SUPPLIES AND EXPENDITURES FOR CADETS. Committee on Supplies and Expenditures for Cadets.-Messrs. JULIUS C. BURROWs, SAMUEL W. T. LANHAM, and JOHN M. CARSON. The Department of Cadet Supplies is in charge of Capt. W. F. Spurgin, Twenty-first Infantry, whose remarkable ability in this particular line of duty has been so conspicuous as to induce the authorities to retain him beyond the usual period set apart for a term of service at the Academy. The Board made a thorough inspection of this department, and, although its administration embraces several distinct lines of duty and a variety of detail, it was found in perfect order, with machinery working harmoniously, every division of labor and responsibility being under the constant supervision of one head and the results being satisfactory to the cadets, for whose benefit this organization was created. Captain Spurgin sustains a variety of relations to the cadets. First, he is treasurer, and as such receives all moneys allowed for pay and disburses it; second, he is quartermaster for the Cadet Corps, purchas. ing all supplies in the form of clothing and having all articles of uniform, including shoes, made up, each cadet being measured for his clothing; third, he is commissary for the Corps of Cadets, purchasing all subsistence supplies needed and having these prepared, cooked, and served. In short Captain Spurgin has charge of everything connected with the feeding, clothing, washing, mending, and furnishing of bed rooms for the cadets. To discharge these multifarious duties with a degree of efficiency to give satisfaction requires, in the first place, taste, aptitude and industry and, in the second, careful training and extended experience. These are combined in Captain Spurgin. We concur in the recommendations made by previous Boards of Visitors that Captain Spurgin should be permanently attached to the Academy and continued in the discharge of his present duties. We believe the interests of the Academy and the military service would be promoted by appointing this officer to the pay corps of the Army, to the end that, in addition to his present duties, he could perform the duty now performed by a regular paymaster in paying the officers of the Military Academy and the troops constituting the post of West Point. This department is closely related to the well-being of the individual cadet and the discipline of the corps. If the food furnished be not sufficient in quantity, wholesome in quality, well-cooked, and properly served there will be discontent, resulting in demoralization and the un dermining of discipline. The testimony of the cadets to the character of administration of Captain Spurgin is supplemented by the universal commendation of the officers at the Academy, and both these are given emphasis by the splendid discipline of the Corps of Cadets. The Board visited the several divisions of this department in a body and found each in the highest state of efficiency. The laundry is well supplied with all necessary machinery and appliances for the performance of the best class of work, and is managed with skill and economy; the quartermaster's division is well supplied with everything needed for the comfort and convenience of the cadets, and when the building to be used as a storehouse is constructed, which was authorized by the last Congress, the capacity of the tailor and shoe shops will be materially extended; the kitchen and pantries of the cadet mess are in good order and well supplied with all necessary machinery and utensils. Members of the Board visited the kitchen at different times during the preparation for meals, and upon one occasion, without previous notice to Captain Spurgin or any of his assistants, we proceeded in a body to the dining hall after the corps was seated for dinner, and each member selecting a table, so that we were scattered over the hall, had the pleasure of dining with the cadets, and in this way were enabled to test the quality of the food served. From this experience, as well as from close scrutiny into all the methods employed in preparing, cook. ing, and serving the food, we have no hesitation in saying that the meals furnished the cadets are as good as can be supplied with the means at hand, and that, as regards quantity, variety, preparation, wholesomeness, and service, they are all that can be desired. The cost for board to each cadet is between $16 and $17 per month. The character and variety of the duties performed by Captain Spurgin and the method of disbursing the pay of cadets is best explained in the words of that officer: I perform the duties of treasurer of the Military Academy, and have the management of all affairs appertaining