The Aberdeen examiner. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1866-current, 1884-07-31
A soldiers Home at PascagOuia.


land ON her beautiful coast near East
Pascagoula, to the United States
Government for an invalid camp for
the many wounded and sick soldiers
who we're continually returning from
the scene of conflict. 1t was expect
cd that the Government would estab-
lish barracks at The place and that 1t
would become permanent military
station. but other counsels prevailed
and it Wa, thought better with view
m convenience of movement and sup
plies to establish the barracks IN
Louisiana, on the Mississippi rlver'
and so the Pascogoula tract was aeail-
doned by the entire military estao-
lishment except the few who were
carried from the hospitals to the
"eternal camping grounds" and
whose graves can hardly at this late
day be found. In the course OF time
it was forgotten by the authorities at
Washington that the Government
nossessed such tract of land, but
the other day suggestion was made
in Cncress that suitable location
should be found in the Southern
States for Home for old and dlsa-
bled soldiers, and gentleman who
had spent the gaeater number OF MS
days at East PascagouIa wrote at
once to the Secretary of war telling
him of this donation of the long ago,
its admirable location, and the many
advantages it possessed over other
locations for the proposed purpose;
and the result was that Secretary Lin
coin referred the matter to the South
ern posts Of the Grand Army of the
Republic" requesting them to at once
make inquiry into the matter and re-
port. The Grand Army appointed
committee consisting of that genial
gentleman. CAPTAIN Gray, Custom
House officer at the Riggolets; Capt,
Ward, Revenue officer at English
Look Out, and other competent and
reliable parties, to visit the spot re-
ferred to- They performed that re-
sponsible duty last week, and unani-
mously and enthusiastically recon-
mended the adoption of the East
Pascagoula location on the tract of
land donated to the Government and
forgotten so many years ago; and now
the people of the entire South coast
appeal to the Senators and represent
atives of Mississippi to stand by the
report of this Committee and the
Recommendation in conformity to its
findings that the Secretary of War
has promised to send in to Congress
next winter.
It is understood that Atlanta
Georgia, is making a fight for the
location of this establishment i'll hel
vicinity, but we cannot see how such
proposition can be considered for
moment when we compare the claims
of the contestants: Admitting tina
Atlanta can offer every inducemen
at command Of any other large int
rior town, we contend that she cal
offer nothing more-now how IS
with East Pascagoulat First we hav'
a location on the sea coast where tn,
weather is spring time all the summer
and autumn all the winter. Then W
have beach almost equal to that a
Cape May, where the bathing is at al
times delightful. There we have i
the rear grand forests of the balsami
and health giving Southern pines
with glorious magnolia groves border
ing every little streamlet that meand
ers to the sea, while all along tn
coast gigantic live oaks offer the
tempting shade to those who ar
weary in mind or body. fn additio
to these charms,the Mississippi Scum
affords all the year'round the fines
opportunities for rowing and sailing
while its waters fairly swarm wit
fish Of every conceivable variety, an
every shallow is a natural oyster bee
The value of the inducements W
boz ned can only be fairly az
when it is remembered ths
.>fiomes are established for th
- occupancy of veterans whose days {
usefulness are past, and who requir
to be amused and employed as we
as fed and clothed; and who must NJ
be left to the soul eating inertia {
retrospection tor employment in the
old age-varied perhaps by the divi(
ing of time between the pipe and tt
hoe. Every comfort is provided f'