The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-05
STATE SOLDIERS HOME.
Annual Report of Trustees Filed with
Governor.

Tho renort of the board of trustees or
the Indiana State Soldiers Home has been
fled by James r. Carnahan, Isaiah b.
Mcdonald. David n. Foster and John Lev
erine. Mr. lowering having succeeded
James B. Wallace as a member or the
board. C. J. Murphy is the other member.
The last Legislature appropriated $S,OOO
for a new chapel, $4,000 for an "old men
home" and $4,000 for a dining room ana
widows home" The report says that con-
tracts for erecting these buildings were
awarded to Herzog & Chew and that the
work thus fell into good hands The chapel
has been completed and furnished. 1t is or
brick with stone foundation and trimmings,
and will seat about six hundred people,
having good opera chairs. The basement
is fitted up as a library and recreation
room and has already received several
thousand volumes. The new dining hail
and widows home has also been completed
and furnished. The furniture has nearly all
been provided. The old mems home is in
the course of erection. 1t is substantial
building of brick and stone, and is intended
for the use of the very feeble veterans. A
dining room will be provided in this build
ing so that the feeble men need not be ex-
posed to the weather in going to and from
the general dining room. A new dynamo has
been purchased and put in position in the
power house. All the buildings are now
lighted by electricity. An additional pump
of 100000 gallons capacity has been added,
and water mains and fire plugs have been
extended until the home is well protected
from fire. Some new fire apparatus has
also been purchased.
The $1,000 appropriated by the Legisla-
ture for improving the driveways and walks
has been expended, gravel roads and walks
being made. There is still need of improves
ment in this direction, however The work
has all been done by inmates of the home.
A system of sewerage is being put in. An
appropriation of $1,000 was made for the
purpose and the report says the work will
be done within the appropriation. The Sys-
tenn is not explained, but it is characterized
as having the Endorsement of medical and
scientific experts. All the refuse from all
buildings will be carried away and dis
posed of before the water reaches the
Wabash river.
The population Of the home Oct. 81 was
46S divided as follows Veterans, SIP:
widows, So; married women with their hus-
bands 120. The home is crowded and the
number of applications for admission is in
creasng from month to month Regarding
the personal condition of the members of
the home I'VE can only report" says the
board of trustees, what is apparent to
every one who is conversant with the lives
of the veterans of the late war and the
Mexican war, for we have the survivors of
both these wars. The veterans who apply
for admission to the home are old Cthe aver
age age is over sixty years., they are poor,
broken in health. debilitated, crippled and
needing care and medical treatment in
most cases We have many of these veter-
ans brought to the home sick, paralytic and
so weak from long sickness and deprivation
that they are taken to the hospital, and not
n few never leave the hospital until they
are taken to the grave
The report says that the veterans who
receive over SIS a month pension from the
government willingly give up the excess to
be sent to their wives or minor children
The discipline of the hcme is improved and
the board believes that the admission of
the wives and widows has had something
to do with this Improvement. Some veter-
ans who continually refused TO obey the
rules have been discharged from the home
IT is rare, says the report. that the rule
regarding the drinking of liquor is fla
GRAVITY violated. During the year the fol-
lowing counties made appropriations for
cottages: Clinton, Fountain, Marion Parke
Jennings. Knox. Lagrange. Montgomery
Cass, Hamilton and Boone The Marion
county cottage is the finest and best. It is
provided with all the comforts and con-
veniences OF a modern home. The financial
statement of retiring Treasurer James B.
Wallace shows that all the indebtedness or
deficiency OF the appropriations of 1So5 has
been fully paid. The finances are in good
condition.