The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1885-12-04
COLONEL BERRY SPEAKS.
The Chairman OF the Soldiers Home
Commission has q Few
Words to Say.

Colonel w. w. Berry, chairman of the
soldiers home commission, who was at
Chicago yesterday, explained to an
Inter Ocean reporter that the similarity
of record made as to qualifications of five
different cities was largely the cause of
the delay of the commission in locating
the home. 1t seems that when the board
had completed its examination of the sew
eral competing sites, and spread Its rec-
ors out for canvass, there was found so
great uniformity in the record of the data
concerning the sites at Quincy, Decatur
Dixon, Rockford and Springfield that it
was impossible, under all conditions i'm
posed, to at once select the site most fitted
for the home. Accordingly, with nat
ural partisanship, those members of the
commission who were from competing
towns stood up for their own places, and
so the sessions became prolonged. The
board had to reach its judgment by de>
Gliding as to the place Offering the best
climatic advantages as well as the pres
ence of lake or river; and the key to the
final choice, says Colonel Berry, lies in
the fact that these two elements charac-
terized Quincy. This city is near the
fortieth parallel, near which il was con
tended the home should be located, and
not in some place farther north less
favora BILE to the condition of Old soldiers
suffering from various forms OF disease.
Quincy also offers river advantages as
well as extensive facilities for hunting
When the commission reached Quincy
Colonel Berry retired from the chair and
the deliberations of the board, desiring in
no way to color the opinions Of the hoard
| in favor of his own town. for Col. Berry
emphasizes the assertion that as mem bel
of the board he was not there to rep :
resent Quincy, but. in accord with the
motive of his appointment, to represent
the urand Army. And he believes he has
conscicn,iously done his duty. He say:
the expenses of the commission wcr'
about $3, 900, which leaves Il balance o
$1,000 of the $4,000 appropriated to
the EXPENSES of the location to the credi
of Quincy, which, as matter OF fact, do
mates for the site, property valued at VIZ,
500. The next step toward establishing
the home is the appointment within TIT
next ten days of its three truseees
Building will not, however, be begin ihi
season. Colonel Berry declares the boar'
was not worked" by any railroads. ant
says he knows only of one instance whci'
railroad men had approached the boarc
in the interests of II particular town.
THE RIGHT MAN.
Information received from ChlcaS,
this morning. stated that there was
movement on foot there to have Maj. il
c. Connolly, OF this city, appointed on
of the trustee under the law locating th
home. There will be three appointed
, two republicans and one demo crat. Maj
, Connolly, if designated by the governo
} as one, and as the democrat, would Civ
, unusual satisfaction, not only amonSs
democrats, but also amongst the old sol
J diers and the republicans wherever he /
known. Ifhe receives the app ointmcn'
it will come to him unsolicited on Iii
part, and be compliment which woul
be an honor to any man. As demo
, crat, as an old soldier, as IL citizen nj
man IN this community stands hishe
than Mai. Connolly. Gov. Oglesby wi
, do honor to himself if he appoints him