armed by hot water; tables and forms are arranged so as to make the
most of the space, and room is provided for all the men to dine
simultaneously.

[Illustration: Barracks]

Next to the dining-room is the cook-house where the meals for a half
battalion are cooked, and served direct to the dining-rooms on each side.
Wash-up rooms are arranged off the serving-lobby with plate-racks and
shelves for the storage of the crockery after it has been washed. The
cooking apparatus is designed for economical use of coal fuel, and, if
carefully used, consumes little more than 1/2 lb of coal per man per day.
The cook-house is well lighted and ventilated by a top lantern; tables,
dressers, and pastry slab are provided for preparing and serving the meals,
and a sink for washing kitchen utensils. Under the kitchen block is a
basement containing the boiler for heating the dining-rooms and another for
the supply of hot water to baths and sinks, with in some cases also a
hot-air furnace for heating drying-rooms, for drying the men's clothing
when they come in wet from a route-march or field day. Not far from the
barrack blocks is placed the recreation establishment or soldiers' club,
where the rank and file may go for relaxation and amusement when off duty;
this establishment has, on the ground floor, a large and lofty room with a
stage at one end for lectures or entertainments, and at the other [v.03
p.0428] end is a supper bar, extending across the room, where mineral
waters and other light refreshments are sold; tables are also arranged for
suppers. A grocery shop is provided where the men and their families may
purchase goods bought under regimental arrangements at wholesale prices,
and sold without more profit than is necessary to keep the institution
self-supporting. On the first floor are billiard and games room,
reading-room and library, and writing-room. The manager's quarter and
kitchen premises complete the establishment. Near the recreation
establishment is the canteen, devoted solely to the sale of beer, and not
permitted to vie in attractiveness with the recreation establishment. A bar
is provided for the soldiers, a separate room for corporals, and a jug
department for the supply of the families; this building also has a
manager's quarter attached to it, and an office for the checking of
accounts.

For the senior non-commissioned officers a sergeants' mess is provided,
containing dining-room, reading-room and billiard-roo