The National tribune., 1884-07-24
THE WESTERN SOLDIERS HOME

by the Board Of Managers of the National
Homo for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers of a site,
and tie erection Of suitable building for a
western Home, as web as for an inquiry into the
ACCESSIBILITY of acquiring the new Homo just
completed by voluntary subscriptions and State
aid at Napa, Cal, and establishing another
branch Home in tho State of Michigan, has
become law, it is TO be hoped that prompt
and judicious action will be taken. There is
no question that all three of these Homes ought
to be maintained by the Government. Our
California comrades have done splendidly, but
they form but small part Of the population
of that State, and are unequal TO the task of
supporting an institution of sufficient magni-
tude to accommodate the disabled volunteers
of the Pacific coast. We are of the opinion, also,
that there Is need of branch in Michigan
The total number of soldiers cared for at exist
ing Homes, namely, those at Dayton, Mil
waukee, Augusta and Hampton, during the
year 1883, was but Ia, z04; while the number of
ex-soldiers still surviving is at least 100000, OF
whom s46,811 live east, and 353,1S9 west, of
the Mississippi To accommodate ali the dis
sbled soldiers living between the Alleghanies
and the Mississippi there are now but two
Homes in operation-those at Dayton and Mil
waukee-with capacity of but 10, 900 soldiers;
are very much over-crowded. AS to the ne
cessity of Home west of the Mississippi there
can be no sort of question, and as Congress
has definitely authorized the establishment of
such Home, the only point to be decided now is
what location is best adapted for the purpose
In this connection it may be interesting to our
readers to learn what places are most pronni-
nently mentioned as affording proper site for
Home. Our Kansas comrades suggest the
Fort Riley reservation at Junction City, Kan,
which is vast tract of % 600 acres. The Kan
sas and Republican Rivers meet at this point,
forming the Kaw, and the city is very Access
| sible by railway. Of our Iowa comrades some
favor the town Of Atlantic, where there is a
beautiful rolling prairie, and plenty of timber
and commanding site; willis others think
the Home ought to be located at Burlington or
Council Bluffs. We do not know that our
Missouri friends have expressed any preference,
as yet, but the sentiment Of our Nebraska sol
diers is divided between three locations, name
": Plattsmouth, where 6,O0o acres on the
Missouri River afford fine and healthy site
| Milford, which is place of great natural
beauty, with living springs. heavy timber, and
| in many respects perhaps the finest natural site
| in the State; and the Fort Mcpherson reserva-
ton. which, though it may be now regarded by
some as too far west, viii be more convenient
to such of our disabled veterans as are now OF
may hereafter be living in the Territories. In
addition, it should be mentioned that the State
Legislature of Iowa has appropriated 5000
towards the erection Of such Home should il
be erected within that State.
We do not presume, of course, to say
which location should be selected, but we
| trust that the question viii not be decided
by the Board of Managers until they have
made very careful examination of all the
sites suggested And NOW there is another
point in regard to the Soldiers Home which We
think Of the greatest Importance and deserving
of the attention of the National Encampment
We refer to the fact that, except in the case Of
this new western Home, the bill authorizing
the establishmentof which provides specifically
for the admission Of ex-sailors as well as sol
| diers, our ex-sailors and marines are entirely
denied their benefits. Upon this point Com
rade William Simmons, of Philadelphia, lats
through whose instrumentality the first naya
Post in the Grand Army was established thi
last Winter in Philadelphia, writes US as fol
lows:
To THE EDITOR: For the first time in the history
OF the g. A. r. it Is proposed 10 have the Navy rep
resented in the coming National Encampment a
Minneapolis. II is a weIi-known fact that the ma
val veterans are denied the benefits of privilege
and favors SO eheerfully bestowed on our more for
tunate comrades Of the Army. Facts might readil!
be brought forward to prove that this state of af
fairs really exists but it is evident that no well
informed person will deny it. Now, In considera
lion OF the valuable service rendered by the Nay.
In the war of Tie rebellion submit In all fair
ness that this is piece Of gross Injustice. iirml
believe that but for the service rendered by on
gallant Navy to the boys IN blue, Southern Con
federacy would be in existence to-day.
Yet, how has this service been appreciated? Be
cause we have no Admirals or Conmodores Il
Congress, our requests treated with contempt
our rights are ignored, and on account of our nu
naericaI weakness we are scarcely recognized. w
| are denied the benefits OF the bounty act of Jul
o. 1866, and the bounty equalization bill pendin
In the Congress just closed proposed also to cut
out But we had that bill laid out before 1t say
light, as all unjust measures ought to be.
Then, again, the doors of the National Home
are closed against us, and other wrongs too eriey
GUS to endure and too numerous to mention ST
| heaped upon us. combined effort ought now
be made to right these wrongs We believe it ca
be done by the G. A. r., and we appeal to our con
| rades for their cooperation. Naval comrades VIII
are going to Minneapolis, either as delegates {
visitors, who will take part In this movernen
please address me, care Of Commander-in- Chi
Beath, at Minneapolis.
We heartily indorse the above sentiment
and We urge the delegates TO the National Ell
campment TO make a special recommendatio
to Congress in favor of the modification of til
existing law so as to admit all ex-sailors an
marines to the various branches of the Nations