The National tribune., 1884-10-30
Soldiers Home Mt T0gus. Ne.

To THE EDITOR: / will state few facts
about the Homes provided by Uncle Sam for
his eX-soldicrs who became disabled in the late
war of the rebellion. The Central Branch at
Dayton, o., dates from A. ID. 1865, and has been
contributing during all these 10 years toward
the comfort Of many thousands of our disabled
comrades Since then generous Government
has established three other branches - the
Northwestern in Wisconsin; the Southern in
Hampton, Va, and the Eastern in Maine at
Togus, near the Capital-Augusta, the home of
the Hon. J. G. Blaine, where the writer has
found a comfortable place of abode, and in re-
gard to which wishes TO make a brief statement.
Four of the buildings arc of pressed brick
and three stories high formed as a square,
which gives two fronts, with broad covered
hard wood walk on both. The inner front
has about an acre of lawn, with two walks,
giving four squares of lovely flower beds By
these walks the members of the Home reach
their quarters and the dining-hall; also, the
Governors and Trcasurers offices aud reading
room and post-otlice. The outer front faces
the roads, on which are the hospital, some 10
rods distant, and the bakery, and some so rods
farther the barns for horses and cows. Near
these are the woods, on rocky side of which
there is about 10 acres with high picket fence,
surrounding the deer park.
From here we pass on to the road leading to
Augusta and in lovely grove we see the ele-
CANT quarters of the Governor, Treasurer, and
Surgeon, and coming back to the main build
ings we call in and are delighted with the ele-
CANT and commodious hail. known as Amuse-
ment or Gen. Franklin Hall, under which the
old veterans pass away the hours by playing
games and smoking and telling the story over
again of their experience while in their coun-
try's service defending the Union and the flag.
In our readIng-room and library we have free
access to scores OF daily and weekly papers from
California to Maine and from New Orleans to
the Lakes. There are also about 1000 volumes
in the library, which we may keep from one
to two weeks. There are also afternoon con-
certs given by the Home Band, nearly all of
whom are members of the Home and who fur
nish music at funerals of comrades as they get
their final discharge and reach that camping
ground from which there is no returning.
There are accommodations for about 900 men.
Many of the wards contain some 45 beds each,
the size being about six feet in lenghth by 80
inches in width, and space between for one
chair,-four wards in company of nearly
200 men, commanded by First and Second
Sergeant. The mass of the inmates here are
non pensioners. A large number of the pen
sioners take Burroughs when Spring comes and
return before Winter sets in. The Home regu-
lations are very nearly the same as for the old
Soldiers Home at Washington, ID. G. There
are some 200 outside that have families, who
have rations issued of q limited amount the
first of each month, and are living among the
farmers from one to 10 miles distant, which is
great saving to the institution, and no doubt
will become, sooner later, allowed in the other
branches and in greater numbers, as means Of
ecOnomiZing, thereby lessening the sum annu-
ally appropriated for their support. In closing,
/ may make mention that there is one Post
here Guitar, No. 4S) and Lodge of /. o. o. F.,
in Gen. franklin Hall.-A VETERAN, Togus,
Me