Tlie duties connected with the construction of barracks are under the supervision of the Inspector-general of Fortifications, who is also Director of Works to the War Department. He is assisted in these duties by a Deputy and two Assistant-directors of Works, and a professional staff.
The arrangement and composition of barracks vary according to the arm of the service to be accommodated in them ; thus for the cavalry, horse and field artillery, Royal Engineer train, and transport branch of the army service corps, stables are required ; and it is usual to provide for the unmarried non-commissioned officers and men over their horses, a troop of cavalry or a division of field artillery being placed in a separate block of two stories in height. Horse and field artillery also require gunsheds and work shops for artificers, such as collarmakers, wheelers, &c. All mounted troops require forge and shoeing accommodation as well as saddlers shops. Garrison artillery and com panies of Royal Engineers can be accommodated in similar barracks to those for infantry, but the latter require an ample provision of workshops for artificers, with store accommodation for materials,. &c.
Not fifty years since, in the West Indies, men slept in barracks in hammocks touching each other, only 23 inches of lateral space being allowed for each man. At the same time in England the men slept in wooden beds, with two tiers, like the berths of a ship, and not unfrequently each bed held four men. Now, each soldier has an iron bed stead which turns up in the middle, forming a seat for the day-time, and only two rows of beds are allowed in barrack- rooms, and the principle of providing one window for every two beds is carried out in all new barracks.
The best size for a barrack-room is now considered to be 60 or 62 feet long, by 20 feet wide, and about 12 feet. high. The number of men each room is to contain is painted on the door ; and in barracks of modern construction each barrack-room has attached to it—
(1.) A small (single) sergeant s room, with fire-place, cupboard, and small window looking into the men s room.
(2.) An ablution room, with basins, water-taps, and a fixed pan in which the fset can be washed.
(3.) A night urinal, with water for flushing laid on.
Barracks are washed once a week, and on intermediate days the rooms are dry-scrubbed. The walls and ceilings are limewashed by the troops twice a year. The general periodical painting of all barrack buildings is performed twice externally and once internally in every eight years. Formerly, barrack buildings were placed on very limited areas, and even a whole regiment was lodged in one house built in the form of a square, with the quarters of the officers on one side for the better supervision of the men ; but the Barrack and Hospital Improvement Commission recommended that the men should be divided in numerous detached buildings, so placed as to impede as little as possible the movement of air and the action of the sun s rays.
For barracks, as a general rule, buildings of two stories in height are preferred to those of three stories, but three- story buildings may be adopted where space is limited and land very costly. Buildings of two stories are less expensive than those of only one story in height, and the general arrangement, when the former mode of construction is adopted, is more compact. The selection of a site for a barrack requires great care and circumspection. This duty is performed in the first instance by the Commanding Royal Engineer of the district, or an officer appointed by him ; but the ground proposed is also reported on by an Army raedical officer as well as subsequently by the General Officer commanding the district, the final approval resting with the Secretary of State for War.
The following important points have to be considered in the selection of a site, viz. : (1.) That the ground is suitably situated ; (2.) That it is sufficient for the number and nature of troops to be placed in the barracks ; (3.) That it is not commanded by higher ground within range of rifle fire; (4.) That the subsoil is good and healthy; (5.) That water can be easily obtained for drinking, washing, and cooking ; (6.) That drainage and sewerage can be carried out; (7.) That gas can be laid on.
A barrack should not as a rule be placed in the midst of a populous town, nor should it be too far distant from one. If in the midst of a town it vould not be likely to be healthy or well placed in respect to keeping up discipline ; if too far off the men quartered in it may become dissatisfied with the service. A barrack should be surrounded with a defensible wall ; there should be as few entrances as possible, and these should be provided with strong, well- barred gates.
In the new barracks now under construction for brigade depots, the armouries are generally placed in defensible " keeps," the outer or boundary walls being flanked by caponnieres. In arranging the position of buildings on a design for a barrack, the axis of each of those intended for occupation by troops should be north and south, so as to allow the sun s rays to fall on both sides. One building should in no case obstruct the light from another. The distance of buildings should not be less than their own height from each other. The position selected for any new building or buildings in an existing or a proposed barrack is reported on by a board of officers, consisting of the head of the department, officer commanding a regiment, or other responsible officer who is to occupy the building when erected, an officer not under the rank of captain, and the commanding Royal Engineer or other engineer officer, a medical officer attending to advise the board. On the completion of a new building or barrack, it is also reported on by a board of officers before being taken over for occupation.
In 1854-55 public attention was called to the necessity for sanitary improvement in the barracks belonging to Great Britain, and an inquiry was instituted by the Barrack and Hospital Improvement Commission, which was succeeded by the Army Sanitary Committee. The result of the inquiries so made has been a great improvement of the quarters of the troops, which has tended largely to decrease the sickness previously prevalent among them.
The principal improvements have been as follows, viz. : At least 600 cubic feet, and from 50 to GO superficial feet, are now allotted to every single non-commissioned officer and man in permanent bar racks, it being considered as important that a soldier should have his full ration of air as of food. In wooden huts 400 cubic feet are reckoned sufficient. At least 1000 cubic feet are allotted to every single non-commissioned officer and man in hot climates. About 1600 cubic feet are allotted to every horse, and since the introduction of ventilation, as well as proper sanitary arrangements in stables, glanders have almost entirely disappeared from the army. Married non-commissioned officers and men have special accommodation, with one or two rooms each, according to the size of the rooms or rank of the occupant. In the latest buildings small washing-rooms have been provided, in addition to two rooms for each family. A laundry and infant school are provided for eveiy compound of married soldiers quarters. The principal medical officer is now charged with seeing that the regulations for protecting the health of troops in barracks are carried out. Each regimental medical officer has also to see to this matter, as well as that every soldier has a separate bed ; that the beds are placed at a proper distance from the wall, and are well aired; and that the windows are opened every morn ing. Barrack-rooms are warmed in two ways, viz., by radiant heat from an open fire, acd >y warm air obtained from an air chamber behind, and heated by Ike fire. Much attention has been paid of late years to the improvement of the means of cooking the meals of soldiers. Either steei boilers and Deane s ovens or "Warren s" apparatus are now ordinarily provided for this purpose. Every headquarter barrack now has a gymnasium and also a chapel school, as well as a sergeants mess establishment. Besides a canteen with
