Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-27
WEST POINT WAYS
How Cadets Are Paid and
What Their Expenses Are.
OUTFIT FOR A GRADUATE
Cost of Clothing a Considerable
Item.
NEED OF ANOTHER HOTEL
influence of Feminine Visitcrs-Pro-
posed Purchase of Ladyc1iffe
Academy.
OUTFIT FOR A GRADUATE
NEED OF ANOTHER HOTEL
BY WILLIAM T.. RTIS,.


four years free of cost from the govern
ment. but they are paid S6N0 year and
are allowed one ration day. which is
worth $1O3.5O per year, and have their
travelling expenses from their homes to
the academy refunded to them after their
arrival. from this allowance and pay,
which aggregates S7)9:0 per year.
cadet Is expected to pay his mess bills,
his laundry bills. buy his clothing, pay
his expenses while on leaves of absence
and save enough during the four years to
purchase the outfit of clothing and ac-
coutrements required by a second lieu
tenant after his graduation. He is also
permitted reasonable allowance from
his pay for pleasure. athletic goods, gifts.
tobacco, confectionery and other inc:
dentals. and his dues as member of the
athletic association. the Y. Nj. c. A, the
glce club and other organizations among
the cadets
A running account is kept with each
cadet by the commissary of the academy,
who reta.ns his savings and pays them
over to him after graduation. Some ca
diets are more economical than others.
and the maximum expenditure Is almost
double the minimum. For example, the
latest report shows that one cadet used
S614.33 of his allowance during the year,
while the most economical among the 400
members of the corps spent only $46o!6.
The former had only s96 placed to his
credit, while the latter is $24J ahead.
1t costs a graduate about $3.50 to buy
his outfit, including several uniforms,
sword and other equipment. and two
suits Of citizens clothing, with trunk.
early spring each year tailors go from
New York, Philadelphia and Washington
to take the orders and measurements OF
the graduating class. and they deliver
the goods during the first weeks OF
June. in ample time before they are
needed. The uniforms, of course, are
all precisely alike, and the swords belts.
caps. etc, are prescribed by army regu-
lations: but a cadet has as much liberty
as any other student i'm the selection of
the rest of his outfit. He is not limited
as to the quality or quantity, but any eN-
penditures in excess of the sum saved
from his allowance must be paid from
private funds.
ings of a graduate. except such Souve-
Mrs and mementos as he wants to pre-
serve, are handed down to his frienus
in the corps, who often make very good
use of them, and thus avoid drawing on
their clothing allowance. This is partic-
ularly true of white duck trousers, which
must be worn daily by all cadets during
the summer months. and, as they must
be spick and span,'' 1t is necessary 70
have large stocks of them. One o. The
tied at the academy is 10 order a dozen
pairs of white trousers from the academy
tailor. but some of the first and second
classmen have thirty and forty pairs. part
new and part legacies from friends Who
have got the gate as they say Of dis
charged cadets, or have gone int tho
army.
There is cadet store in the rear Of the
gymnasium where all things needsul are
sold. and the boys are allowed to run
up bills which are rendered monthly and
may he returned to the commissary to be
charged against their pay and allowances.
There is also an official tailor with a
staff of cutters and seamstresses, who
pairing for the corps, but everyt hing las
to he paid forever the sewing ton oil
a button.
Neatness in Appearance.
\ new cadet, after passing his exam
ination, goes Immediately to the post
tailor and is measured for his outfit,
which consists of one full-dress uni
form. one blouse. and two pairs of
trousers, which is the undress uniform;
stable and gymnasium suits of khaki.
twelve pairs of white duck trousers. an
overcoat, rain coat, and three caps.
AS the suits become worn or are out
grown, new ones have to be ordered,
and at the close of his first year he will
find himself in possession of several uni
forms more less worn, but if they
show it at inspection he receives de-
merits. The officers are very strict about
such things, and also about the neat
ness of the cadet b. drooms. Every gar
ment has TO be folded and laid away in
tie must be i'm the place assigned for
them at all times; boots must be ar
ranged in rows. with their heels even,
or the owner gets dement, mark. and
1, dot
nit is TO be caught with one of his but
tons unfastened.
There is no profit on the tailoring,
and, therefore. the clothing does not
ordinary store outside. The price OF
overcoats has recently been reduced from
$24 to 81, notwithstanding the new tar
if; uniform dress coats have been re-
duced from ST. to s19 and blouses from
$12 to $40 each.
The post tailor does a big business,
turning out an average of 400 gar
mentS every year. From statement
recently made l find that last year 3,9lS
articles of clothing ,were manufactured
and 1856 were repaired These included
$50 fu!l-dress uniforms. 115 overcoats.
4S4 houses. s14 pairs of gray trousers
and 1.l27 pairs of white trousers.
There is an official laundry. and each
for which he is charged cost pTice. IL
is a big institution. and during the
summer months as many as 100 hands
are employed. The average number Of
pieces Numbered is million and quar-
ter-l.OOOO collars, 100000 pairs Of cuffs,
1i0.O.W handkerchiefs. 10000 shirts. LD,hO
socks, 60,MW drawers and undershirts
each. 100000 towels and $1,000 pairs OF
white trousers.
In addition to these personal garments,
the laundry handles annually $50, 900
table cloths. napkins and towels for the
cadet mess, CO.CGO sheets and pillow cases
and thirty or forty thousand pieces from
the hospital.
New Hotel Needed.
\ new hotel is very much needed at
West Point. The old one, which has ac-
commodated the public for half CEN
fury. is old-fashioned, inconvenient and
too small to take care of 10 per cent of
the visitors, and 80 per cent are thrown,
therefore. upon the hospitality of the Of
ficers and professors This is a serious
ana unjust tax upon their limited i'll
comes. Nowhere is more Open-hearted
hospitality found than In officers row at
West Point, where the quarters can be
stretched to accommodate all Corners who
are willing to accept the best that Is so
graciously offered them. At commence
ment time and when there are football
games and dances every house at the post
is filed to overlooking and the families
OF the post sleep on the floors and
lounges There Is no complaint on their
part but guests are always embarrassed
when they realize what an imposition it
is in so many cases, but there Is no al
tentative. The hotel has only SO many
T.he mans for the new acadam>- which