The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-03-23

of J. c. Breckenridge. the inspector gem
eral of the national homes for disabled
volunteer soldiers, has been transmitted
to congress in letter from the secretary
of war.
The report of the inspector of the
homo at Leavenworth, made November
20 to 81 last year, says the Institution is
we'll managed and in good condition.
The principal officers are spoken of in
the following way:
@Governor A ]. Smith, to whose IN
firing energy and great resourcefulness
much of the good work accomplished at
this branch is due, has remained in
of ability, and the general good condition
indicate show much is done to benefit
and improve the home.
Maj. W. B. Shockley continues in
charge of the financial branch. He
seems to be a careful and painstaking
officer. and worthy of the confidence be-
slowed upon him. Po -sibly some re-
modelling of the office arrangements
would permit the treasurer to transact
his business with more facility, as the
basement of the dining hall is now used
for making payments to the men. In
the keeping of the transportation ac-
connts it seemed as though too much
dependence was placed on memorandum
books. If the receipts from this source
were carried to the regular cash book
daily, more satisfactory record would
be obtained.
captain D. G. Goodrich is the quar-
teTmaster and commissary of subsistence.
He seems to be a systematic and ener-
getic officer and familiar with all the de-
tails of his duties and his departments
were in excellent condition,
"The hospital is under charge of DR..
d. G. Jones. who seems to be careful and
efficient and earnestly tries to keep his
department in the best possible condi-
ton"
The only criticisms made in the report
are on the Inadequate storing facilities
for quartermaster's stores and the crowd
ed condition of the barracks. AS to the
latter the report says: "The barracks are
filled to overcrowding and where the
Easements are not used for sleeping pur-
poses they serve as storage room for the
Quartermaster property. Easements
that are not perfectly dry are lily adapt
ed to properly protect and preserve such
articles as clothing and foot wear,
though it seems preferable, if they
must be utilized, to use them as
storage rooms rather than for sleeping
rooms. AS an insane ward they seem no
more satisfactory than for the members
inspection it was reported that 462 men
were sleeping in Easements, 122 on
floors, and A in other places not origin
ally intended for sleeping purposes The
barracks are we'll policed we'll designed,
constructed, and cared for, and in good
condition, though the Easements are
damp at times and difficult to properly
ventilate and heat"
One other department was found to be
below the standard of what ought to be
and that was in the case of the insane
As to this department it is said:
''The facilities to care for the dement,
ed are wholly inadequate and insult
able. They are confined in the base
ment barrack used by the convaIescent
company. Being below the level of the
ground, the outlook is anything but
cheerful, and the place seems over
heated, insufficiently ventilated and
poorly lighted, and subject to disturbance
from persons walking overhead The
numb of insane here and at the other
branches suggests the necessity of
special provisions for this class of suf-
ferers. At this Home 76 members are
reported showing indications of disorder
ed minds during the year, of whom "a
are considered permanently insane and
AZ temporarily, and three are reported
violent. The average annual number OF
insane is reported as 81, and an average
of 16 are sent annually to the govern
menL hospital for the insane at Washing
ton"
On the whole the condition of the
western branch at Leavenworth was
found to be as good as any of the several
branches in the United States.