preceded by "escort to the colors." Competition between companies has been considerably developed since last inspection, and a handsome silk banner is competed for. The governor reports the effect of this competition very beneficial to the discipline of the Branch, and arouses an interest in the members. At the inspection the clothing was very clean, and almost every man had his shoes well polished.

At the review the men marched in columns of platoons, with officers leading. But the officers did not wear the letters "N. H. D. V. S." on the collars of their blouses. Altogether the ceremony was excellently rendered, with a very large percentage of the members present. The time of the music, however, was rather too fast, most of the men not being able to step as lively as in former times. There were 1,990 in line, including officers and the band of 26 pieces, or 69 per cent of the total in camp. This is the largest percentage in line at review of any of the Branches, and no other Branch turned out as large a force at review this inspection. There were 428 sick, 376 on extra duty, and 81 excused, a total of 885. Those absent from camp were 1,165 with leave and 4 without leave.

Discipline.

The per cent of members committing no offenses during the year was but 34.91, and is very much the poorest showing of any of the Branches, the next lowest being 79.10 per cent. The principal offense reported was drunkenness, for which there were 2,191 trials, or 70 per cent of the average present, and 108 more than last year. This state of affairs at this Branch appears to be due to the large number of whisky joints in the vicinity of the main entrance to the grounds, notwithstanding the regulations against bringing liquor into the reservation are so strictly enforced as to cause many complaints by innocent members.

It would be a great benefit to the Home if some means could be devised by which these saloons and dives could be abolished or caused by State legislation to remove some distance away from the reservation. The largest number drunk in one day was 48 on June 23, 1902, subsequent to a pension day. The number of trials for fence jumping was 55, for absence without leave 50, and for various other offenses 406.

Amusements.

The facilities for the amusement and recreation of the members comprise a handsome theater, billiard room with 3 billiard and 2 pool tables, smoking or card room with 2 tables for cards, social hall with reading room, library, band concerts, boating, baseball, chess, and checkers.

The theater, a fine brick building with a seating capacity of 1,353, has been improved and thoroughly renovated, old scenery on the stage removed and replaced by new, is now one of the best of any among the Branch Homes. It is used for the celebration of anniversaries of soldiers' organizations, encampments of the Grand Army of the Republic, the Union Veteran Legion, band concerts, etc., and has rooms for billiards and pool, cards, checkers, and chess. There were 36 paid performance's and 3 free during the year, for which no charge is made to the members, but others must pay from 15 cents to 50 cents. The total amount expended during the year for these performances was $4,260. The American flag is displayed on the drop curtain and is saluted by all rising, accompanied by music, just before the beginning of the performance. The Star Spangled Banner is played on the conclusion of the performance and all rising.

The library, situated on Averill avenue, contains 9,620 volumes. During the year 193 were added and 350 disposed of after condemnation. Sixteen newspapers and 26 periodicals are subscribed for, and 7 newspapers and 10 periodicals are furnished free. During the year 45,094 volumes were circulated, the largest circulation of any of the Branches, and an average of 14.3 books per member. The average daily attendance was 351; and the class of reading matter most in demand was fiction, such as The American Senator, Phineas Finn, The Page of the Duke of Savoy, Margaritta de Valois, Lorna Doone, Westward Ho, Captain Blake, the Colonel's Daughter, the Honorable Peter Stirling, and Christie Johnston.

There is an excellent band composed of 25 civilians and 1 member maintained at an annual cost of $9,213, including subsistence and other allowances of civilians. This was at the rate of $354.34 a year per musician, and is next to the smallest cost of all the Branches. It is at the rate of $40.76 per concert and $2.93 per number of average present. The concerts given are particularly good, and were well attended both by the members and by outsiders, many of whom travel long distances to enjoy them. There were 200 concerts given out of doors and 26 in doors during the year, and the class of music was principally the best classical, operatic and popular, with national airs at every concert. The members have also posts of the Grand Army of the Republic, the Union Veteran Legion, and the Christian Endeavor Society, with a total membership of 330.

Religious services are held seven times per week in Religious services. the Home chapel, and in the cemetery when weather permits. The chapel was found in good order and looked well, and has a seating capacity of 450. The average attendance was 150 of Protestant and 700 Catholic, the number of services of the former being 329 and of the latter 244. The Protestant chaplain lives at the Home, where it is contemplated erecting new quarters for him, and the Catholic chaplain lives at Old Point, Va. The former made 225 visits to the sick during the year and the latter 365.

