The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1885-05-28
From a Comrade on the Pacific Coast.

To THE EDITOR: Our town may fairly be
called suburb of San Francisco, for the dis
tance which separates US from the great me-
tropolis of the Pacific is so short that many
business men who have their office in the city
make Haywards or its vicinity their home and
place of residence. / will not 80 into ecstacies
about the climate, the scenery, the surround
ings, etc, of this place for these and similar
topics have been discussed more than suifi-
cieutly by newspaper correspondents and the
press of the coast generally. 1t is sufficient to
state that our part of the country is an exceed
ingly prosperous one. The soil is very rich,
producing the greatest variety of fruit imagin-
able, as well as the leading descriptions of
cereals. Abundant, cheap and rapid transporta-
tion enable the farmer to dispose of his produce
without difficulty, and with comparatively little
expense, in San Francisco. Among the popula-
tion there are quite number of old soldiers,
but hardly sufficient as yet to Justify the estab-
lishment of GAR. Post. Most of them are
scattered among the surrounding villages and
farms at more or less distances, and cannot al
ways make it convenient to attend to the meet
ings with any thing like regularity. Some of
them are members of Posts in San Francisco
of which there are at present six. Two of
them-LincOln Post aud Gen. Thomas Post
are in very iourishing condition. their men,
bership varying between $50 and 45O each.
They are, moreover, in possession Of ample
means to provide for destitute comrades We
have in this State a Veterans Home, which is a
comparatively new institution for it is hardly
two years since it was sufficiently wel-organ-
lied to provide applicants with shelter and
food. The building is located in the center of
the beautiful Napa Valley, which has by this
time acquired worldwide reputation as the
most fertile and productive district for vine
culture The ground was purchased with
money raised by the eXertions and under the
auspices of members of the GAR, but it
proved to be here, as it is in other parts of the
world where charitable institutions were erect
ed difficult task to give satisfaction in regard
to its management to all concerned; or, at least
to all of those who concern themselves in it.
Things gosm0othly now, however, and the home
lis in fair way of becoming a self-supporting
institution within the near future.
When it is considered that we live at great
distance from the center of activity, commerce
aud enterprise for which the American Nation
enjoys an enviable reputation, it must be con-
ceded that the veterans of this coast are not
behind their Eastern comrades in point of the
interest which they take in the upholding.
nursing, encouraging and propagating that
spirit OF mutual good fellowship, that esprit de
corps which has done SO much in the days of
trial towards securing victories under the old
banner in face of the most adverse circum-
stances We have at present OH this coasS 66
Grand Army Posts, with an aggregate number
Posts and almost 800 members in "a as CON-
pared with the official reports Of the preceding
year There are many active and efficient
comrades who take great interest in the pros
perity of our institution, and this has but q
few days ago been amply demonstrated on the
occasion of the Encampment which has Just
adjourned. after having elected new officers.
Comrade Wariield is now our Department Com
mander, and he has appointed Col. w. p. Smed-
berg, who IS commander of the I'd Art, N. g.,
stationed at San Francisco, Assistant Adjutant-
General.
The aforementioned Eucampment ended
with Campfire. attended by more than 700
comrades, all of whom seemed to enjoy hugely
the army bill of fare of pork ard beans, ETC.,
and there was no end TO the spicy toasts, songs,
recitatiOns, speeches. all of which were inter-
spersed by the able performances of the Oak
land City Band. The Womans Relief Corps
connected with the GAR. also held their an
nual meeting; and many q comrade in distress
is indebted to these ladies for the kind assist
ance which he or his family enjoy at their
hands. 1t is the ambition Of all those who take
a real interest in Grand Army matters-and
you may be sure that there are not few of
them-that the National Encampment of 1886
should be held in San Francisco We all hope
it may be SO, and we will give our Eastern
comrades most hearty welcome i'm the true off
hand, fraternal style aud spirit for which the
Californians are known the world 0ver.-A. T.,
Haywards, Alameda Co., Cal