Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-03-09
THE HOME At roeUs.
What Inspector General Breckinridge Ssy'
Of Il in Annual Report.

| The large scale on which affairs arr
] conducted at the Soldiers Home at Togus
| Me-, Is shown by Inspector Genera
| Breckinridge of the army. He visited
| Togus July u last and the impressions
| that he received there on his annual visit
Of inspection have been printed and lai,i
beforc Congress mt the closing hours OF
| the session. His report goes into the de-
tails of the management of the Home.
The home is known as the/eastern branch
of the National Home (which includes
also branches in various sections of thu
country Gen. Breckenridge commend j
the. management generally. but he con-
plains of a number of affairs which h
thinks should be remedied.
The number of soldiers at the home has
been increased during the year: the
death rate has also been very great. The
report covers seven printed pages. Il
treats of topics under the head Of dis
hufSem"nts. administration, supply de-
parttnelt and medical department
fho Inspector reports that the eXpendi-
lures, as shown by vouchers and trans
ferS. amounted to $i2l. 3i5.23. leaving II
balance on hand Of ST .SG5.39, which cor
sisted of $995.43 cash in the hands of the
treasurer and s10.SsS.96 on deposit in bank.
me only new building reported made
during the year was the new frame bar
rack, ut !. cost of $685.. 1T can accom-
modate l20 men, says Gen. Breckenridge
and is OCCUPIED by Company II. and
can be compared with prices at 9th. r
branches
The receipts from sales during the year
At the home store. restaurant and beer
hail We're Si9.5l615. and the revenues from
the theatre, Sl3s5.ii: and the expenditures
were S2l,52i1S for stock. and s2t liG2 70 for
clerk and help hire and other items. At
ne close of the year the treasury held
Hi9.%i942 to the credit of this fund AT
date of inspection he had l4.3ss2 90. or $i.Gs
more than the amount necessary 10 Gloss
his account.
The principal supplies of food for the
last quarter of the fiscal year We're bought
~ Maine. Massachusetts and New York
Flour was obtained from Auburn Me
peer, nam, salt pork and potatoes from
Gardiner Me.
The average number of officers and
members present during the year was
lNF5, which is an increase of % over the
average of the previous year; ana an
average of $50. or 22.5 per cent. was con-
stantly absent At date of inspection.
the total population living on the reser-
walton consisted OF 1914 souls. including
ciVlllan employees. women and children
and 6a3 members We're absent. There
We're 1o3 vacant beds in barracks and Is
In hospital.
me inspector says discipline seems
fairly well maintained, though a slight
m! is reported in the number of
Nearly one-half of all offenses committed
consist of inebriety. and over one-fourth
OF absence without leave. The punish
ments comprise labor without pay. gen
orally police duty. and restrictions In lib
critics.
The cost of keeping the band was $500. 90
per man. there being II men in it, all civ
son to the concerts which We're we'll at
tended. Excellent theatrical perform
ahces We're given Mt the opera house. A (,
Catholic and Protestant minister were
employed to preach during the year at |
$50 a month. There was large attendance
ut these services.
Inspector Breckenridge says of the farm
that about 500 acres are reported under
cultivation. The principal products are
milk, hay and ensilage. the former vail
ued at S1SS9;2 and the hay and ensilage |
farm at the rate of "a cents per gallon
though it is reported that the price of |
mix by the quantity in the nearest town
difference of 20 or 80 per cent
The average daily sick during the year
has been 27S in hospital, 50 in convales-l
cent quarters. and SO at sick CALL There
were COZ patients admitted to the hospital
and the death rate is reported greater
than for the previous year. and was 1921
per 1000 of the average present and alb
Der cared for. OF the 100 deaths. 81 oc-l
cured in the hospital, four in other parts
Of the reservation. and q on furlough
rhe causes assigned are l19 natural. sui
eide accidents. The average age att
death was over one year less than re-
ported Tor the previous year
Eighty of the deceased members were
buried at the Home cemetery, which is
kept in excellent order Funerals at the
nome cost $lO.49. each. not Including care
y cemetery and graves. which are made
by contract at Augusta Me-, at a cost
IF $50 each. The deceased are buried in +
inform clothing. No allowance is made
or the funeral expenses Of members dy-
ng outside of the home, as is done at the
lome for regulars
The average annual number of insane
It this home is Al and about IS are sent
early to the asylum. Sixteen members
ire reported totally blind, and 26 with an
impaired eyesight so as to be unable to
cad. Il,
poor creditor, who is a constable
vas escorting poor debtor to Auburn