Farm.

Some two years ago it was decided to discontinue the cultivation of land as a farm, and only 3 acres were cultivated as a garden. The average number employed per year on the vegetable garden was 2; on the flower garden, 4; on the lawn, 13, and teaming, 12. The value of the products was $378.65. The following statement of the products during the year shows their cost and distribution:

Turned into commissary

Fed to stock

Sold...

Total.

Cost of maintaining garden.....

Cost of maintaining lawn and flower garden..

Cost of maintaining transportation and teams

Credit for use of transportation not known.

$378.65

378.65

275.00

2,768. 18

3,752.82

There were 23 public vehicles and 11 public animals, and the value of the stock was reported as being $1,005.

Disbursements.

The treasurer's office, with the books, accounts, vouchers, etc., was inspected from October 2, 1901, the time of my last inspection, to September 20, 1902,

and found to be correct,

The balances pertaining to the above funds were all on deposit with the Norfolk National Bank, at Norfolk, Va.

General fund.

The transactions in the general fund, embracing the subheads current expenses, subsistence,clothing, household, hospital, transportation, repairs, farm, and special appropriations, were as follows: Received during the year ending June 30, 1902, $372,264.19; disbursed, $272,177.41. The principal item of expense was for subsistence, which amounted to $176,502.35. The expenditures were all made by check. There was $4,089.01 received from posthumous sources, of which $3,141.06 had been expended.

The improvements contemplated, now under way, or authorized for the fiscal year were two water-tube boilers and a frame barrack, at an estimated cost of $21,000; and those needed for the year ending June 30, 1904, are quarters for the chaplain and an addition to building No. 47, at an estimated cost of $11,500.

The total average number of employees under this fund was 852, or an increase of 354 over last year, and is 27.1 per cent of the annual average present at the Home. They received during the year a total of $85,230.84 as salaries, or an average of $100.03 each much the lowest average of all the Branches. They comprised 6 officers who received $11,358.84, 23 noncommissioned officers who received $6,075, 783 members who received $46,754.34, and 40 civilians who received $21,042.66. There were in addition an average of 50 members who worked without pay.

The average per capita cost of maintenance for the year was $126.11, the lowest of all the Branches, and is $11.2175 less than the average for the Home as a whole.

Post fund.

The total average number employed on post-fund work during the year was 45 members, who received $6,760 per annum, and 35 civilians, who received. $9,288.47, a total of $16,048.47, and an average per employee of $203.60.

The amount of beer sold during the year was 88,830 gallons, and cost $18,328.86, for which $42,502.90 was received, or a profit of 132 per cent. The number of liquid ounces of beer sold for 5 cents was 12, and the glass has a capacity for 15 ounces. The average amount received for a barrel of beer at this Branch was $14.89. The system of selling only one beer check at a time to each member produces a more moderate drinking of beer than at any other Branch. The method of handling the checks to insure the safety of the tickets is

Pension fund.

the best. So far as practicable, if the beer-hall methods at this Branch were adopted at the others it would be an advantage. There is a good hotel run on the reservation which is well kept and run at a profit by the post fund. It is a great convenience. The net profits of this fund for the year was reported as being $1,401.92. There were 3,800 pensioners on the rolls on June 30, 1902, or 86 per cent of the membership of the Branch. Of these there were 2,562 present at the Home. The total amount expended for pensions during the year was $339,062.10 in currency to those present at the Branch, and $168,168.72 by check to those absent, and the balance on hand was $11,820.16, which was to the credit of 66 members. Fifty-one of these had less than $100 to their credit, 14 had between $100 and $500, and 1 had over $1,000 to his credit. The pensioners receive amounts ranging from $6 to $72 per month. There are 3 clerks employed on the pension business who receive a total annual salary of $780.

partment.

There are, including the main building, 16 barracks, Quartermaster's de- which were occupied by 2,182 men. Three of these have basements which are partly used for storage of quartermaster stores. There were 318 men sleeping in attics and 59 in other places. There are 85 bath tubs, or an average of 34 men to each tub, but the 2,182 men in barracks and 318 in attics have the use of only 59 tubs, or about 42 men to each tub. A considerable variety of hats and caps are worn by the members around the Home grounds, and for the sake of uniformity orders should determine what should be worn, and not left to the choice of the men.

