Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1897-01-15
SOLDIERS HOME ITEMS.

The Oldest man in the Home is over
eighty -four years old and the young
est under forty nine.
The protracted meetings now being
held in town are creating much inter-
est among us and score or more are
constant attendants.
A representative from the Home
went to Ragged Top Sunday to see for
himself how much ground there is
for the gold excitement up there.
The Home bill of fare for the dining
room has been especially good lately
and our popular cook can rest assured
the old boys appreciate his efforts.
Next Saturday evening there will be
a public installation of the officers
elect of the q. a. r. Post at Odd Eel
lows hall. The ladies of the Relief
Corps will assist in the ceremonies
Carpenter Wilson has been busily
engaged for some days making COM
modes for the newly admitted men,
bers and will soon have them all sup
piled.
The prevailing snow storm has had
tendency to make things exceedingly
quiet about the Home, this week, and
few of the members have mustered up
courage to visit town since the storm
began.
Rev. Pond of the Episcopal church
conducted services in the Home chapel
last Sunday afternoon and delivered
an exceedingly interesting discourse
to full congregation. Next Sunday
afternoon Father Ahern of the Catho
lie church will otliciate.
The officials of the G.. A. r. Post at
Buffalo Gap sent an invitation to the
Home Post to come down Friday night
and assist at their installation of Off
GERS. Preparations are being made by
many to attend and if enough can be
secured special train will be secured
for the occasion
W AtlllDtIS We OCliCNo
there are more newspaper readers in
the Home than in any other institution
in the state. Every mail brings its
complement of papers from this and
other states, and few OF them are left
idly on the table. The letters written
from the Home will average twenty five
per day to relatives and friends.
\ large number of those whose
names are upon the government pen
sion rolls received their money for the
past quarter this week and have been
spending it freely i'll town. The pay
ments from Milwaukee we're made in
seven days from the date of sending in
the vouchers, being the quickest time
ever made by that Office for pensioners
here.
1t is an unjust fact that the individ-
ual standing, character and merits of
the men i'll the Home are judged from
a comparatively few, whose habits
when on the streets of the town are
vicious and discreditable The truth
is that the vast majority are men of
character, moral impulses and gentle
manly instincts. Not a few of them
are educated, practical men, who have
been successfuland wealthy, but whom
misfortune or sickness have carried
down. Nearly every profession, trade
land calling finds u representative
here.
Below is the statement of Adjutant
Kintner of the present membership of
of the Home, changes that have taken
place and the number and amount
of pensions paid:
Members present and absent. 800. 163
Members on furlough. ...... 10
Members present. t.............. 144
Total. ................... l63
Admitted since July l, 1885,. 1O4
Readmitted since July l, 1895 30
\, 1oCal. ....... ........... lof
Honorably dismissed. ......... 100
Died 90. IL
D 1874
- Cain OF. Observation-Disclosures. Ia
Total Observation-Disclosures. 134
Members admitted since Home
S opened. ......... 451
Present sick in hospital. 10000. III
: Average present last quarter lbs
. Average cost of maintenance
Il per Year.. /. Csoo.ON
/ Average age of members. 5000. G3
p Oldest member. Observation-Disclosures. 81
Youngest member. ............ 81
Pensions reed January 1897. S3,50o0O
g Salaries and maintenance, fuel
3 and lights, etc............... 10000
Total ........... .s6,2OoOO
This amount is distributed among
. the people of Hot Springs this month.
During the year just closed about $780,
!, 600 was distributed froma like source