Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1867-01-25

From the, Dubuque Times.
Soldiers Orphans Homo at Cedar Falls


From the, Dubuque Times.
Soldiers Orphans Homo at Cedar Falls.
Some months since reports reached
the officers of Post No. I, &c. "A! r., in
Dubuque, that the Soldiers Orphans
Home, at Cedar Fails, was a poor place
for soldiers orphans to be in, and that
tho Institution WAS badly managed.
Accordingly the Post appointed a com.
mittee. named below, to Investigate the
condition of the home and its inmates.
They have performed their duty, and at
the regular meeting of the Post last
Monday evening, the following report
was read. 1t presents u deplorable con-
dition pecuniarily, though in other re-
spects the report is satisfactory. We
with others in the northern part of the
State, are about taking action for the
relief of the Orphans Home, aud that
soon a subscription to raise funds Sol
that purpose, will be circulated ......
JupsoN CRAFTS, Esq, Adiu.ant Post
No. 7, q. "A. r., Dubuque, Iowa:
Sir.:-At a regular meeting of this
Post, held Dec. 10Th, 1885, ,'it was voted
that some medical man. together with
comrads Tisdale should be appointed to
proceed to the Soldiers Orphans Home
situated Mt Cedar Falls, Iowa, for the
purpose Of examining into its condition
and report to this Post the results OF
their Investigations The undersis sned
was detailed upon said committee, and
having performed the duty assigned
him, herewith-bcgs leave to make the
following report:
The building occupied as home con-
sists of a three story brick and wood
structure with a twostory brick exten-
sion ut each end. The whole stand close
to the sidewalk, with n frontage OF ~.
feet by 40 deep. Running back from
the main building, and standing close
together, are two two story wooden
structures, each some 80 by I'D feet, the
first story used as Il kitchen and dining
room, and sleeping rooms. The frs
floor OF the main building contains two
rooms, reception, store and two schoo
rooms. The second and third stories
are occupied for ward and sleeping
rooms, one school room, hospital and
serving room, while the attic Is used as
a large dOrmitory where about fifty
children sleep. The lot is some 100 by
250 dee p with II small stable, and an old
two story wood building in the rear used
as u laundry. Nearly all of the house
itself is old, and in much need of re-
pairs. Thecitizenso of Cedar Falls have
recently purchased forty acres outside
of the town, with view to the erection
thereon of new and suitable Home.
The present force employed are Super.
intendentJ. B. Abbot and wife, a stew.
ard and wife, and about sixteen assis.
tants, cooks, seamstresses and laundress-
es. SuperintcndentAb A blot entered upon
his duties Oct. 1st, OF the presentyear, at
which time there were ABOUT l7j child
ren. The present number is 250, with
about an equal division Of the sexes
and ranging in age from four 10 sixteen
years. The superintendent and wife
receive $106 and board per moith the
steward and wife 500, and the other en-
ployees from SS to Sl4. These salaries
together vithnll Ok xpenses forprovisions
clothing, fuel, school books, rents fol
buildings, cost Of transportation of the
children admitted to the Home, etc, are
paid out of the State appropriation.
Tho Home, of which there are a!
present but two branches, the one nj
Cedar Falls and the other at Davenport
was as 10 well known, originally pri.
vate enterprise, and received its support
from the voluntary contributions OF the
citizens of Iowa and Of her regiments
In the field. by an act of the Legisla.
ture at it's last sessiOn, the State assumed
control over it, and an appropriation oi
500 per annuln for each child received
and cared for therein, was made its sup.
port. This income, added to the unex.
pended contributions, was deemed sufii-
eisnt to furnish ample means until tic
next session of the legislature. 1t was
expected that the old Board of Manag,
ers would be able to turn over to the
new Board, near SO 900 of these contri.
buttons, which originally amounted tC
some S20O,O0O. The Board, however
received but about 1900 which could
be made available, and this they con.
cluded to hold as u fund for building and
repairs. From this source the Cedar
Falls branch received in October, $99l
for buildidg and repairs done to the
Home.
On the lst of October, ii was in deb,
SG61. The expenses for the month were
81, 523, and receipts from State appro.
priaton about 81 800. November e1.
pcnses were $3, 900, and receipts, 81 ,776.
Thus il will be seen that after deduct
ing the State appropriation and the
amount received for building purposes,
the debt of the Home had swelled to
near 81, 600 on the lst of December.
Some other receipts may reduce this
amount little, but it's financial condi-
tion ~ near as could be ascertained will
but slightly differ from the above state
ment. Ii might be added that there is
something of a stock OF supplies and
clothing still Qp hand, purchased dur
ing the above months.
The superintendent hopes to run
within his receipts the present month,
but our convictions are that if he prop
erly feeds, clothes and cares for these
orphans, he will find himself at the
close Of each month, as heretofore,
largely in arrears, especially during
cold weather, unless he receives assist
aBce elsewhere.
The item OF fuel alone amounts to
near $500 per month; and those of Us
who have children, know how much
more expensive 1t is to properly clothe
them during cold weather.
Mr.. Abbot appears to conduct the af-
fairs of the institution with as much
economy rs could be expected from his
brief connection herewith.
He is gentleman of refinement,
ready to iinpart any information de.
sired, and appears to be ablynssisted by
his wife, as well as by the steward OF
the institution. He has instituted
much system into the Home, is endeav,
oring to do the best his Strengthened
circumstances will admit, and is will.
ing to receive and consider all sugges.