Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-05-26

THE LATE UNPLEAsANTNEss AT THE HOME-ALL
WORKING SMOOTHLY NOw-VARIOUS IMPROVE.
MESrs FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE SOLDIERS
AND THE ENJOYMENT OF THE PUBLIC-OPEN-
ING THE GROUNDS ON SUNDAY-A NEW EN-
TRANCE To THE PLACE.
To citizen of Washington nothing can be a
source OF greater pride and pleasure than our
beautiful Soldiers Home. 1t is much more than
home for veteran solders-t is q beautiful
pleasure ground for the city, and one which can
DE enjoyed by everybody. 1t will compare favor
ably with the parks of our larger sister cities
1t resembles Druid Hill park In Baltlm ore In its
appearance of natural beauty, cultivated to
the utmost, rather than artificial adorn-
ments planned by the landscape gar
dener. Its lovely undulations, its little forest
CELLS. us perfect rOadways, its velvet lawns
brocaded with gay flowers, Its imposing Home
building and the cheerful and appropriate cot
tages for the officers of the Home, all go to
make up the sum Of its attractions. Then, too,
Its easy accessibility from the city places the
enjoyment that comes from the contemplation
OF the beautiful things of nature within the
reach Of all. The recent order
OPENING THE GROUNDS ON SUNDAY
Is greatly TO be commended. Many OF our citi-
Hens cannot spare an hour for enjoyment or
recreation during the week. and the privilege of
enjoying the beauties Of the Home on Sunday,
which Is now accorded them. is particularly
gratifying. The inmates Of the Home are greatly
pleased with the new rule. They have nothing
In common with the OCCUPANTS Of stylish car
riages which roll through the grounds on pleas
ant evenings. On Sundays, however, many
people of their own station i'm life drive
out to the grounds and with them the old
soldiers delight to chat. These veterans who
are so well cared for as they should be, surely
have lovely spot in which to spend the closing
days of their lives The Home was established
for the benefit of the men worn out or disabled
in military service of their country, and, al
though the beautiful grounds surrounding the
Home are regarded public park, yet the
Home itself has never been diverted from its
original object. 1t bears the same relation to
the soldier as the retired list does to the officer
1t should not be considered i'm any way @ chart
table Institution. tor those who occupy it have
in every instance rendered an equivalent for the
care and protection which they now receive.
TO GENERAL WINFIELD SCOTT
We are mainly indebted for the suggestion and
the endowment of the Soldiers Home At the
time of the entry of the American army into the
city of Mexico the soldiers were much harassed
by the firing Of the citizens. who took refuge
upon the hOusetops. After the capture of the
city tax Of over hundred thousand dollars
was levied upon them as punishment. In 1S4S
General Scott transmitted to the Secretary of
War draft for Sl00.0 900. the greater part of the
tribute so exacted for the benefit of the army
with the expressed hope that it might be al
lowed TO go to the credit of an army asylum.
The funds were first turned into the public
treasury, but were shortly afterwards appropri-
ated together with balance of SIS. 791. 19remain-
ing from the same levy. for the support of Sol
dlers Home, the object Of which was to provide
COMFORTABLE HOME
for old soldiers of Dncr
invalid and disabled or discharged soldiers who
had served honestly and faithfully in the army
Commissioners were appointed to take charge of
the matter under the direction of Congress-
They were the general In chief of the army.
Che generals commanding the east and west diyi-
SaOns, the chiefs of the quartermaster's commits
eary, pay and medical departments and the
adIutant. general In 1859 the commissioners
were reduced to the commissary general, sur
geOn general and adjutant general. In 1851
The first provision made was a rented house in
the city, but soon afterwards the commits
sl0nera We're authorized to secure suitable site
1or the proposed Institution and to have build
1ngs erected If they could not be purchased with
the site.
LOOKING FOR SITE.
More than sixty sites were offered within five
miles Of Washington. ranging from TWENTY-FIVE
10 I'VE hundred acres, and valued at from $50 to
$3.50 per acre. One hundred and fifty acres Of
Mount Vernon were also offered at 1888 SO per
acre The choice fell upon two Sites one con-
tanning two hundred acres, belonging to George
W. Riggs. and an adjoining tract of about sixty
acres, belonging to Charles Scrvener. NegOtia-
lions resulted in Riggs taking title to the Scriy-
ener tract and transferring the whole to the
Home. The number of acres was found to be
two hundred and flfty-six and the price paid
was $4,000. This ground together with the
SUBSEQUENT additions, forms the present beauti-
1ui Soldiers Home grounds. On the Riggs
tract was a large and substantial brick dwelling
house. with slate and tin roof bath. furnace.
&c, and With facilities for Carrying water to any
part in case OF fire.
There were also three cottages. a brick stable
anu other outoulidin@s. In 1858 three acres Of
ground were purchased from b. Ogle Tavoe
Tor ~6l3i5. and in 1915 three acres from James
Stone for Il 900 These purchases were made
TO have the west boundary line unbroken along
the highway. In 1863 a tract containing nine
ana three-iourths acres. lying southwest OF the
grounds. was purchased from Mr. Whitney for
s9Soo- This Afforded the only means for COM
pieting the attractions to that part or the
grounds. as well controlling Il right of WAY
necessary 10 be IN the possession of the Home
inns together with small strip afterwards
bought. forms the Well-known Whitney avenue
the entrance to the grounds most frequently
used by the public
THE HARDWOOD PURCHASE
In 1872 very valuable addition to the
grounds was made By purchasing of Mr. W. W.
Corcoran his weil-known country seat, called
"HarewOod.' The property consisted of 19l
acres. which had teen greatly improved. The
natural growth Of timber upon it had been
shaped In groves and avenues, and additions of
foreign and native evergreen and ded duous
trees had been made many years before The
price paid was s225, 600, but nearly the whole
payment was made with Virginia state bonds.
heid by the Home since the first year Of Its ex-
astence, and which were unprOductive In 1873
n small strip Of land. containing IA 543 square
Feet lying between Whitney gate and 9TH street.
was bought for 81. S54. IS. In 1876 the tract OF
land lying on the east side Of the Home
grounds. belonging to Mrs. Emily Woods, and
containing forty acres, was purchased for
$4,000 This was the last purchase of land for
the Home grounds, which therefore now con-
tain
SOC ACRES
costing in all 1926 3275O. On the Woods land
The farming operations are principally carried
On Upon fifty acres of the land vegetables
are raised for the use Of the inmates OF the
Home. and grass Is cut from two hundred and