The herald., 1893-10-01
SOLDIERS HOME.
A Brief Review of tho Present situa-
tiOn.
fqanta Monica OutloOk


A BRIEF Review of the Present situa-
tion.
[Santa Monica Outlook
The writer, who has not visited the
Home for several months, wac surprised
at the progress made. All around there
are evidences of steady advance.
The buildings have become quite nu-
merous. There are six barrack build
ings, an extensive hospital. an enor-
nous dining hall, laundry, headquar-
ters and library. police headquarters
and guard house, post Office, restaurant
and street car depot, the governors res
idence, surgeons residence, treasurer'e
residence, Southern Pacific depot, large
barn, and number of small buildings
all substantially built, neatly finished,
and constructed with an eye to archi-
tectural beauty.
Considerable headway has also been
made upon the grounds. The walks
and driveways have been graded and
graveled, and the grounds plated about
the buildings, and beautified with grass,
flowers, ehrubs and trees. Large groves
OF evergreens-pine, cypress, pepper,
palm and other ornamental trees-have
been distributed over the grounds, and
are growing rapidly under the careful
treatment they are receiving.
OF course 80 large tract OF land (em-
bracing 500 acres within the inclosure
and 100 acres on the outside) cannot be
improved at once, but excellent progress
has been made. Besides the ornamental
work, orange, lemon, fig and apple
orchards have been set out, large space
has been devoted to gardening, and the
balance OF the tract utilized by raising
barley and corn.
The water system is also prominent
feature of the home. 1t is piped a dis
tance OF nearly eight miles to cement
reservoir, which holds about 800, 900
gallons. This Ia at an elevation ample
to give q good pressure at the home.
Near by is another great reservoir, q
pet scheme of Col. +. +. Brown, in
spector-general. Several years ago
he selected natural depression at
an elevated point, and secured from
Messrs. Jones & Baker, as a gift,
about 80 acres. Since then the colonel
has worked more or less for several
years. 1t is now approaching compile
tion. 1t only required small dam to
hold quite quantity OF water. This
was soon made, and tower for regulat-
ing the inflow and outflow constructed.
The water was turned in and all the
surplus stored. He was then ready for
work on his great scheme. The water
continued to rise and a large force was
kept ahead raising the embankment.
The work is now approaching compile
tion. The reservoir, which covers some
20 acres, at present contains about Co.,
600 900 gallons OF water. This winter it
will be filled, when this great catchment
will have in store at least loo, ,000, 900
These splendid national grounds will
then have ample water for irrigation,
and in case OF fire q deluge through q
12-inch pipe can be turned on the flames.
There are now POOL names on the
Home list, 1135 OF whom are present.
The health of the ''old boys" is gener.
ally good, there being only 83 in the
hospital, where the sick receive the best
of care under the supervision OF Dr..
Hasse. But exposure. wounds and old
age are telling en- the old warriors, and
they are slowly taking up their abode
in the "city of the dend." The ceme-
terry now contains 205 graves. The
local management, consisting of Gov.
Charles Treichel. Treasurer A. NJ.
Thornton, Surgeon Hasse, with DR..
Pratt as assistant, seems to be working
smoothly, and certainly every appear
ance indicates that the thoughtful care
OF the government in providing such
really superb accommodations is car
ried out in most satisfactory manner.
J There are no natural drawbacks or in
conveniences. The means of egress and
ingrees over etreetcar line and a steam
railway gives the old soldier and all who
would visit the home the very best
means of transit. 1t is near the COM
mercial and news center of Southern
California. There lie plenty of water. 1t
is in thesvery center OF the home Of
fruits and perpetual bloom. Its pano-
ramic surroundings are unsurpassed, in
cluding aa they do the mountain, the
plain, the ocean and the distant islands !;
and, above all, it basks in the genial
warmth of sunshine that betokens q
climate that deals most gently with the
invalid and sends bsreheaded children
frolicking abroad in midwinter.
Verify this is the homo OF the homes,
and as time advances and the old war
rior feels more and more the need Of
Natures best tonic, the Pacific branch
should be enlarged and thrown open to
all f