August 10, 1902, at which time the total number of officers and members and band in camp was 1,761, and the number in line at review was 1,115, all of whom were in uniform. The officers marched with the men. The inspection and review was satisfactory. Some of the officers had no letters on the collars of their blouses. The clothing of the members was generally clean and satisfactory. The band, however, is the poorest and smallest at any of the Branches, and has been found so at all previous inspections. The march played closely resembled a funeral march, there being an entire absence of life and spirit in the music. A drum major would relieve the leader from those duties and allow him to give more of his time as leader and to the music.

Discipline.

The discipline at this Branch, although improved from that of last year, has not reached the standard of the best administered Branches. An over considera

tion to offenders is apparent. Uniform and just firmness seems desired, and a greater degree of harmony among the officers would be practicable and desirable.

The principal offenses are drunk and disorderly and absence without leave. It was reported that the total number of members offending was 80, while 2,917 (95 per cent) committed no offense, which is the highest of all the Branches. There were 210 trials, of which 91 were for drunkenness (the smallest at any Branch), 1 for fence-jumping, 70 for absence without leave, and 38 for other offenses. Fifteen members were tried twice and 15 more than twice. No fines were imposed. The greatest number drunk in one day was five, much the smallest of all Branches. The longest sentence served was twenty days. No members were in confinement at the time of inspection. The guardhouse was in good condition, and is located about 100 feet from Barrack I.

Amusements.

Although in many respects this Branch has received full consideration, and has been well treated when compared with the other Branches, in regard to amusements, it has not fared well, as it has practically no facilities for the amusement of the men. This want is strikingly noticeable when compared with the very handsome clubhouse at the Central Branch. The Pacific Branch has no room for billiards or pool, no rooms for cards, chess, checkers, dominos, or other similar games, nor is there any bowling alley; but this latter is not recommended, as the exercise might be too great, for a general opinion exists at this Branch, even among some of the officers-and such opinions were expressed to me— that the effect of the climate is such that it produces lassitude, and the men are little inclined to exercise, and are, in many cases, enervated. There is little inclination to do more labor than necessary. Still, it is believed that an amusement hall containing rooms for billiards and pool and tables for cards and other games is much desired for diversion and amusement.

There is a theater, a library, a band, and the new aviary, and cards are played. An effort was made during the year, it was stated, to enlarge the scope of amusements by affording a better class of entertainments in the theater.

The library, it was reported, contained 4,017 volumes, the other Home libraries contain not less than twice this number; and 32 newspapers and 12 magazines are furnished it free of cost, the only Branch that does not subscribe to them. During the year 1,198 volumes were

added-1,093 by purchase and 95 by presentation-and 313 were condemned and sold. The average daily attendance in the reading room was 163, and books were called for 28,800 times during the year. Fiction was said to be in greatest demand, and the books most called for were reported as: The Crisis, Richard Carvel, The Right of Way, David Harum, Ben Hur, Eben Holden, The Master Christian, Alice of Old Vincennes, Maryatt's works, and Captain Charles King's novels. Books may be taken out for one week at a time.

There is a band of 14 pieces, composed of 12 members and 2 civilians, which cost during the year $5,278.61, including the subsistence and other allowances of the members. The average monthly compensation of the leader is $75, of members $7.50, and of civilians, $27.25. During the year there were 310 concerts, all out of doors, which were well attended. There are no band stands, but the band plays from the balcony of the general mess hall, the band being maintained during the entire year. It discourses operatic music, national airs, medleys, overtures, and sacred music. National airs and music by American composers are played at every concert.

Maj. T. J. Cochrane, treasurer of the Branch, has charge of the theater building and of the entertainments given in it. The building is located near the center of the grounds, has a seating capacity of 730, and was in good condition. The character of performances given is operettas, vaudeville, elocution, etc.; and Memorial Day services, and sometimes political gatherings are held in the building. During the year 26 performances were given. The expenses during the year for performances was $1,965, and the receipts were $100.30. Members were admitted free to all performances, and others were chaged 10 cents. The greatest number of vacant seats at any performance given during the fiscal year was stated to be on May 28, 1902, when there was a lecture on "astronomy."

