The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1867-01-12

their own living and taking care of
themselves. Many Of them were with
out home and without friends, who
must either pass into the common
poor houses of the country as paupers,
be subsisted by private charity, or pro-
vided for by the State. The support fur
nished byprivate charity, would bepre
carious and uncertain, and justice,
humanity. and the honor of the State
forbade that these men should suffer
for the comforts of life, or find that
the poor house and the society of
paupers should be the end and reward
of their campaigns. in which they had
sacrificed their health and capacity to
provide for themselves. The State
had called them to the field, and they
had nobly responded by abandoning
their occupations, leaving behind
them family, friends, the comforts
and pleasures of life, and entered the
army to fight for a cause in which
they had no greater interest than
those who remained at home to
pursue their avocations and live
quietly and safely with their families
and friends. m
1t was not charity, it was not be-
nevolence on the part of the people of
the State to make liberal and generous
provision for these men, but it was
duty than which none could be higher
or more sacred. Accordingly. to meet
Immediate demands for relief, and to
inaugurate a measure imperatlvely de-
manded by humanity and the strong
est obligations, on the 10th day of
MAY. 1865, [ issued an address for the
purpose of enlisting the sympathies of
the people in establishing Soldiers
and Seamen's Home, and in pursuance
of the invitation contained In it two
successive meetings were held at
indianapolis for the purpose of
effecting temporary organization
of Home for disabled Indi-
ana Soldiers and Seamen, and to in
stitute system for the collection of
voluntary contributions sufficient ul-
timately to place it on a permanent
foundation.
At the second of these meetings,
held on the 24th day of May, 1865, a
temporary organization was effected,
the basis of which will be seen by
reference to a copy of the proceed
iugs of said meeting herewith respect
fully submitted. The temporary
Home was opened in the city hospital
building of Indianapolis, on the 9th
day of August, 1865, and up to the
Both day of November, 1866, the num-
Der of men admitted was 224. OF
this number 134 have been dis
charged, fourteen have died, and
seventy-six remain in the Home.
Early last Spring the Board of Direc-
tors purchased the property known
as the "Knightstown Springs" in
Rush County, at cost of $500, to
which place the Home was removed
ON the 18th day of April. The total
expense of maintaining the Home
from the time it was opened until the
Both of November last, not including
the cost of purchase, is ST, 060 81.
This includes the salaries of officers.
IF we add to the above sum the cost
of purchase it will make the sum of
$50, $50 "a, all of which has been
raised by private contribution.
1 herewith submit the report of DIR.
| Wishard, the excellent and successful
superintendent of the institution. and
quote from it the following extract, as
! descriptive of the property which has
been purchased: Eo
." The farm consists of fifty four
/ (5D acres of excellent land, thirty
five (35) of which are under
cultivation-the balance, a beau
tiful grove of forest timber. The
buildings are large and commodious,
| attQrding ample room for about one
/ hundred patients. They were, how
ever, much dilapidated and out of re-
pair, but have been repaired until
they are now very comfortable. Some
additions have also been made. lib the
way of hospital buildings, which are
of great advantage in the treatment
of the sick and wounded"
As lingering wounds, disease and
old age do their work, the number of
men to be cared for must largely in
crease for some years, and the ques-
ton is presented, in what manner the
institution shall be maintained?
Thus far it has been built up and
supported by private contribution, re-
sulting from the labor of few men,
but it can not be kept in operation
longer in this way. The obligation to
support our disabled veterans rests
equally upon all, while the number of
persons who give by private contri-
buttons is small, and they are already
tired and demand that the burden
shall be made to fall upon all the peo-
pie according to their capacity to pay.
That this demand is just and pa
triotic, [ will not further argue, and
earnestly recommend that committees
be appointed to investigate and exam
Inc into the character of the institu-
ton, and, upon their report, if salts
factory, it be adopted by the State. and