Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1886-06-26


The Governor Addresses Letter to the
Commander In Chief of the Grand
Army.
The following letter, which is self explan-
atory, has been sent out by Governor John
EXECUTIVE DEPARrMxNr,
STATE OF KANSAS.
TOPEKA, June 16, 1856. J
s. s. BurdeH, Esq. Commander in Chief Grand
Army OF the Republic. Washington, d. C.
SR:-Your letter of the 18th ult., request
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
or dependent relatives" was duly received.
In reply the following facts are presented:
In 1867 the legislature passed an act de-
claring as follows: THAT the state hereby
provides for the care and maintenance and
dren, who, by reason of the death or service
OF the parents or 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 education;
Prorided, This act not apply to children
born after the 9Th day of April, 1865, or to
minors over the age of 18 years."
Other sections provided that the State
university, State normal school and State
agricultural college should each receive,
maintain and educate such children upon
the terms and conditions prescribed in this
act:" that the governor should appoint a
board of commissioners 'for the care of the
destitute orphans and children of soldiers of
the state of Kansas" andlthat the regents Of
the State university, normal school and agri-
cultural college should ''receive, maintain
by the board of commissioners, and shall
receive therefor q sum not exceeding three
dollars per week." It 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. d."
l have not been able to ascertain that any
thing was done to carry out the provisions
of this act It had reference, you will OBJ
serve, only to the orphans and minor chill
dren of soldiers who enlisted in Kansas reg
iments or batteries, and who were born
prior to the 9th day of April, 1866, and it did
not apply to minors over the age of Is years.
1t is probable, therefore, that these limita-.
tons reduced the number of orphans or
minor children entitled to the bounty of the
state, and whose parents or protectors we're
unable to maintain and educate them, to
such small number that no applications
were ever made to the commissioners to
make provision for the care, maintenance
and education of orphans or minor children
of soldiers. Hence, it seems that this law
was largely dead letter on the statute
book, and as it was enacted nineteen years
ago, it is nov, by reason of the limitation
in the proviso l have quoted,
wholly imperative.
sented and advocated proposition to take
q census of all soldiers living in Kansas. The
legislature of 1888 made provision for such
and this work was done by
and city assessors in 1883 and
again in 1885. The returns of the assessors
we're compiled by the county clerks of the
several counties and by them transmitted to
the adjutant general of the state. The legis-
lature of 1885 made an appropriation for the
clerical work necessary 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 for that
purpose, and these records, when completed,
will give the postoffice address of every SOL
1ier now living in Kansas, the regiment and
company in which he served, his rank, and
the state from which he enlisted. The rec
ords for eight states, viz: Kansas, Illinois,
Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, New York, Min
ed. Over ninety thousand names
ire enrolled, and of these over
thirteen thousand are soldiers
rom Illinois, over ten thousand from Kan
,as, over nine thousand from Indiana, and
,ver seven thousand from Ohio. 1t is be-
ieved that more than one hundred thousand
Union soldiers now reside in this state, and
hat nearly every regiment in the service has
representatives in Kansas. The purpose of
Tiers to ascertain, on application to the ad-
utant general, the postoffice address of sur
1ving comrades who may be living in this
tate.
At the regular session of 1885, two laws
we're passed; one ''tO provide for the burial
# honorably discharged ex-Union soldiers,
ailors and marines who may hereafter die
Without leaving means to defray funeral ex-
lenses, and to provide head-stones to mark
heir graves" and the other ITO establish a
soldiers Orphans home, and for the gov
rnment and maintenance thereof. and
making an appropriation therefor
! send you full copy of the first men
Toned act: It provides, as you will see, that
he old veterans who won the battles of the |
Union. but failed in the uneven battle of |
ife, shall have honorable burial at the ex-
'ense OF the public.
The second act, that providing for Sol |
iers' Orphans home, declares that "said |
soldiers Orphans home shall be an institu-
ion for the nurture, education and main
ainance, without charge, for all INDECENT J
hildren of soldiers who served in the army |
r navy of the Union during the late rebel |
ion. and who have been disabled from |
rounds or disease, or who have since died
q INDECENT circumstances, and other indi-
ent orphan children of the state"
This home has been located at the city of |
.tchison, and the building is now in pro-
ress of erection. The plans have been pre-
AIRED to accommodate about 800 inmates, in q |
uilding about 235 feet in length. with an
verage width of something over fifty feet,
nd four finished stories: but the present ap-
$4,000, will only admit of
uilding one about 1O8 feet in length, with
for about 100, besides officers
nd employees. The city of Atchison do
ntnA& 90 he TOT 10 Co. hi 81