The Ottawa free trader., 1885-08-22
Soldiers Home Commission.

The commissioners appointed by Gov.
Oelesby to locate the Soldiers Home arrived
in this city Thursday afternoon from Oswego
over the Burlington, which city was inspect-
ed that forenoon. The commissioners had
few hours previously visited Aurora and ex-
amined the site offered by that city. Those
composing the commission, all of whom
were present here, were Commander Of the
G. A. r. Department of Illinois WV. Barry,
of Quincy; Gen. M. R. M. Wallace, Of Chi
cago Col. Nj. G.. Crawford, circuit judge,
Jonesboro, H.; Col. II. 7. Noble, Dixon
Hon. F. L. Bryant, Bement, H.; Capt H..
NJ. Hall, Olney, H., secretary of the board,
and Capt Fred. o. White, mayor of Aurora.
On the arrival of the commission they
were met at the Burlington depot by the
citizens committee: Mayor L. c. Allen,
Senator James W. Duncan, Col. D. Hape-
man, Capt. T. c. Fullerton, Capt D. A. Cook,
Col. T. c. Gibson, Circuit Clerk W. W. Tay-
| lor, Clerk of the Supreme Court A. H. Tay-
lor and Hon. Henry Mayo. The visitors
were escorted to Buffalo Rock, where the af
ternoon was mostly spent in examining that
beautiful site, the commissioners expressing
themselves as very well pleased with the
place and saying that it was the best location
they had so far visited. The citizens COM
posing the committee spared no pains or ex-
pense in Hospitality entertaining the visitors,
who spent the night at the Clifton, leaving
early next morning for Peoria, where they
inspected site near that city.
The modus operandi of the commission is
to mark places inspected from 80 to 100, the
former being of course the lowest and 100
the best. There are Is points to be consid
cred in the marking Of each location or site
offered.
Buffalo Rock has interested them strongly
in the principal points to be considered. Its
elevation, drainage facilities, location as to
railroads and river and salubrity of climate
being by far the best yet inspected. No site
for the Home will DO that is inland, and the
advantages here offered, the picturesqueness
of the place, the grand scenery, all Of which
being taken into consideration favorably i'm
pressed the commission as the best site so
far visited. The Rock is the 18th place in.
spectcd by the commission and % are yet to
be examined; but if the merits of Buffalo
Rock as the best site for the Home in the
state receive the honest consideration at
their hands that it certainly deserves and is
entitled to, there is no danger of its being To-
Gated elswhere. Twelve sites which had
been offered in various parts of the state
were rejected as utterly impracticable and
out of the question. The commission ex-
pect to finish their labors next month, when
blanks will be sent each city for answering
questions concerning the sites visited, such
as cost, titles to land, &c. The members
who compose the board are evidently con-
sidering the weighty matter which has been
imposed upon them, and that an honest pref
erence based on the merits of the site which
they may select will be arrived at is the
opinion borne out by their visit to this city.
SO far Ottawa certainly stands the best
chance for the location of the Home, because
| it has offered the best site.