BARRACKS (Fr. baroque, It. baracca, Sp. bar•aca, a tent; origin uncertain). A permanent structure for the housing of troops. as distin guished from temporary cantonments or camps. In England the practice of billeting or quarter ing soldiers on the citizens had in 1792 become a great burden; added to which was the effect on the morals of the community, caused by the dissolute character of the soldiery of the period. Consequently, George III. obtained the consent of Parliament for the construction of new bar racks, not without considerable opposition, how ever; as it was urged that the liberty of the subjects might possibly be endangered by sepa rating the soldiers from the citizens, and placing them in the hands of the ruling power. At first, barracks were built without much regard to the health of the troops. the only consideration ap parently being their local usefulness. In the United States, great care is taken in the selection of site and in the building of military barracks or forts. Good elevation, water, and clean environ
ment are of the first importance; after which, in the design and construction, an abundant sup ply of fresh air is made an important factor. Care is taken that each man shall have at least 800 cubic feet of air space. and in hospitals, 2000 feet or more. In a room to be occupied by 30 men, at least 60,000 cubic feet of fresh air per hour should he admitted, and provision is made for this amount. The name is used as a part of the official designation of a number of important military posts in the United States, the best known of which are: Columbus Bar racks, Jackson Barracks, Jefferson Barracks, Madison Barracks. Plattsburg Barracks. San Diego Barracks, and Washington Barracks, which are described under their appropriate heads.