Among the members there are 2 Grand Army of the Republic posts, 1 Union Veteran Legion, 1 Sailors' Society, and 1 Society of Regulars. Altogether they have a membership of 450. These societies meet once a week, and it was reported that they had been found an aid to discipline.

Religious services are held in the Home chapel, Religious services. which was reported to be suitable in every particular. The Protestant wing of the chapel has a seating capacity of 350, and the Catholic wing of 250, it was stated. Religious services are held on Sundays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. The Protestant chaplain lives at Los Angeles, and receives from the Home a compensation of $60 per month. The Catholic chaplain lives at Santa Monica, and receives a compensation of $41.67. It was reported that the religious services are well attended, and the seats are usually filled. It was also reported that the Protestant chaplain had held 52 services during the year, and the Catholic chaplain 78, and that the Protestant chaplain had made 75 and the Catholic chaplain 150 visits to the sick. Both attend many calls to the men in the barracks, and officiate at funerals, as desired.

Farm.

The farm (garden) continues to be by far more prolific than that of any of the other Branches; but nature has been generous in her gifts in this respect to this Branch a highly favorable climate, a rich soil, and an abundance of water-so it is only necessary for man to give the necessary labor to

reap its fruits, which nature intended, It is proper to say that all the necessary labor, combined with intelligence and skill, has been given to this garden, and credit is due for its splendid appearance and abundant yield.

There are under cultivation 184 acres-164 as a farm and 20 as a garden. The live stock on hand consisted of 82 sheep and 415 hogs. Much attention is given to hogs. The value of the live stock on hand June 30, 1902, was reported as $6,384.42. There is no dairy at this Branch, and the price of milk per gallon, by the quantity, in the nearest town is 13 cents. The average number of employees on the farm is 55, nearly twice as many as at any other Branch, of whom 53 are members and 2 are civilians. There are 9 buildings devoted to farm uses-1 for farmers' quarters, 1 for chief gardener, 1 for dormitory and dining room for farm hands, 2 stables, 2 barns for feed storage, and 2 sheds for tools-and they were all in good condition. Some of the transportation was unprotected from the weather and an additional wagon shed is desirable. The public vehicles on hand consist of 17 wagons and 1 carriage, and there are 6 private vehicles. There are 19 public and 4 private horses.

The value of the farm product for the year may be summarized as follows:

Value of farm product turned into commissary.

Fed to stock

Sold...

Cost of maintaining farm proper..

Cost of maintaining lawn and flower garden.
Cost of maintaining transportation and teams.

Credit for use of transportation not known.

Disbursements.

$14, 388. 48 8, 550.54 1, 963. 19 8,458. 79

1,034.00 2,547.00

The accounts and disbursements pertaining to the several funds were examined from August 27, 1901, to August 6, 1902, and the transactions may be sum

marized as follows:

The above balances, with the exception of $40 cash on hand, were on deposit with the Los Angeles National Bank, Los Angeles, Cal.

General fund.

The receipts and expenditures under the general fund amounted to $268,757.96 and $268,650.58, respectively, for the fiscal year. Of the total receipts, all was by transfer, except $12,229.56, received from sales and other sources.

Of the disbursements, $188,345.31 was made by check, and $80,305.27 was paid in currency. There was received on the posthumous account the sum of $3,873.59, and there was paid out $1,708.32, leaving a balance for the year under this account of $2,165.27.

The number of open-market purchases made during the year was 135, amounting to $3,801.76.

The daily average number of employees under the general fund was 456, of whom 4 were officers, 17 noncommissioned officers, 385 members, and 50 civilians. The total amount paid them was $80,305.27, as follows: Officers, $8,862.27; noncommissioned officers, $4,680.66; members, $43,043.47; civilians, $23,718.64. As compared with the preceding year, there was an increase of 35 members and 14 civilians in this force, and a decrease of 1 noncommissioned officer, a total increase of 48. During the year 1,205 men, an average of 4 per day, worked without pay, not as a penalty, being generally employed in the vegetable gardens and on fatigue duty, etc.

The average cost of maintenance per capita at this Branch for the fiscal year 1902 was reported as $126.96.

Post fund.

During the year the transactions of the post fund included receipts of $42,919.95, of which the restaurant took in $16,615.70 and the beer hall $26,304.25. There were also receipts of $8,394.40 from transportation, $100.30 from amusements, and $223.30 from other sources, a grand total of receipts of $57,637.95. The total expenditures were $56,015.23, of which $26,398.74 was for stock for the store. The amount of net profit for the year under this fund was $5,191.35.

year.