to the cadet quartermaster's department, cadet subsistence departinent, and cadet laundry. The treasurer handles all moneys appertaining exclusively to cadets personally and to the above-named departments. The receipt and disbursement of such moneys requires twenty-eight separate and distinct accounts. The cadet quartermaster's department supplies everything required by a cadet for his personal service (excepting his subsistence), and which is paid for out of his pay. The cadet subsistence department supplies the cadet his food, which is well cooked, wholesome, and in variety according to season. All supplies are purchased in open market, wherever the best article at least cost may be obtained. The pay of each cadet is $45 per month, or a total of $540 a year. In addition he receives medical attendance and medicines, quarters, fuel for heating same, aud coal for gas, free; he also derives benefit from all general appropriations for the Academy. The income of a cadet is expended for his subsistence, clothing, text-books, for services of all persons connected with the domestic branch of the Academy, such as the barber, shoeblacks, those engaged in policing the barracks, for laundrying and in defraying all of his necessary expenses at the Academy. Four dollars of his monthly pay is set aside each settlement, and constitutes what is known as his equipment fund, amounting during the four years to $192; which sum be receives on graduation, or in case his connection with the Academy is severed prior to graduation, the accrned amount, whatever it may be. Cadets found deficient receive whatever may be due to date of discharge, and in addition a sum equivalent to one day's pay as a cadet for every 20 miles of the distance from West Point to their homes, as determined by the official table of distances published by the Paymaster-General U. S. Army; he also receives through the disbursing officer of the Academy, from Congressional appropriation, the actual cost of his traveling expenses, including sleeping-berth, to his home. I consider the income of a cadet, taken in connection with the sum which he deposits on entering the Academy-viz, $100, and which defrays the cost of his first outfit-sufficient, but no more than sufficient, for all of his actual necessities under economical management. STATEMENT OF CAPT. W. F. SPURGIN. HEADQUARTERS U. S. MILITARY ACADEMY, OFFICE TREASURER, QUARTERMASTER, AND COMMISSARY OF CADETS, West Point, N. Y., October 6, 1891. SIR Referring to exhibits F-A and F-B, pages 100 to 104 inclusive, Report of the Board of Visitors to the U. S. Military Academy for 1887, I have the honor to transmit herewith the following: Abstract of cost of provisions, property, etc., used, issued, and consumed at the cadet mess U. S. Military Academy, West Point, N. Y., from May 1, 1889, to May 30, 1891, four years, which taken in connection with exhibit F-A above referred to, completes the table for seventeen years previous to date last above given. The notes relative to the cadet mess following exhibit F-A, Report of 1887, are respectfully referred to, exhibiting correctly the workings of the mess to-day. Statement exhibiting the work performed at the cadet laundry, West Point, N. Y., during the year ending April 30, 1891, with schedule of prices changed for laundry work. The extension of the laundry asked for in 1887 was granted and now the cadet laundry is well equipped with necessary machinery and is of sufficient capacity. Memorandum of clothing manufactured and repaired in the tailor shops, cadet quartermaster's department, for the year ending April 30, 1991. Many members of the graduating class took advantage of their privilege to obtain their uniform dress coats, trousers, blouses, and capes at the Cadet Quartermaster's Department, and the articles of officers' uniform mentioned above were principally for members of the graduating class. The addition to the cadet quartermaster's storehouse, authorized by Congress, is approaching completion and will when finished supply the necessary room for storage of supplies, workshops, etc. Respectfully submitted. W. F. SPURGIN, Treasurer U. S. Military Academy, Quartermaster and Commissary of Cadets. Maj. JOHN M. CARSON, Secretary Board of Visitors U. S. Military Academy, Washington City, D. C. Abstract of cost of provisions, property, etc,, used, issued, and consumed at the cadet's mess, U. S. Military Academy, West Point, N. Y., from May 1, 1887, to April 30, 1891. Tabulated statement of number of articles laundried from July 1, 1890, to June 30, 1891. Month. 1890. 1, 805 19, 028 11, 209 18, 688 8, 862 30, 872 25, 999 33, 367 2, 115 50, 712 34, 369 35, 321 58, 748 Total pieces. |