The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1886-12-03

anu Is
.i.,s KiGaT, to be forfeited only by
bad conduct ut the Home, or conviction
of heinous crimes"
The Soldiers Home represents the
sentiment of the State towards the ideal
hero of the war. 1t is II memorial to the
dead rs well as a retreat for the honor
ably disabled survivors of the war. Ii
must, therefore, in the durability and
character not only do honor to the scn-
timent and dignity of the State at The
present time, and be IN object Ia which
every citizen in this gencralIon can point
with pride, but II should be- something
which will reflect honor upon the State
twenty or thirty years from now, when
ITS population shall be- million or two
more than now, AMI When the inmates
of the home shall be in the decline of
life.
A State like Minnesota, which receiv-
ed as a gift from Congress the muniii-
cent dover of 1850 acres of land in every
township for an inviolable school fund
now amounting to over five million dol
lars, and destined to reach the amount
of twelve million dollars, cannot afford
and should not be permitted to do any
thing mean in the way of establishing u
Soldiers Home. Her veneration for
the memory of her heroes who in rosy
youth sacrificed their lives in the war
will of itself constrain her to create a
Home that will be worthy of her name
Il generation or two hence rs we'll as
now. Its situation should be where the
sanitary conditions are unexceptionable,
with plenty of pure water, ample
grounds, and easily accessible to visitors
from all parts of the State.
Not only are the buildings of the diff
ferent National Soldiers Homes elegant
and durable, but the park grounds be.
longing to each are, in most cases, ex'
tensive. AS is well known the grounds
of the National Home at Washington
City, are large and beautiful. The
Northwestern Branch Home near Mil
waukee, has $40 acres very finely situat.
Ell, purchased ut a cost of 500, 000-tht
proceeds of fair made by the ladies o
Milwaukee-andd donated to the govern
ment. The Central Branch, located neal
Dayton, Ohio, has charming grounds o
627 acres. The Western Branch a
Leavenworth, has $40 acres which tina
city not only donated but embelllshe,
at an additional expense of $50, 600. Tn,
Eastern Branch about five miles from
Augusta, Maine, has tract of 100 acres
We thus see that extensive and embel
lished parks form an important featur,
of every Soldiers Home, and it shout,
he insisted upon, if Home he establish
eel in Minnesota, that it shall have
large and finely situated tract of land.
l Congress appropriates over Il million
dollars year for the support of the diff
fcrcnt National Soldiers Homes. |
Minnesota shall establish State Home
the expense of maintaining il would b,
considerable every year. Whether, il
view of the fnct that there are now s,
many disabled ex-soidiers IN Minnesot,
and Dakota, Congress would create an
other Branch Home IN this State, | an
not i'm position to express an opinion
The distance from the Branch Home Il
Milwaukee to some eligible site in Min
nesota is very little more than it is from
the Branch Home at Dayton, Ohio, I,
that at Milwaukee. 1t Is safe to say
anyhow, that the action of Congress il
such case would be very considerable,
influenced by the inducements which
our State would offer for having such ,
Branch Home established in its limits
{. G. ANDREWS,
Formerly Colonel Sd Regiment, MINI
Vol. Infantry; Brig. and Bv't Maj
| Genl u. S. Vols.