The herald., 1894-09-30
THEIR BEAUTIFUL HOME
THE VETERANS HAPPY PLACE AT
SANTA MONICA.
Facts Which Are of Value to Citizsns
sad TO Legislators = The Ro-
markable Growth OF
the Place.

TO all the establishments collectively,
and each of the seven separate institu-
tions ie called branch, that near Santa
Monica being known as the Pacific
branch. A comparison of location, man
esement and other matters between
toe different branches shows many ad-
gantages for our local branch, and 1t ia
with these points that this article is
intended to deal.
The grounds of the Pacific branch en-
brace 634 acres OF land in one body, the
northeastern portion OF which is a small
part of the famous frostless foothills of
the Cahusnga valley. The view from
this point is particularly interesting, as
il not only commands full view OF the
very productive valley to the east and
eouth of the home, but also fully 30
miles of the ocean frontage and the
cities Of Los Angeles and Santa Monica.
The water supply ia derived princi-
paliy from a large well and few tun-
nels made in the hills and csflons north
of the homo. The well wac tested, and
can be made to supply 100000 gallons
per day OF "a hours. The supply can be
greatly increased il it should ever be
needed.
The elevation OF the land at the din
ing.hall is 1856 feet above the level of
the sea, while at the reservoir in the
foothills it is over 500 feet This height
gives to the location the very cream of
the grand climate of Southern Calfor-
nis, that of the Cahuenga foothills,
which is cooler in summer and warmer
in winter than at any other locality, and
is absolutely frostless.
A comparison OF the statistics OF the
various branches shows that the main
tenance OF the Pacific branch costs con-
siderably less than the average of all
the branches, and less than the average
OF any other branch save one. The
average cost per capita at Santa Monica
last year was $136 "a, and while welhave
no data from the other branches for the
same year, the annual report not having
been published, yet we find that the
average cost at all the branches for the
year ending June 80, 1898. was $140.95,
which is evidently an indication that
the facts of the advantageous prices at
which supplies of all kinds may be pur-
chased in this vicinity, the large
amount and many varieties OF products
which are raised at the home, and the
salubrity of the climate, tending greatly
thereby decreasing largely the cost incl
OChU VI ptCAAObny tii COalOiAO w tohOOt
it possible to conduct branch here at
less cost than anywhere else.
The cost OF rations per day at the Pa
cifo branch during the last quarter was
but fraction over 16 cents tor each in
mate, which was ~ cents lower
than the cost at any otner branch at
any time.
In the matter of the death rate, tax.
ing the statistics for the Same year, it is
found that the ratio OF deaths to the
1000 inmates ia less at the Pacific branch
than the average of all branches, and
less than any other save one, at which
place the average age of the inmates
WAS less than the average age of the in
mates OF the Pacific branch, which un-
doubtedly has much TO do with the
smaller death ratio. The average ratio
OF deaths to each 1000 inmates In all the
branches was 1896, while at Santa
Monica 1t was but 1920.
The visitor cannot help being greatly
impressed by the very large percentage
of the soldiers who take their daily
sunbaths, which fact may largely ac-
count for the death rate being SO much
less than at other places last year. The
average number Of days of sunshine for
the year throughout the Cahuenga val
Icy ID over oUU out OF 800.
The splendid bathing beach at Santa
Monica, miles in length, is only four
miles distant. and though the fare is
only IL cents by street car, many of the
old "vets" prefer to walk.
The home has. in addition to a large
vegetable garden, an excellent young
orchard, containing in all about 9lOO
fruit and walnut trees. The ornamental
trees of from two to four years. growth,
and from 10 to go feet in height, number
about $4,000, besides which there are
some 300 ornamental shrubs. The diff
ferent kinds of fruit trees, and the num-
Der OF each are: One hundred and twen-
ty-two peach, 425 orange, ITO pear, 210
fig, 225 lemon and 1640 apple. In this
climate fig trees yield three crops per
annum. The shade and ornamental
trees embrace pepper, eucalyptus Give
:. varieties), cypress (four vRrietiea), pine
(iour varieties). grevillia robusta, chryp-
tomeria, date and fan palm, erythrara,
chameropo, 2 varieties of dracenia, OF
cedar, of arsncaria, OF seQuoia, mag
nolia grandifora, cork elm. catalpa,
loquat, horse chestnut, Australian flame,
American linden, Texas umbrella, Rus
sian mulberry, weeping willow, camphor
tree, Kentucky coffee tree. varieties of
acacia. 2 of oleander, Irish juniper, 8
varieties Of pittisporum. taxiE Hibernica,
fir. jackarands, silver tree straw berry
guavs. ligistrum japonica, and 8 varie-
ties of arbor vitae; some 81 varieties in
all. The varieties of shrubs
are callycanthus, hydrangia, pani-
culata, Lemon verbens, varieties
of lilac, SNOWFALL, two kinds of spiraea,
cut-leaved sumach, achania malvevis-
Gus. lantania, matrocidrors, bird of par
adise, night-blooming jasmine, myrtle,
libonia, Btevia, wigandia, pampas grass,
lauristinus, laurel box tree, euoynimous
auria, brugmanoia, etreptosolen jame-
sonii, two varieties Of hydrangia and
hibiscus cococinia, 28 in all. The nur-
sery also contains large stock OF all
these trees and shrubs OF young growth,
and the grounds are beautifully orna-
mented with over 200 varieties Of flow-
ers, from which bouquets are picked
every day in the year.
The tomato patch yielded last year
from 20 to 80 tons, all OF which were
used at the home. The farming lands
were principally in hay, and over 800
tons were cut and cured at the home.
The average age OF the inmates of the
seven branches of the homo is 59.08
years, according to the last published
report, and 1t is said upon good author
ity that fully 80 per cent of the 23, 600
cared for Of the different branches would
gladly avail themselves OF the advan-
tages of this land of sunshine If congress
would afford the facilities and trans-