The Globe-republican., 1893-07-28


Editor GL0BE-REPUBLIcAx:
While in the San Louis valley, 1 took
occasion to visit the Colorado Soldiers
Home, located about three miles east Of
Monte Vista, and near the center Of this
beautiful valley. The original design
contemplated . most beautiful and COM
plete structure, to consist Of . central
building and two wings with power
house, and other necessary accessories
in the rear. The barracks. or home
proper, to occupy the center was to be
An imposing stone structure Of three
stories of beautiful design. The Offices
and store rooms, were to occupy the righs
wing, while the left consists Of the hos
pital with the commandant's residence
still east of that. These two, together
with the power house, are the only build
ings yet erected. They are built very
substantially Of . peculiar white sand
stone, which has the appearance Of being
very hard dried plaster. The hospital
building, which is now occupied a. quar-
tiers for the men. consists Of two story
center, With q ward on either side. and
dining and kitchen in resr, mad dispen-
sary Office, operating rooms, two bath
rooms and all other necessary accessories
to make the institution complete. The
commandant's residence is . square
two story stone structure, very neatly
made, tastefully furnished. The power
house is also q solid stone building, at
present empty-designed for an engine
for fire water, and heating purposes, to-
gether with dynamo for electric light
ing. At present the water supply is
furnished by two artesian wells, which
furnish water necessary for all or
binary purposes, but would be inadequate
in case of fire. The artesian water is
fine and cold, and of the very best quail
ity. Gen. Averill in his report of inspec-
ton of Soldiers Home for 1892, very
highly compliments Colo. for building
the hospital and providing for the sick
the first thing. Then in the same para
graph he ceRsures Kansas for making
no provisions for the care of the sick
veterans, and recommends to the general
board Of managers. the g!atuity of one
hundred dollars per year for each soldier
cared for, be extended to Kansas by
the general government until such pro-
vision be made. The Home was opened
in 1891, since which time there has been
admitted about one hundred and fifty.
There has been nine deaths. At present
there are thirty inmates, two Of whom
were sent there from a National home
because of asthma. No provision is
yet made for clothing. Each pensiOner
is permitted to do as suits him best with
his pension. No inmate is required to
work, vet all who are able do not hesitate
to do such work as they can, to keep the
premises neat. The tables are well fur
nished with what may be found in their
mcagre market. Over each bed is hung
the name and number of the different re-
lief corps in this department., together
with the amount they have given toward
supplying this home. The only thing
the old boys complain about is that they
get SO awfully lonesome. They are out
on a fiat prairie, away from all society
and entertainments nd have but few Wis
itors. From their location, on a clear
day. they can see the snow-capped noun
tains in every direction, yet the nearest
point to even the foot hills is more than
twenty-five miles. The commandant and
l were driving to town in the ambulance,
the driver was an old railroad fireman.
1t was amusing to see him lean far out
to the side of the ambulance. to watch
the road ahead and occasionally look
back at the wheels, instead of looking
after his team. REX.