The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1917-07-13
Soldiers Life at ..
Jefferson Barracks
jJefferson Barracks and It's Surroundings
Is An ;Attraetive Place to the ! !
g., Soldiers That Gather There

c. c. Cowell, formerly connected
with the Max Enterprise, now an
enlisted soldier, writes the following
, Interesting letter to Editor Wright:
Our government is very liberal IN
furnishing its soldiers. Each is given
a uniform with extra breeches and
small garments enough to last a year,
half tent, blankets and cot and
kit which contains about anything
a man could wish for. Each soldier
has clothing account against him
which all the clothing he gets is
charged. The account is about three
times as large as is necessary to
clothe the average soldier for a year.,
If the account is overdrawn it is
Etaken from his salary, while on the
other hand the balance of the account.
at the end of the year is paid him in
cash. The most modern buildings
and equipment is furnished for him
at the post. r.,
AT $50 a, M, salute is fired and
Nevellie" blown, and every man is
given five minutes to get in his line
on the field and come to attention
when roll is called and they are then
dismissed until mess" which usually
comes at about 6 80 a. m. or Z a. m. Be-
tween roll call and mess the boys usu-
ally busy them selves cleaning up
their barracks and cleaning the camp
us, walks, and boulevards. Sometimes
the place gets pretty dirty, but there
are so many men that about minutes
is about as long asTit takes to clean
up. Drill starts at 1880 a. m. on week
days (on Sunday there is no drill, or
any other work) The first drill is
one half hour with As minute drill
and 30 minutes rest; another 80 minute
drill and a Is minute rest: 80 minutes
more drill and dismissal at 11:30 a.
m. This practically completes the
days work-two hours drilling be-
tween 7:3O and 1880 in the forenoon.
There is nothing to do in the after
noon until $3.50 unless you want to go
down to st. Louis. The interurban
car runs every Is minutes as we'll as
the railroad, and passes are issued to
anyone wishing one, A pass entities
: one to leave the post from IL o'clock
noon, until 1870 a. m. Outsiders are
allowed to visit the post at any time
during the day and our boulevards
are usually like race track in the
afternoon and evening. Retreat
comes at $3.50 in the afternoon. The
bugle corps play retreat as the sold
iers form line and come to parade
rest. Upon the last note of the
bugles, salutessis tired and the sold.
$iers come to, attention" and the of
hcers all hold salute while the band
plays the Star Spangled Banner and
the large flag is lowered and folded.
( The band plays in the band stand
every afternoon for hours. There
is no less than 40 pieces in the band,
sometimes more.
sEs"Tatoo'' is blowed at g. o'clock in
the evening, which is the signal for
all lights to be put out and no noise
is to be made thereafter, but there is
no particular time for the men to
come in and 60 to bed. Nine o'clock
in the evening here is rather late as
at gets dark about $780,. Neither is
$3.50 a.. m. considered a very early
hours to get up as it is day light be-
i fore a a. m. ,e ;s Il ": v.
Just imagine one great big bunch
of over 5000 sgood fellows living un-
der: such lienient rules and You have
= s0ld life at Jefferson Barracks:
s good fellows" we mean all that
the vord implies patriotic business
men from all the walks Of life many
II of whom are independently rich,
walking hand in hand and borrowing
cigarettsK mat hes etc, from Others
VINO never owned more than their
Clothes on their body in their life. S; t
FPriyates at the Jefferson Barracks
post have every afternoon away from
]. the post. IL they wish but very few, Of
of them ever take advantage Of this
opportunity as the post has been
made about as B pleasant place as
there is. We have a large opera
house with q capacity house Of about
1000. movies out on the campus every
evening The post exchange is a
large brick building with q pool hall
sbowling alleys, restaurant and soda
zfoanta ain Ein the basement, q store on.
The lgirst foor, on the *2nd door = photo
gallery. tailor shop fact anything
you want Near here is# d large con
crete post ofaces sbnild ding On the