Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-01-19
NEEDS OF THE HOME.
An Appeal for Additional Aid TO Care
for The Old Soldiers.
PRESIDENT RASDoLPHs REPORT
What Has Been Done by the state
and What Has Been Done by Lee
Camp-Improvemen In the Pnst
Two Years.

Two Years.
In his annual report to the Governor
Mr.. Norman " Randolph, president OF
the Board Of Visitors of Lee Camp SOL
diers' Home. lays before his Exceilency
a most impressive appeal for addi-
tional aid for that institution from the
State Mr. Randolph. as shown oy the
Governors special message on the sub
feet. gives an exhaustive account OF the
work accomplished by the home in the
matter Of caring for the ex-Confederates
who are now in needy circumstances. ana
speaks plainly of the inadequacy OF the
accommodations at present In the course
OF his report, Major Randolph says:
"As you are aware, the Soldiers
Home was bought, paid for, and equipped
by r. X. Lee Camp, No. !, Confede-
rate Veterans, OF Richmond, and for
two years supported by their private
funds. In 1872 we entered into con-
tract with the State OF Virginia, by
which we would receive $4,000 year for
a period OF twenty-five years, and at the
expiration OF that time the home should
become the property OF the State. In
thus deciding away this valuable pro-
perry Lee Camp has shown an unselnsh
interest in the welfare of her old COM
rades: and we only ask that the State.
for whom these men fought, shall be
equally magnanimous. and help US In
every way in their power.
THE present income, $4,000 year,
was intended for the support of 20
kftf he. de nd hppn cn
great that we have been compelled 10
increase the number. until we have now
present 253 men. Fifty-six are now
in the hospital for treatment. The ex-
penses OF the hospital are about double
the cost OF the support OF man In the
home.
ADDITIONAL AID NEEDED.
1T, therefore, becomes absolutely ne
cessary to appeal TO the Legislature OF
Virginia for additional assistance; other
wise, we must restrict the number al
ready present. and decline to admit new
men, except as vacancy occurs by death
or resignation.
THE State has appropriated In eight
years sl73.85,55: while Lee Camp and its
friends have appropriated sl9,563.94. The
general hard times has reduced our in
come from private donations, and for
tho years 1894 and 1895 we have only re-
ceiyed S.2l6.S5 from this source. Every
economy has been exercised that was
possible. and from tables submitted in
this report you will see that with few
exceptions, we have supported this insti-
tuition at less than any OF the national
homes in the United States.
I'VE have now thirty five applicants
on hand before the committee awaiting
admission to the home These men
Ia
comes TO our assistance. In the first
instance, we must have 5000 TO build
an additional house and 10 furnish the
same. This will increase our capacity
eighty or one hundred men. We then
must have an additional appropriation OF
$4,000 year for the support of the
home. As the number Of men increases
the percentage Of cost decreases: as the
fixed charges Of the home-such as sala-
ries, steam. heat etc.-remain the same.
whether we have 30 men or 300 men.
NEEDED FOR FOUR YEARS.
II believe this appropriation of $1,000
will be necessary for at least four
TO six years, as the number Of appli-
cants is constantly Increasing; but I
believe that at the end Of six years, or
1902, that the number will begin to de-
crease, and We could then support
the institution for the balance of the
time for the amount Of $1,000 year
"Of course. II is for the Legislature
to say how many men we shall take
care OF. The Board Of Visitors servo
without compensation. The only sala-
ries paid are the officers and employees
OF the institution.
Besides, the money appropriated 10
the home direct, +. f. Lee Camp. No
l. Confederate Veterans. has spent So
900 since its organization in provid-
ing for the widows and orphans Of
Confederate soldiers. and for their own
INDECENT comrades. who are 50 situated
that they could not be entered at the
home"
WORK RECENTLY DONE.
Accompanying Major Randolph's state
ment wSs a report from Mr.. Joseph W.
Thomas chairman of the Committee on
Buildings and Grounds Of the Soldiers
Home. I'm which he reports the following
improvements and repairs made OF the
home from January l. 1894. to December
n. 1885
one eight-room building OF sixty
beds capacity. costing. $50 %
New closets. costing. ............... So %
New laundry. costing ............... s25 %
Addition TO the hospital. 1,0Z7 81
Addition 10 the old boiler-house.. So 80
One slx-room cottage. built jointly
by George T. Pickett Camp Con-
federate Veterans, and the board
tpSlllS s.s......s.. ........sss...sss lfHD W
The total cost OF all new buildings
erected and all other repairs and i'm
provements made from January l. 1924,
10 December 81, 1895. has been S4,l9j.52.
VETERANS CARED FOR.
The number of veterans received from
counties. cities and towns Of the State
of Virginia, also from each other State.
from the establishment Of Lee Camp
Soldiers Home, December l. 1881. to. and
including the Slst day of December 1885,
was as follows:
BY COUNTIES.
AccOmdc ...-.... .'.'.''s'''' '''''''''''''' 1
AlltBndny ........ ...s'sss''.'s.ss ''.''..
AlDemarle ................' '''''''''''''''' II