Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1877-04-27


forfeitures by Court Martials and
money due dead soldiers, unclaimed
after three years, shall be placed to
the credit of the Asylum. The first
appropriation by Congress is all that
has been received from that service,
and its only income is from the ranks
of the army. Three Asylums were
established when the act of 1851 was
passed; one in Mississippi, one in
Kentucky, and one in Washington,
but the first two were soon abandon
ed and the funds expended on the
latter. Any soldier who has served
twenty years is entitled to the bene-
fits Of the home, and men disabled
in the army, though they have not
served twenty years, can gain admit
lance. The name "NIilitary Asylum
was not liked by the soldiers, who
called it the "Army Poorhouse," and
in 1859 the name was changed by
Congress to the "Soldiers' Home"
also the same act made the soldiers
of 1912 eligible to admittance, and
reduced the monthly tax to II! cents.
The original purchase of ground for
the home comprised 400 acres, inclu-
ding a mansion. The grounds were
afterwards enlarged, and now COM
prise over 500 acres, finely cultivat-
ed, and containing more than twelve
miles of carriage drives. A long
line divided into two drive-ways by
a row of fine naples, and bearing the
name of "Whitney Avenue" leads
from the public highway to the en-
trance gate OF the grounds, and from
this the visitor has view over undu-
lating knolls of the white front of the
alone" with it, glisteping tower.
1t seems near, but the road through
the grounds Is so circuitous and in
trlcate that it is quite long but not
unpleasant drive to the building af-
ter entering the grounds At every
turn some new charm OF landscape
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 rus.
tic seats, in some shadowy nook, and
TRANQUILITY contemplate the beneti-
cence of nature. Driving 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
the residence Of General Pitcher, the
Governor, and not fifty yards away
is the old Briggs Mansion," which
was included in the original pur.
chase, and has always been set apart
for the use OF The PRECEDENT OF the
United States. President Buchanan
was the first to spend his summers
there. President Lincoln followed
his example, and the summers of his
administration were spent in the old
mansion, with the exception of the
last, when he occupied the house
now used by General Pitcher. Ev-
cry summer numbers OF carriages
went out from the city over the dus-
ty road, and President Lincoln recei-
we'd the guests in his cordial manner,
and in style suited to the old man
sion. Well do the old residents on
Fourteenth street remember the dali
ly horseback and carriage ride Of
Mr.. Lincoln to his summer home,
guarded by his orderlies. Neither
Presidents Johnson or Grant resided
there at any time, but extensive i'm.
provements were made and the
grounds greatly beautifed. The
alone" building and residences of
tbs officers are Of white hammered
marble, beautiful in design and fin
ish. Here is a little chapel where
Roman Catholic service is held one
part of the day, and Protestant the
other. A large hospital caps the
hill that fronts the "Home." 1t is
considered one of the best hospitals
in the country, and is fitted up with
all the improvements in science. AS
many of the soldiers are physical
wrecks, good hospital is necessary.
There are at present about five hun
bred soldiers in the "Homc." They
are not required to work, but many
do light chores about the grounds.
They are allowed to draw small
sum each month, as pocket-money,
from the "Home" fund. They are
proud OF their home and glad to well
come visitors. The old "Riggs Man
sion," the one TO be occupied by the
President, was, in times gone by, one
of the grandest residences in the sub
urbs Of the young capital. Vines
and iyies Chamber over tn broad YER
andah cling to the brown stHcco7
work walls, and wreath the gables
of the roof. The main entrance,
arched doorway, faces the north,
and the angles and projections on
this side are darkened by the shade
of tall trees. The southern front has
a deep verapdah, out upon which
open long windows encircled by
beautiful vines Of ivy. This front,
facing the city, is by far the most at
tractive. A broad driveway curves
up to the entrance on the north side,
and then winds away through the
intricate park. Every visitor to
Washington should not fail to spend
a few hours at the Soldiers Home.
Street cars go within a square of its
grounds, hence it is easily accessible
to all. 60 upon the tower of the
main building, with one Of the sol
diers as guide, and look out upon
one of the grandest panoramas of
our city which can be found. Be
fore lies the Capital, and the whole
city, and beyond that the broad Po-
tomac, with its Alexandria and val
ley for score of miles. Grand as is
the view from the dome of the Capt.
tol, yet it does not nearly compare in
expanse and sweep with that from
the tower of the Soldiers Home.