Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1886-06-26

The Governor Addresses a Letter to the
Commando in Chief of the Grand
Army.
The following letter, which is self. explain
atOry, has been sent out by Governor john
A. Martin:
EEECUIIFE DEPARTMENT,
STATE or Kansas. :
TOPEKA, June I6 1886. J
S. s.. Bltrdstf, Esq, Commander 10 CHIEF Grand
-4rlly Of the Republic, Washington, D. c.
SR:-Your lstts- of the 18th uIt., request
ing statement of what has been done by
the state of Kansas, Through provision
made by the legislative authorities IN aid OF
the survivors OF the armies OF the union,
who participated IN the war of the rebellion
or for their widows and orphans, or for 9th
CT dependent relatives ~ was duly received.
In reply the following facts are presented:
In 1867 the legislature passed am act de-
claFlng as follows: THAT the state hereby
provides Tor the care and maintenance and
education OF all orphans and minor chill
dreni who, by reason OF the death or service
Of the parents OF natural protectors IN the
military service of the United States during
the late war, in any volunteer regiment bat
terry CT battalion, by enlistment from this
state have been deprived of the means OF
such care, maintenance and educations
PrOUided, This act not apply to children
born after the 9Th day of april 1866, or to
minors over the age OF Is years
Other sections provided that the State
university State normal school and State
agricultural college should each receive,
anu E~-A-+Lg sl4--A
the terms and conditions prescribed In this
acti' that the governor should appoint
board OF commissioners ''tCr the care of the
destitute orphans and children OF soldiers of
the state of Kansas audEthaU the regents of
the State university, normal school and agri-
cultural college should receive, maintain
and educate all children placed in their care
by the board of commissioner, and shall
receive therefor sum not exceeding three
dollars per week" 1t was further provided
that all bills and accounts made under this
act should be sustained by affidavit and
approved by the commissioners, the gov
ernor and state auditor, and paid by the
state treasurer out OF any moneys IN the
state treasury not otherwise appropriated
have not been able to ascertain that any
thing was done to carry out the provisions
OF TINS act. II had reference, you Will OBJ
serve only 70 the orphans and minor chill
dren OF soldiers who enlisted in Kansas reg
lLnents or batteries, and who we're born
PRIOR to he Sth day of April, 1860, and it did
not apply to minors over the age of Is years.
III Is probable therefore, that these lm1La-
tons reduced the number of orphans or
minor children entitled to the bounty of the
state and whose parents or protectors were
unable 10 maintain and educate them, to
such small number that no applications
We're ever made to the commissioners TO
make provision for the care, maintenance
and education of orphans or minor children
OF soldiers. Hence, 1t seems that this law
was largely a dead letter on the statute
book, and as it was enacted nineteen years
ago, II Is nOW5 by reason of the Limitation
emDodled IN the prOVlsO have quoted,
wholly imperative.
In 1850 the newspapers of the state pre-
scented and advocated a proposition to take
census OF all soldiers living IN Kansas. The
legislature of 1888 made provision for such
enrolment and this work was done by
township and city assessors in 1888 and
again in 1885. The returns of the assessors
were compiled by the county clerks of the
several counties and by them transmitted to
the aoJutant general of the state. The iegis-
laTuFe of 1888 made an appropriation for the
clerical work necesE lry to record the names
of each soldier IN Kansas, and the work is
now IN progress. The names are being re-
corded IN books especially prepared IOr that
purpose, and these records, wh=l completed,
VIII give the pUstOtlce address of every sol
dler now living in Kansas, the regiment and
company In which lac served, his rank. and
tbs state from which he enlisted. The rec
ords for eight states, VIZ: Kansas, Illinois,
nesCTa and Wisconsin are now fully compile
ted. Over ninety thousand names
are enrolled, and of these over
thirteen thousand are soldiers
from Illinois, over ten thousand from Kan
sass over nine thousand from Indiana, and
over seven thousand from Ohio. 1t is be
ueNed that more than one hundred thousand
Union soldiers now reside in this state, and
that nearly every regiment in the service has
representatives. In Kansas. The purpose of
the enrolment thus made is to enable sol
dlers to ascertain, on application to the ad-
Jutant general, the pOsJohic6 address of sur
wing comrades who may be living in this
state.
At the regular session of 1885, two laws
We're passed; one so provide for the burial
of hOnOrably discharged eZ-UuiOn soldiers,
sailors and marines who may hereafter die
without leaving means to defray funeral eZ-
penses5 and to provide head-st0nes to mark
their graves;' and the other ''tO establish
Soldiers Orphans home, and for the gov
eminent and maintenance rHaranF
making an appropriation therefor"
send you tull copy of the first men
toned act: 1t provides, as You Will see, that
the old veterans who won the battles OF the
Union, but failed in the uneven battle of
life, shall have honorable burial at the ex-
peuss of the public.
The second act, that providing for q Sol
diers' Orphans home, declares that f'said
Soldiers Orphans home shall be an institG-
ton for the nurture, education and main
talnauce, without charge, for all INDECENT
children o. soldiers who served IN tine army
or navy OF the Union during the late rebel
hons and who have been disabled from
wounds or disease, or who have since died
IN INDECENT circumstances, and other indi-
gent orphan children of the state"
This home has been located at the city of
Atchls0n, and the building Is now in pro
gress OF erection. The plans have been pre-
pared to accommodate about 800 inmates. IN
building about 30 feet in length, with
average width of something over fifty feet,
preparation, $4,000, viii only admit of
building one about los feet in length, with
accommodations for about 100, besides officers
and employees. The city of Atchison do
mated to the state, as a site for the home, a
beautiful tract of land overlooking the Mis-
souri, river, and embracing 160 acres, and
also $500 in cash. The building viii prob
ably be ready for the reception of orphan
children by the first of January, prOx.-
need not tell you that Kansas is pre-emi-
nently a soldier State. Occupying, as you
do the exalted position at the head of the
rand Army of the Republic, you have be-
fore yOu facts. figures and EtaUictics to es-
ablIsh this. ] refer to this only as an gzsur-
ance that the capacity of the Soldiers Or
phans' Home VIII be enlarged, from time
TO me- TO meet all demands for room for
INDECENT orphan children Of the defenders Of
the republic.
AT the special session of 1856, another law
was passed by the legislature, entitled can
act relating to the appointment and en-
plcymenU OF persons who served and have
been honorably discharged from the AMY
ana navy Of the United States" enclose
You ful copy of this law, which provides
that the living soldiers shall have Just Off
cial recognition.
Yours very truly,
JOIN A. AIAETIy.
The well being Of both the eve and
the lamb requires that the latter be
Veaned at a certain time VVasuirrr Ia