The Hot Springs star. (Hot Spings [Hot Springs], Dakota [Dakota Territory, i.e. S.D.]) 1886-189?, 1889-06-07

two members of the soldiers home
has done, in the location OF
the site of the soldiers home at Hot
Springs. Did Gen. Hammond ever con
suit any citizen of Dakota in the mat
ter of the location of the soldiers home?
No sir. He came here with one Fred
I. Evans of Sioux City, Iowa, man
who was old enough, big enough and
strong enough to have entered the ar
my during the late war but who did
not do so. believe he was the only
individual consulted in the matter or
who knew any thing about the site To-
Gated for the soldiers home. Gen.
Hammond can you show another man
except Fred T. Evans, Of Sioux City,
who was consulted in any way or man.
ner whatever, about the location ct the
soldiers home. 1t was in my opinion,
and the community generally, located
at his instance and for his individual
interest. Evans owns the land on all
sides, but one, of the proposed site, and
the soldiers home building when erect
ed, is SO situated as to command full
view Of Evans hotel. Evans is not
the one to censure, but the committee
/ believe he used. These are facts and
no denials will avail. What Hammond
has, or is to receive, is the question for
future development. Perhaps he wants
to be president of the board ur its super
intendent, as this would fit in nicely.
The location of the site of the sol
dlers' home. it seems to me, would work
great hardship to the old soldier. who
expects to receive the great benefit |
know the use of the waters would be
to him. Every old soldier, and in fact
every citizen of Dakota is. or should be
interested in the proper location of the
Home. .f the committee did the best
their judgement directed, they were
surely incompetent: if they acted from
other motives, the execration OF every
right minded II an should follo. them.
Its location will certainly work a great
hardship to the old soldier who is ey-
pected to occupy the Home. / think /
have the interest Of Hot Springs at
heart to as great an extent and as con-
sistent as Hammond, Evans ct al, and
therefore did not propose to sit IDLY
by and see what / believed to be an
outrage perpetrated on all the peo-
pie Of Dakota without entering my
protest. This did to Col. James. q
member Of the committee, last July,
when they were at the Springs. My
opposition to the scheme of certain
location of the Home. aroused the ire
of Evans and his cohorts and they then
declared unrelentins war upon me
in every way possible. They have new
er made q public charge against me OF
dishonesty or corruption and they dare
not do 1t. They 90 it privately, ma
licicusly. sreakingly and lyingly. Gen
Hammond l am afraid. from associ;l-
tion, will be corrupted. Anv statement
I have made to anv enc in Ho! Spring S
l am able and willing to defend and
maintain. 1 scas the only delegaic from
Hot Spriagst to the Encampment. BE
low l give the amount sent to the sol.
diers home committee for expenses a
Bismarck:
4 Hot Springs. $500 90
Y f. T. Evans. 300 %
Encampnent, $50 90
Total, $3.50 90
This is quite sum for parties tina
were practically at no expense, as
soldiers home committee, except then
board during the session. Col. Jane
,. as understand it. was the only effcc
tive worker on the committee and de
serves praise-(he was not the treas
urcr.) If all the reports are true that
: have heard about at least. one membe
of the committee. some of the expense
could be explained. may, if necessa
ry, investigate these rulnors and Sc
what truth there is in them and tel
your readers IN some future commnni
cation. | may also inquire into TIL
: matter whether parties were put o
the roll as delegates at the last in
; campment without the authority @
r law or precedent. That Hot Spring
, is the place for the soldiers home
. know, that the selection of the sit
; needs explanation, I believe.
; A. S. STEWART.