call for breakfast Is
given. From 9 until 1890 O'Clock
there are periods of study and recita-
ton, then half an hour for recreation
before dinner, which Is served from
one to two o'clock. In the afternoon
there Is more study and recitation
with forty-five minutes drill. Half an
hour before supper and one hour after
supper are allowed for amusement and
then from z to 9 comes another study
period. An hour of "skylarking'
closes the day and the cadets turn In
at 10 o'clock.
During the three year interim the
future Revenue Cutter officers acquire
a wide range Of book learning includ-
| ing mathematics, English, history,
law, hygiene, seamanship, engineer
ing, astronomy, chemistry, civil gov
eminent, etc. Incidentally muscle
building is looked after by means Of the
setting up" and other athletic drills
While the officers in charge Of the
training school for Revenue Cutter ca
diets fully realize that all work and no
play makes for dullness, no such prom