The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-11-19
OLD SOLDIERS.
Inspection of Their Home at
YOuntyille.
General Averill Visits the Institution We'll
Pleased With the Result-Improvs-
ments Under Way.

omclal capacity OIL luspecboi-0cHcidl VI
National Homes for disabled volunteer SOL
| diers, paid visit to the Soldiers Home at
| Yountville, accompanied by several of the
Directors of that institution, among whom
| were: Judge ]. A. Waymire, Major E. r.
Merrimau, Major George w. Waits. Colonel
| II. T. Smith and the Secretary of the board,
| Colonel A. L. Rockwell. The Commandant
| Captain William McCleave, who had been
| spending brief furlough with his family in
| Berkeley. also went up with the party
The distinguished company reached the
home after delightful three hours trip,
and were there received by DR.. P. j. Aiken.
the resident physician, and chief officer in
the commandments absence.
A THOROUGH INSPECTION.
As it was General Averills purpose to
make an exhaustive examination of the in
stitution, its accommodation, man agement,
sanitary condition, etc., very little time was
given up to fOrmalities. After brief intro
auctions the party were conducted to the
office, where the morning report was called
for and, with the statistics for the past
quarter, carefully scanned and noted. From
the report it was learned that 234 inmates
were at present domiciled in the home ian
increase of 81 during the week. and that the
names on the roll numbered 254. The 20
absentees represent men who are still en-
gagged in harvest work in the vineyards and
wineries of the valley. The 81 who reJoined
the home during the week also belong to
that little band of workers, who now that
the harvest is almost over are gradually re-
turning to their comfortable winter quar-
| tiers at Yountville.
THE HEALTH REPORT.
From the health statistics it was CLEANED
| that only eight deaths occurred during the
| past twelvem0nth, not one OF which oc-
CURED from acute causes. Blk OF the deaths
| were those of men ranging from 20 to 81
years Of age, all of whom had been invalids
| for many years-one had been bed-ridden for
| seventeen years. The other two deaths
were of men of the age of so, whose decease
| was fastened by excessive drinking.
After the records had been submitted to
| close scrutiny, and the lnspector-General
| had made full note of every fact, the order
| was given to parade the extra duty" men,
| these being the inmates whose general state
| OF health aud strength permit OF their being
| put at work, within their ability, around the
| grounds and buildings.
ON PARADE.
| They were summoned to the parade ground
| by drum beat, and made a feeble atlem ut
to appear soldierly, which, though giving
| abundant evidence of good intention, only
! made their lack of strength and SteadinesS
the more painfully apparent.
The men numbered eighty odd, were dawn
| up in double ranks, which, after the salute,
| were brought to rear open order. minute
| inspection followed, during which the conf
rades who had dilapidated or soied uni
| forms were slyly TeprimaDded by compare
| sons between them and their more tidy
| neighborS. In the little by-play which here
| became necessary, it often came out that
| uniforms in use for two. three and even four
years we're in better condition than others
| which had not yet been worn year. This
| fact being impressed upon the culprit, no
| other remark was made. but the inspector
passed along, leaving him TO his own
! thoughts. One man, whose feeble state was
| apparent to all, was ordered TO his quarters,
| and, the inspection over, the company was
| then dismissed
INSPECTING THE BUILDINGS.
A tour of the grounds and buildings was
| then made, the old hos pital, an annex OF the
main building, being the first to come under
observation. 1t was conceded by all to be
| entirely unfit for its purpose, and to be a
veritable deathtrap should a fire once get
| started there. 1t is matter for general con-
| graduation that the new hospital building,
| q couple of hundred yards north OF the main
building, is now nearly completed and will
| probably be ready for occupancy by the first
| of next month. The new wing to the main
building is also nearing completion. but as
it has cut somewhat into the old hospital
| many of the patients have had to be tenn
| porarily distributed among the different
company barracks. As soon as the building
| operations now under way have been coni-
| pleted the sick and inlirm will be CON-
| forta5ly provided for, and the roOkery which
| has now to DO duty for hospital will be
| reconstructed and improved.
IMPROVEMENTS NOTED.
The barracks have been arranged in
streets. the fact was instantly noted by
| General Averitl, who inspected the institu-
ton once before, in 1888, and was highly
commended by him as great Improvement
They were thoroughly examined aud found
| to be as neat as strict attention to cleanli-
ness could make them. The laundry,
stores, kitchen and main build ng were then
| examined, and, aiter two hours hard work,
the Inspecting officer Directors aud men,
| beTs OF the press became DR.. Aiken's guests
TO lunch. After lunch the party held a con-
| ference with the civil engineers employed
to lay out site for a reservoir in the hills
back of the home 1t was informally de-
| cid-d to construct circular reservoir, 60
feet in diameter and 10 feet in depth, with n
capacity of 100000 gallons. Two mains Of
increased size W Il be put in, instead of the
| present small one. and. with the work done.
the Directors feel that every safeguard in
their power will be provided. 1t is expected
that the reservoir will supply sufficient
water for all the buildings, with plenty to
| spare for ornamental fountains and garden
| cultivation.
| THE NEW HOSPITAL.
That matter disposed of. the new hospital
was visited. 1t is plain-looking, L-shaped
| structure of one story, though its high
pitched roof and very high basement make
1t practically three-story building. Only
the main floor is intended for occupancy at
present. One wing is intended for the
patients ward, with receptlon-room in
| front and the bathrooms and closets at the
rear. The other wing contains the sur
| geons' rooms, pharmacy, dinng-room,
| kitchen aud attendants rooms, very con-
veniently arranged. The attic is a large,
airy compartment, Of the same dimensions
as the main floor, but undivided. 1t can be
used in case of need as dormitory, but as
there is accommodation in the infirmary for
| forty patients, and there are seldom more
tn an twenty hospital patients, this space is
not apt to be put into use for many a long
| day.
A PLEASED INSPECTOR.
This ended the official nspection, and Gen.
eral Averill was pleased to say of it that he
| was delighted with the prospects which the
| home had before it. He saw an immense
impi oyement in the two years that had
| elapsed since his first visit. and now the
general Government is cooperating with the
State authorities in contributing funds for
| the maintenance OF the Institution, he knew
from tle ideas which the Directors had adj
vanced during tine day that the revenue
| would Ne used economically and judiciously.
The General accompanied his remarks with
many valuable suggestions of his own, which
the Directors intend putting into pratcaI
use, and made his visit highly entertaining
and instructive by drawing on his store Of
knowledge derived from long acquaintance
with the national and State homes in all
parts of tine country. He expressed himself
as highly pleased with the sanitary regula-
tions, which, considering the poor convent
enceS which the old buildings contain, show
that that particular portion of the manage
ment is very carefully attended to by the
| officers of the hume.
The visitors returned to this city at Z