Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1886-12-01
THE NATIONAL HOME.
A Visit to the Central Branch at
Dayton. O.
How Uncle Sam Takes Care OF Kis Vet
erans-Description OF the Unique Glen
Garden and Boulevard System
Interesting Facts.

MARIA r. Butlct. in Harper's Magn1;ne.i
The Central branch, for the Midd q States,
Is located in the Miami valley, near Day
ton, O., about midway between Columbus
and Cincinnati. Besides the large area of
choice farming land on its 627 acres, there
wore originally natural advantages IS of up
land and glen, mineral and other springs,
rendering it susceptible of charming pos!
sibilities-a result long since realized -
making it to-day one Of she most inviting
PLACES of resort.
Its central location renders It the largest
branch of the National Homs--the total Of
present members being almost equal to the
number designed to be accommodated by
the great French military asylum. The
buildings required for this soldier commu-
nity-including hotel, restaurant and the
dwellings Of officers in charge-form by
their numbers and structure an imposing
array. These include and are SURROUNDED
by an extent OF ground-kIewn in
military parlance as "the camp''-under
tho special supervision OF 9 landscape
gardener, the same being interssct,d by
thirty-two miles of broad avenues, each
one named for State Of the Union-a
statement conveying some conception Of
the inadequate idea Of details that the av-
erage visitor Of q day is likely to bear away
with him.
Not first in Importance by any means,
but In this connection, comes the unique
glen garden It is reached from different
points by descending stone s.air-ways,
hanked ON either side BY gay platoons OF
witching growths. Its shaded banks crop
ping out with continual surprises OF fresh
exuberance, inclose various attractions OF
cascade, springs and floral splendors, as
well as scores of tropical marvels, includ-
lug stately palms and a purple-green
grove Of bananas The loiterer and loun.
ger may find embowered seats and shady
hooks, while the curious plant-lover ever
on the alert, may quietly pursue bis
rounds, and finally, il he choose, ascend
by steps directly into q conservatory,
whose strange company of extraordinary
growths may somehow remind him OF Jun.
giles and if be stumble against spotted
coil of boa-like cactus, he may think he is
In one; but happily, being on the second
floor, he will find ready escape to the COM
mon level of The earth again. Near at hand
rises palm-hous, thirty Ave feet in height
and ninety-feet long. The total area of
conservatory space outside of this is COW
cred by %, 600 feet of glass.
We turn next to the hospital building.
The helpless inva,ids are secured against
the perils of conflagrat.on by a fre-proof
arrangement, consisting of a tunnel two
hundred feet in length, and over seven
feet square, which connects the hospital
with the building containing steam-boilers
and fuel deposit. Through this channel
run the steam and water pipes and rail.
way tor conveying coal.
Soon after the occupancy Of the building
by patients, the Northern Ohio Soldiers
Aid Society presented an elegant carriage
and horses for their exclusive use. There
are usually from 800 to 400 patients here
assigned, according to disab lity, TO the
upper and lower wards Passing through
the latter, one may see the invalids vari-
ously occupied, some deftly making work
baskets of self-binding bits of wood, and
other useful and ornamental articles.
The crowded condition Of this large hos
pital has been recently relieved by the
erection OF four additional wards, and by
the removal to the Government hospital at
Washington of the insane patients ss
The men occupying the large hall above
the dining room have been removed to
new barrack building, aud that room con-
verted into dining hall, SO that now bv
having two sittings at each meal in both
halls, the men are amply accommodated.
But still further Improvement on all this
is hoped for with the opening of the new
Western branch. To convey an idea Of
the amount OF food consumed at this one
clearinghouse OF Uncle Sans, the guam
tity furnished for a recent dinner for 4 300
men may be given as a fair sample OF
beef there were over 1900 pounds; of
bread, 100 pounds; of sugar, 2i0 pounds:
Of potatoes, so bushels; of coffee, 200 gal
IONS and 900 pies.
The post-oftice, where the United States
mail is delivered direct, is always q
gathering-pis',e before mail-tirne Tor the
soldiers anxious to be first served. Under
the shady trees or in a sunny corner, as
the weather may incline, they engage in
social exchange OF sit in silent expectancy
while thus waiting for the malt.
The number of letters an1 cards mailed
here during tho year, as per last report.
was 1850 the number received being
13l, 46l
The various appliances Of steam and ma
chine-y render it possible to accomplish
marvels hero in the line OF domestic labor.
as shown by the one item of laundry work,
there being au average of 800 pieces in
the weekly wash
The number OF soldiers scared for'' at
this branch for the year ended June 30,
1884, was7, l46. Of these, 1857 were of foreign
birth; 235 were from Germany and Prus-
sia, !. 4o3 from Ireland and 259 from En-
gland.
For each OF the three fiscal years ended
June, 1884, Che amount appropriated py
Congress for the support of this branch
averages 81, 13s, ,046.67, while the estimate
for the last fiscal year was 81, ,237, ,I34-an
increase proportionate TO the increase Of
members.
The number OF present and absent'' in
June, 1856, was 5 244, and the actual num-
ber present 4, l57. a pitiful showing, in
view Of the delightful season, when fur
loughs are in request by all who are able
to use them. Private official returns from
the other branches gives US total OF over
10000 m members of the National Military
Home; and it is estimated there will be no
decrease in number for some time to come
In view CT tho large class hitherto able to
take care OF themselves, but who now are
becoming dependent by reason OF age and
infirinity.