The clothing for issue is piled on tables in the quartermaster's storehouses and covered over with old bed spreads. The other Branches generally utilize the original packing boxes, with covers, and use moth balls with the clothing. This method protects the clothing from moths and dust, is better than the one now used at this Branch, and should be adopted.

The invoice value of property received during the year was reported as follows:

Received from general depot..

By purchase.

By transfer

Tota!.

$30, 322.90 250, 897.87 156.97

281, 377. 74

Considerable quantities of turpentine (40 gallons) and oil are kept in the paint shop; this unnecessarily increases the danger from fire. The old gasoline house is of brick and an excellent place for storage of extra turpentine and oil, and only small quantities should be kept in the paint shop. The governor informed me that orders would be given to this effect.

In the laundry there are 20 people employed, and the average number of pieces laundered during a month was 5,131. The cost for laundry work during the year for labor and materials was $3,748.66. No work was done outside the Home.

Fire department.

The Home is protected against fire by 2 chemical engines, 9 hydrants, 5 standpipes, 157 fire extinguishers, 1 hook and ladder, and 2 hose reels. The fire organization consists of a company of 39 men. In addition, each Home company has 4 men appointed to handle the fire hose of standpipes and fire extinguishers in barracks. During the year only one

small fire occurred; it was in the restaurant and was quickly put out by the extinguishers without loss to the Home. This department was inspected and found very satisfactory. The alarm was responded to promptly and the two streams from the hose and chemical engine were in operation in a reasonable time, the ladders arriving first.

ment.

The engineer department has an average number of Engineer depart 57 members and 12 civilians employed during the year, and has four shops, all suitably located. The steam plant consists of thirteen 50-horsepower and two 100-horse power boilers, costing $42,000, which are used for the purpose of power, cooking, and heating. The general cost of maintaining it was $38,900.

The supply of water is obtained from the Newport News Water Company, some wells on the grounds, and a salt-water system for flushing the water-closets. With the exception of the latter, it was reported as being satisfactory. The drainage and sewage system is by means of pumping and by gravity, but was not very satisfactory, as additional pumps were needed.

There is no lighting plant at this Branch; the electricity is obtained by contract from the Hampton Electric Light and Power Company, of Hampton, Va., at $10,449.83 for the last year, for 21 arc and 1,935 incandescent lights.

There is a 10-ton ice machine here, which cost $2,233.72 for maintenance for the last year. It has a capacity for five tons per day and has 15,627 cubic feet of air space to cool. The ice cost the Home at the rate of 60 cents per ton.

ment.

The value of subsistence stores on hand June 30, Commissary depart- 1902, was reported as being $13,007.95, and the value of that condemned was $2,367.91. Inventories are taken monthly, and the facilities for receiving and taking care of supplies and for cooking and serving meals are ample. The dining hall and kitchen were neat and in good order, but roaches were found with the bread for sale to officers and others, kept in the commissary storehouse, and the basement of this building was not clean. The dining hall has a capacity for 1,188, and the tables here also are set twice for each meal. Together with the kitchen, it is inspected at intervals by the surgeon and daily by the commissary. In the dining hall there are employed an average of 36 permanent and 82 temporary employees. In the kitchen are 40 permanent and no temporary employees. The bill of fare for the week ending June 28, 1902, was as follows: Sunday.

Breakfast: Sugar-cured breakfast bacon, baked beans, bread, oleomargarine, coffee.

Dinner: Roast mutton with gravy dressing, potatoes, rice pudding, bread, oleomargarine, coffee.

Supper: Stewed dried apples, cheese, bread, oleomargarine, tea.

Monday.

Breakfast: Sugar-cured shoulders, potatoes, bread, oleomargarine, coffee.

Dinner: Beef stew with potatoes, onions and tomatoes, bread, oleomargarine, coffee.

Supper: Cracked wheat mush, syrup, bread, oleomargarine, tea.

Tuesday.

Breakfast: Sugar-cured shoulders, potatoes, bread, oleomargarine, coffee.

Dinner: Roast beef with gravy dressing, potatoes, macaroni, bread, oleomargarine, coffee.

Supper: Stewed navy beans, bread, oleomargarine, tea.

Wednesday.

Breakfast: Meat hash with potatoes, bread, oleomargarine, coffee.

Dinner: Boiled corned beef, cabbage, potatoes, bread, oleomargarine, coffee. Supper: Stewed dried peaches, bread, oleomargarine, tea.