Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-05-16
local amD State Nems.
National Military Asylum.

limits of the town of Chelsea, there is an in
and character of which not only the people of
New England generally, but our own citizens.
are strangely ignorant. 1t has been our privi-
lege within the past week to spend little
time at the Asylum and to have the oprortun-
ity afforded us of examining into the details
of its management, and we are free to say that
if all, after like thorough examination, shall
come away with impressions similar to those
we received the value of the institution will
be more and more recognized. description
can scarcely convey faint idea of its mag
nificent proportions or thoroughly system
affixed and comprehensive field of benevolent
labor; it must be seen to be fully known its
buildings visited, its grounds traversed, its
various industrial pursuits noted; its appli-
ances for furnishing amusement and recrea-
ton to the inmates examined, and its internal
management inspected personally. After such
all examination an intelligent individual may
form some just opinion of its true character.
The ASYLUM was founded under an act of
Congress, appropriating the fund arising from
the fines and forfeitures imposed on volunteer
officers and soldiers and the bounty and other
money standing to the account of deserters
from the army, who of course did not appear
to claim the same; so that so far as these
amounts went to pay the expense of the three
asylums in this country, they really cost the
government nothing. The site for this Asy-
lum (the eastern branch known as "Togus
Springs" was purchased of the heirs OF Hor-
ace Beals who erected here at great expense
large wooden hotel, designed as fashion
able summer resort. Mr. Beals, as is known,
died before completing the extensive improve
ments upon the grounds which he had planned.
The price paid was $4,000. The institution
was formally opened in November, 1866, but
few soldiers were received until January,
1867 1t has been under command of Gen.
Kinks of Massachusetts, Gen. Everett OF
Washington, Maj. Cutler of this city, Colonel
Ludwick of New York, and within the last few
months by Gen. Vim. S. Tilton of Boston, as
Deputy Governor and Acting Treasurer. The
buildings on the place at the time of the open
ing included the large hotel, small house
used as laundry, stable, and two or three
out-buildings used for various purposes.
These were destroyed by fire on bitter cold
night, as many of our citizens may remember
January 4th, 1868. The fire caught from
defective fue that had recently been put in,
and spread with alarming rapidity, soon en-
veloped the splendid building in one mass OF
fame, reducing it to ashes in very snort
time The soldiers had to be scattered and
accommodated best they could until the
erection of temporary quarters.
The managers of the institution at once adj
vertised for plans and specifications for new
building and work was commenced early IN
the spring The new buildings now stand as
monuments of the country's care for her Grip
pied and disabled defenders The buildings
are all built of brick in the most substantial
manner, with the exception of some out-build-
ings such as a hennery, stable, engine house.
wheelwrights shop, sc. The brick was all
manufactured on the premises. The aggre-
gate cost of the structures now upon the
ground cannot be less than $4,000.
The main buildings, four in number, for
residences of officers and men, with dormito-
ries, cover more than two acres of land, en-
closing a square, beautifully laid out with
walks leading to the different buildings. The
main buildings are now being painted drah
or stone color, which will add much to their
appearance. They have been erected with
view to convenience, durability and use, are
finished in oak and chestnut and the walls
painted. The beautiful parors are orna-
mented and adorned with pianos, paintings
engravings, and other things that give
home like feature to the institution. The Gov
ernor occupies a suite of rooms here, as also
the Chaplain, Surgeon and Secretary. In
the basement of one of these buildings we
find two steam boilers capable of running
sixty horsepower steam engine, where all the
steam is made for heating the entire estab-
lishment preparing the food, washing and dry
ing clothes, etc. Another engine is soon to
be put in. The water that is condensed by
the steam, comes back into the boilers again
and is used over and over again. Hot and
cold water is raised by pump to every part
of the buildings, this being found a great con-
venience and comfort, especially to the sick.
A mammoth washing machine, wringer and
dryer, perform by machinery work which
would require the labor of many men and
women The clothes are dried and aired
without exposure to rain and when they are
passed out 40 their respective owners, or the
sheets and pillow cases come from the neat
laundry, they look as nice as though they
came from the hands of our mothers who be-
lieved in scrubbing off their arms up to the ell
bows in order to secure asuccessful wash. The
dining is room is capable of seating between
500 and COO persons The tables are spread
with neat white covers and here we find
home-lke appearance that must certainly be
appreciated. At regular hours, morning,
noon and night, the soldiers file in and seat
themselves with military precision, and par
take of their wholesome and bountiful meals.
No reasonable man can complain of the
amount of food served or of its quality. The