The Hot Springs star. (Hot Spings [Hot Springs], Dakota [Dakota Territory, i.e. S.D.]) 1886-189?, 1891-05-29
THE SOLDIERS HOME.
What has been done in The way
Of Improvements.
TIE GROUNDS EEaUTir!ED.
a Walk Through the Building.

GUY stands one OF the finest build
lngs in the northwest, built by the
state of Sout! Dakota for home
for the surviving heroes of the war.
1t is a worthy monument to the
patriotism of TIE state at large, as
we'll as fitting tribute to the se!f-
sacrifice OF the brave boys in blue,
who SO valorously rendered their
lives to the government in time
of danger. A recent visit to the
Home renders it an agreeable duty
to give limited description of
grounds and building. Going up
Minnekahta avenue one enters the
Home grounds proper at the inter
section of two serpentine roads
which skirt the lawn and enclose
what will be one of the finest
flower gardens in the state. One
OF tho inmates, who is a natural
landscape gardener, has laid out a
five pointed stag, in which are
planted many kinds of flowers.
In the centre OF the star is a spray
fountain by which the entire garden
is watercd. Nearer the building
are two round mounds built up
with stone and filled with earth for
fine flowers, between these are the
three mystic links OF Oddfellowsliip.
1t is said that a large majority OF
the old soldiers are members OF
this benevolent order.
The surpentine roadways, before
mentioned meet at the main en-
trance OF the Home in tefraccd
way, the lower one for single
wagon way and the upper ono
wide enough for two vehicles to
pass. We were told that 'thc
boys" have moved ESQ wagon
loads of earth and spawls to make
and raise the roads. Much credit
is due them for the workmanlikc
manner in which it is done. Here
tofore the only way OF reaching the
home with carriage has been by
way of NIinnekalta avenue, but a
bridge of 81 feet span has been
framed and will be put across the
raNine so that the Home can be
reached from college flats.
The main building of the Home
has been written up SO much that
there is actually nothing new to
say, except perhaps, that it has
been inspected by some of the
very best architects and builders
in the United States, and they have
pronounced it the very best build
Ing in the northwest. One and all
pronounce it as better building
than the Iowa state capitol at Des
Moincs, which cost a million
dollars. All arc surprised at tho
small cost to the state of this
splendid building.
Going up the wide steps to tho
verandah one has a splendid view
of surrounding country and tho
city. A call at the office of tho
commandant Capt. w. V. Lucas
VIC were accorded hearty welcome
and under his courteous care VIZ
were taken over the whole building
from kitchen to cupola. At til.
foot of the main stairway is til.
: main entrance to the large dining
: room, where everything is SO nea
and clean that it actually make!
one hungry to look around. Thence
= into the Kitchen, where we foune
the cook just ready to put fifty-si,
= loavcs of bread into the oven
He told us that this was his secone
: batch for the week. 1T require.
y 1903 loaves of two pounds two
'. ounces each to supply the seventy
a four inmates who are now in ths
= Home. At one time there wer,
G 100 inmates, but the number ha
!, gone down to seventy-fou1, and 81:
t new men are expected this week
= The Home will accommodate 25,
e and it is expected that every place
Z will be filled by next winter. Th'
: Home is becoming known and tn,
y old soldiers appreciate the lsindl,
: yare and careful supervision of th
n able commandant and will avail
J. themselves Of the benefits of tn
l. Home. The kitchen, which i
$ kept in the neatcst order an,
furnished with copper coffee AM
tea boilers and hot water tanl:
ranges and all culinary article
that arc useful in a we'll appointe
e cooking room, is large, we'll lightc
and arranged in the handicst pos
sible manner. A neat and tast
pantry adioins the kitchen prope,
S and by the side of this is we
'e supplied store room. The captai
IS has just had an ice chest bull
81 Immediately on the outside an
= adjoining the storeroom, he is ais
~ N having vegetable cellar construct
ed that vegetables and garden true
Is can be kept without willing i
e. summer Oh freezing in winter.
OF After locking westward over tn
fifty acres that are to be fenced
1e as pasture the captain took t
n into the boiler room, where
y y double set Of boilers furnish I'll
~. ~ hot water and steam for heatin