National Republican., 1873-06-28
THE SOLDIERS HOMF.
WHERE OUR wAR.wORN VETERANS LIVE

Fall Description Of the Ins,itutisn-Cspdi-
tisns Of Becoming n Re-ident-Itsw tho
Property Was Acauired-The Old SOL
dicrs Crows and Arts-The IlhrarJ
and Chapei-Generai scett's ststne.
In all the sections about us, Of what Sir Thomas
Browne calls 'ihe universal and public manu-
script Of the book Of nature, lying expansed
unto the eyes Of all, no spot offers comparison
with our "soldiers' Home" There may be
Erander building IN the world for old veterans,
but there are none combining such advantages
as surround our own, and we cannot help think
ing that many OF the facts presented below will
be new to most Of our readers.
Irs HISTORY.
The military asylum" was founded under an
at Of Congress, approved March ., 1s5i. A sub
seluent act OF Congress changed its name to
that Of "Soldicrs' Home" Tue act Of March 3,
1851, APPROPRIATED tiis,Tei tor lts support. THIS
sun was the am 1unt which General Scott levied
upon the utty OF Mexico IN lieu Of plllage money.
Il u well recollectel that after the triumphant
entry Of our army into Mexico the most perfect
peace and order prevailed, and that all the rights
Of property and person were sacredly regarded,
and the city was spared from piliage In any form.
The act of Congress referred TO also set aside
pages aud nnss a1Iuge1 ag tins: soldiers OF the
regular army by ojurts-mirtlal; also tho un.
claimed money Of deceased soldiers, and by the
terms Of the act each soldier was taxed twenty
i've cents per month for the support Of the Home.
TIe foregoing are the only sources Of income
Of the instltutiOn. Congress has never appro-
priated a single cent for the soldiers Home.
'rhis fact will be new to most people. Thli
establishment really belongs by purchase and
title decd TO the old soldiers, and any and all
soldiers who have ever contributed toward IL
purchase or Its support are part owners OF it,
and can always nnd shelter there.
A subsequent act Of CJngteSs reduced the tax
on the monthly pay Of the soldiers from twenty
ave TO twelve anl q hllf cents, which amount
all are required to contribute at the present
time.
IL may be asked what soldiers arc entitled tC
the benefits Of the Soldiers Home. EyeTJ
soldier who has served honestly and faithfully
for twenty years, and every soldier who hai
been disch hirgcd by reason OF wouuds or disease
contracted In the services, rendering him unnl
for military duty, Is permitted to seek the com
forts Of the Home.
Pensioners may also DO admitted on surrender
ing their pensions while at the Home. II a sol
der recoyers his health 90 a. TO be nt for mill
tary service, AMI being under nfty years Of age
he Is discharged. Tue control and Management nj
Of the Soldiers Home Is vested In q Board o.
Commissioners, composed Of the COmmlssarl
General, Surgeon General aud AdJutant Genera
OF the United states army. the ofiicers Of IN,
Home arc q governor, deputy governor, secre
tary, treasurer and surgeon. The ofices ar
detailed from the army on the recommendation
OF the Board OF Commissioners. The origins
site Of the Home, consisting Of more than tw
hundred acres, was purchased In 1851 from Nj
Geo. W. Riggs, the banker, by the nrst Board o
Commissioners, Of which General Scott wa
president. Since then other purchases hay
been made, including the more recent one o
- 'IIarewooir from Mr.. W. W. Corcoran, and IN
grounds at present comprise some nve hundre
acres, most beautifully and romantically stu
AteJ, commanding splendid view Of the city o
Washington aud an immense sweep Of countr
on the Virginia and Maryland sides OF the POto
mac; but further on the grounds will be NOR
particularly described.
WHEY ofENED.
The soldiers Home was nrst opened for IN
admission OF inmates In June, 1881. Colonel J
u. Crane, OF the First artillery, was its nrst gov
emor. Tue mean number Of soldiers per month
resident At the Home from that date 10 the pres
snf IA a. fOllOWa.