Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-02-14
NIuBrEEnrH ANNUAL REPoz7


The nineteenth annual report of the
Military and Naval Orphan Asylum is nearly
of from the press, and from it we make the
following abstract:
From the report of the President, Col.
Charles Ben Merrill, it appears that there
are at present {S0) eighty children belonging
to and inmates of the Home. The whole
number belonging through the year is lis
and of these "a have been provided with
homes with parties in different sections of the
State, or returned TO their parents, or to the
persons by whom they were sent to the
asylum. One of the children has died from
consumption The general health of the
children has been good and no severe or
dangerous epidemic has visited the institution.
Every attention to the hygienic and sanitary
condition of the house and grounds has been
given by the trustees, and the addition of a
bountiful supply of pure water by means of
the new '.City Water Works has undoubted-
ly aided materially in producing favorable
results. The constant and untiring viligance
Of the ''house physician" DIR. Briry of Bath,
deserves special mention.
The benefits of the Maine General Hos
pital were gratuitously extended for several
weeks TO lad belonging 10 the Asylum,
whose condition required treatment which
could not be had in any other way.
Acknowle dgment is made of favors re-
ceived from the various transportation COM
panies of the State, viz: X. & L. X. r., Z. &
o. K. r. and especially the Maine Central
Railroad, and the Eastern Steamboat Com
pany.
Owing TO the large number of children
one hundred and fifteen 115) during the
year, with an average of seventy-six (761 and
present belonging of eighty (S0)-the funds
at the disposal of the treasurer were INSULT
cient to meet the running expenses of the in
stitution and he is obliged to report deficien-
cy of 81 ,62043 which the next legislature
will be asked to provide for in the next APP
preparation for the Asylum.
The Trustees were placed in the position
of having larger number of inmates at the
Home than had been expected. and the alter
native was presented of turning away de-
serving recipients of the bounty of the State,
or continuing them until the matter could be
brought to the attention of the Legislature
and State authorities. While feeling the re-
sponsibility resting upon them as almoners of
the bounty of the State, the Trustees believe
that they would serve the State best by a
wise liberality rather than nggardly parsi-
mony, and that it would be better to continue
the management in accordance with the
charter, on the same broad and liberal scale
as in previous years keeping the doors open
for 'all destitute orphan children of soldiers,
sailors and marines in the late war of the
rebellion, who served on the quota of Maine"
The average cost of maintenance per capita,
for 1887, has been Sl266l
In June last, by the kindness of Payson
Tucker (the ever constant and large hearted
friend of the Orphans Home the children
were given an outing, with ride in the cars
to Augusta, with an opportunity of visiting
the capitol, and inspecting the various
objects of interest, including the battle flags
borne by their fathers in the war of the
rebellion. While at the State House they
were kindly received by Governor Bodwell,
who expressed much interest in them, and
finding one little child haling from Hal
lowell. with his characteristic love of
children,-he took her in his own private
carriage and drove with her to see her
parents home, and then brought her back
IN season to join the party on their return to
Bath. At the funeral obsequies of the
Governor, last MONTH a delegation of the
same children attended and placed upon his
bier wreath of immortelles, in token of
their regard. The little child who had
received the special kindness. had some
months earlier preceded him into the spirit
land into the presence of Him who, when
on earth, said, "Inasmuch as ye have done
it to one of the least of these my brethren,
We did it unto me-"
The REPORT OF THE TREASURER,
II. A. Duncan, shows that should there be
no decrease in the number of inmates during
the coming year, the most rigid economy
will be necessary in all directions in order
to prevent serious deficiency at its close.
No change has been made in the invested
fund, which now is as follows: 5000 New
Orleans, 6 per cent bonds; 1000 Bath,
per cent bonds; 200 Bath, 6per cent bonds;
1000 Pittsburg. 5 per cent bonds; 1000
State of Maine, 6 per cent bonds.
The buildings, furniture and stores are all
insured in what are believed to be sound and
honorable insurance companies.
A detailed account of the receipts and ex
penditures for the year 1887 is submitted, of
which the following is summary;
DR.
To balance from last year, s20i 81