Beer is bought by contract, and 53,077 gallons were sold during the It cost $11,631 and sold for $26,304.25, a profit of $14,673.25. The average amount received for a barrel of beer was $15.60, the next to the largest of all the Branches, but the reported percentage of profit does not compare favorably with the other Branches. There was sold during the year 5,299 gallons of beer more than was sold the preceding year.

At the Home store a cash register is used to record all sales, and the cash received is collected daily by the treasurer or his chief clerk. At the beer hall the treasurer issues tickets to the cashier, who sells the tickets to the members, receiving cash for them, and accounting to the treasurer daily for the tickets issued to him. The purchaser delivers the tickets to the beer seller, who drops it into the slot of a locked box containing a solution of analine dye. The tickets are taken out every day by the treasurer or his chief clerk and destroyed.

The average daily number of employees under the post fund is 33, the smallest of all Branches-22 members and 11 civilians; and the total amount paid them during the year was $7,265.50. Civilians received an average of $1.08, and members 38 cents per day. As compared with the preceding year, there was an increase of 8 employees under this fund-4 members and 4 civilians.

Pension fund.

The number of pensioners on the rolls at this Branch on June 30, 1902, was 2,367-which is about 89 per cent of the total membership, present and absent, at that date-the smallest of all Branches. Of these pensioners, 1,589 were present at the Branch. The total amount of pension money

received by the treasurer during the fiscal year 1902 was $290,235:15, of which he paid out the sum of $289,738.41; and of this, $189,020.41 was in currency, and $100,718 by check. The balance due pensioners was $6,254.73; and this belonged to 79 pensioners, 60 of whom had balances of less than $100 each to their credit; 17 had balances of between $100 and $500; and 2 had balances of between $500 and $1,000. The most usual rate of pension here is $12 per month, 956 members receiving that sum; 450 receive $6 per month; 579 receive $8 per month; 216 receive $10 per month. The highest rate drawn at this Branch is $50 per month, and it is received by one member only. Two clerks are employed on pension business for which they receive $1,440 per year, highest salary for two clerks of any other Branch. During the year $72,752.05 in pensions was paid to absentee members of the Branch.

partment.

The value of quartermaster stores (current supplies) Quartermaster de- on hand June 30, 1902, was reported as $11,722.62. All property received is inspected by a board of inspectors who render a report to the governor. The amount received from sales of condemned quartermaster property during the year was $1,654.60.

The value of the clothing received from the depot during the year was reported as $5,711.92, or about one-fifth of the average received by the other Branches. Clothing to the value of $17,710.37 was inspected and condemned during the year. This is an average of $9.67 per man of the average population present, as against $11.34 for the previous year. The value of the clothing issued during the year was reported as $7,508.80, as against $7,956.60 for the previous year.

The average length of time the different articles are worn before being cast off are: Blouses, one year; caps, eighteen months; dress coats, two and one-half years; great coats, five years; drawers and shirts, six months; trousers, shoes, hats, and suspenders, one year; gloves and socks, three months.

Laundry.

The laundry is well located and was found in good condition, but is of insufficient capacity. Members are required to change weekly all soiled clothing and send it to the laundry, and there is no restriction as to the amount each member may send. Their private_underwear is laundried on the same conditions as Home clothing. During the past year $1,538 was expended in the laundry for labor and $852.62 for materials. An average of 52,277 pieces per month was laundried. Thirteen men are employed in the laundry, which is the smallest employed at any other Branch.

Fire department.

No fires occurred at this Branch during the past year. The fire department was found to be in good condi tion, including the hooks and ladders, and responded promptly to an alarm. The ladders were raised promptly to the top of Memorial Hall. The band, which belongs to the fire department, had to leave a funeral procession to attend the alarm. It should be stated that when the alarm was requested it was not known that a funeral was in progress. The hose of the chemical engine burst during the fire drill.

The protection against fire consists of 32 fire hydrants, 4,250 feet of 24-inch fire hose, 2 60-gallon Rex chemical engines, 1 hose cart and WAR 1902-VOL 8- -8