The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1877-05-11
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
rur EDrron OF THE NEW NORTHWEST :

AS President Hayes has decided to
spend the summer months at the beau
tiful "Soldiers' Home" near this city,
it may not prove uninteresting at this
time to give a brief description of this
most attractive spot. The origin of the
home is due to General Scott, and dates
back to the capture of the City of Mex
leo by our troops, when, instead Of sack
ing the city, General Scott levied on it
a sum of 100000. A portion was used
to relieve the wants of the soldiers, and
a portion for establishing a secret ser
vice fund. The remainder, little more
than 100000, was turned into the Treas
ury. 1t was a pet scheme of General
ScOtt's to establish a home for old and
disabled soldiers to render them indie
pendent. Congress, in 1857, passed an
act establishing "Military Asylum"
and authorizing General Scott to draw
the money from the Treasury to be used
for the asylum. The act also provides
that every soldier of the army shall con-
tribute twenty-five cents per month
from his pay, also that all forfeitures
by court martials and money due dead
soldiers unclaimed after three years
shall be placed at the credit of the asy-
lum. The first appropriation by Con-
gress is all that has been received from
that service, and its only incomeis from
the ranks of the army. Three asylums
were established when the act of 1857
was passed, one in Mississippi, one in
Kentucky, and the one in Washington,
but the two first were soon abandoned
and the funds expended upon the latter.
Any soldier who has served twenty
years is entitled to the benefits of the
home, and men disabled in the army,
though they have not served twenty
years, can gain admittance. The name
military Asylum" was not liked by
the soldiers, who called it the "Army
Poor-house," and in 1859 the name was
changed by Congress to the 'Soldiers'
Home," also the same act made the SOL
diers of 1872 eligible TO admittance, and
reduced the monthly tax to twelve and
a half cents. The original purchase of
ground for the home comprises 200
acres, including mansion. The grounds
were afterwards enlarged, and now
comprise over 500 acres finely cultivated,
and containing more than twelve miles
of carriage drives. A long line, divided
| into two driveways by a row Of fine
naples, and bearing the name OF
"Whitney Avenue" leads from the
public highway to the entrance gate OF
the grounds, and from this the visitor
has view over undulating knobs OF
| the white front of the home, with its
glistening tower. 1t seems near, but
the road through the grounds is so cir
cuitous and intricate that it is quite a
long but not unpleasant drive to the
building after entering the grounds. AT
every turn some new charm of land
scape appears, gentle inclines, pleasant
glades, shadowy waters, and verdant
lawns, with groves of forest trees dressed
in their brightest green, make a scene
that tempts one to halt and repose upon
one of the many rustic seats in some
shadowy nook, and TRANQUILITY contem'
plate the benificence of nature. Driv'
ing on, the carriage soon mounts to the
lawn that SUBMITS the hill on which
the home stands, and rolls up to the
entrance. Opposite the home is th'
residence of General Pitcher, the Cover
nor, and not fifty yards away is the OLE
"Rigg's mansion" which was included
in the original purchase, and has al
ways been set apart for the use of tn
President of the United States; Presi
dent Buchanan was the first to spent
his summers there. President Lincoll
followed his example, and the summer
I of his administration were spent in tn
| old mansion with the exception of tn
, last, when he occupied the house nov
I used by General Pitcher. Every sum
c mer numbers of carriages went ou
from the city over the dusty road, an
4 President Lincoln received the guest
9 in his cordial manner, and in styl
p suited to the old mansion. Well do th
q old residents on Fourteenth street re
q member the daily horseback and CA
G riage ride of Mr.. Lincoln to his sun
}. mer home, guarded by his orderlie
7 Neither Presidents Johnson nor Graz
n resided there at any time, but extensiN
Improvements were made and tt
n grounds greatly beautified. The hon
!. building and residences of the office
? are of white hammered marble, beaut
o full in design and finish. Here is a lit
4 chapel where Roman Catholic servi
,s is held one part of the day and the Pro
= estant the other. A large hospital ca
the hill that fronts the home. 1t
D. considered one of the best hospitals
10 the country, and is fitted up with 6
As the improvements in science. AS mai
1 of the soldiers are physical wrecks,
" good hospital is necessary. There a
a. at present about five hundred soldie
W in the home. They are not required
work, but many do light chores abO
ii the grounds. They are allowed to drs
n small sums each month, as pock
money, from the home fund. They q
Il proud of their home and glad to W
no come visitors. The old "Rigg's ma