Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1886-12-01
STATE SOLDIERS HOME,

We are in receipt Of letter from Gen.
G. c. Andrews Of St. Paul, advocating
State Soldiers Home. We are glad
to see this question agitated, and publish
with pleasure extracts from the letter.
ST.. PAUL. Nov. 2e. 1885.
To the Editor Of the ISanscrtps.
As contributing little to the discus
sion of an important public matter, I
hope it will not be deemed intrusive on
my part to state that q large number of
ex-vOlunteers now residing in Mime.
sofa, earnestly wish and confidently ex-
pect that the approaching Legislature
will take proper measures for the es-
tablishment of Soldiers Home. The
platforms both of the Democratic and
Republican parties and the nominees Of
both parties for Governor strongly and
explicitly declared for such a home, and
there can be scarcely any doubt that the
Legislature will take action in the
matter.
The State of Michigan has lately
established Soldiers Home at Grand
Rapids, the buildings alone costing
100000 The grounds, consisting of 1872
acres were donated by the city of Grand
Rapids. The cost of the Illinois Soldiers
and Sailors Home at Quincy, including
grounds. was $500, 1000. The grounds
comprise 40 acres, but are considered
insufficient. The benefits of these State
Homes are not restricted to those who
served in military organization of the
respective States. but may be enjoyed by
any ex-soldier, coming within the pre-
scribed conditions, who has been resi-
dent of the State for year.
The principle which Is characteristic
both of the National and State
Homes is emphatlcally against the idea
ofla charity and is expressed IS follows,
by the manager of the National Home:
1.-THE provision is net a charity, but Is
. reward to the brave and deserving, and
is THEIR RIGHT. to be forfeited only by
bad conduct at the Home, or conviction
of heinous crimes"
A State like Minnesota, which received
as gift from Congress the muhi6cent
dover 1880 acres of land in every town
ship for an lnviolable scnool fund. now
amounting to over i've million dollars.
and destined to reach the amount of
twelve million dollars, cannot afford and
should not be permitted to do anything
mean in the way of establishing q
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 Home that
will be worthy of her name q generation
or two hence - well as now. Its situa-
tien should be where the sanitary condi-
tons are unexceptlonable, with plenty
of pure water, ample grounds. and easily
accessible to visitors from Ill parts Of
the State ~s- j.. = !.
Congress appropriates over million
dollars ayear for the support Of the diff
ferent National Soldiers Homes. If
Minnesots shall establish State Home,
the expense of maintaining il would be
considerable every year. Whether, in
view of the fact that there are now 80
many disabled ex.soldiers in Minnesota
and Dakota, Congress would create an
other Branch Home in this State. I am not
! in position to express IN opinion. The
distance from the Branch Home at Mil
| waukee to some eligible site in Minnesota
10 very little moro than it 10 from the
Branch Home at Dayton, Ohio. to that
| at Milwaukee. 1t is safe TO say, any
how, that the action Of Congress in such
case would be very considerably in
duenced BY the inducements which OUT
State would sffer for having such q
Branch Home established In its limits.
| G. c. ANDREWS,
Formerly Colonel Sd Regiment, MINI.
| Vel. Infantry; Brig. and Bv't Maj.
Genl q. 8. Vols. s'..