Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1899-08-07
'CO| horizons REPORT
Commandant Of the Soldiers Home
Makes an Excellent Showing to
Board Of Control.
Institution Well and Economically
Managed--some interesting
Statistics Presented.
Col. Horton Recommends the Con.
struction Of Several New Build
ings. Including Headquarters.

lNRS, l0Cluulug ne6VQu0rt0lS.
The report Of Col. G. G. Horton. COM
mandant of the Iowa Soldiers Home,
recently submitted to the board Of con-
troll, has been made public. Col Horton
makes several important recommended
tions, and the figures as to cost of sub
sistence show that the institution is be-
ing we'll and economically managed.
Col. Horizons report is as follows:
Hon. Board of Control-G
Complying with your instructions 1
have the honor to submit this, my re-
port, covering the biennial period end
ing June 80, 1899. Your attention is re-
spectfully invited to the report of Adj
warfel for general statistical records
and to that of Surgeon Duffield for such
as pertains to the hospital. which are
hereunto attached and made part of
this report. (Report for '98 on file In
your office.)
The establishment by legislative
enactment of the Iowa Soldiers Home
was the outgrowth of sentiment Of
Iowa, in acknowledgment of the sac
rifices made and the services rendered
by the old defenders of the republic.
Realizing that the spirit and intent of
the people was that this Home should
be one in fact as well as in name. it be-
comes the simple duty of the command
ant and officers generally to so conduct
and regulate it's affairs as to make them
20 tot, "A fn1 nc
BILE
This can only be accomplished by the
enforcement Of such rules and regula-
tions as shall secure courteous inter
course among the members and gentle
manly conduct on the part Of all.
Firmness and justice tempered with
kindness and sympathy, and with all a
peculiar tact In the management of
men. are the great requirements in the
maintenance of proper discipline in an
institution of this kind.
In the absence of guards at the gates.
we have of necessity been compelled to
rely very largely on the honor of the
members, when confined to the limits of
the Home grounds for intoxication or
other violation Of rules, and 1t affords
me no little pleasure to be able to say
that, with very few exceptions. the hon
or OF soldier has not been violated.
| Willful violation of rules and insub-
ordination have been very rare and
| have, In nearly every instance, been fol-
lowed by summary discharge from the
Home. Drunkenness here, as in all Sol
diers' Homes, is the hardest question we
have to deal with, and yet the number
4 addicted to intoxication has not, during
the last year, reached over per cent
of the members; and this will compare
lfavorably with the population OF any of
| our large towns. In many cases this
habit has become a disease, and while
our sympathies go out to these old COM
rades to such an extent that we could
not bring ourselves to deal summariy
4 with them during the winter months,
1 justice demands that these few incura-
bles and incorrigibles shall not be al
lowed to disturb the peace and happi-
/ ness of the Home, and bring disgrace
and shame upon all. have been COM
PEELED to discharge q few Of this class
during the past three months. The at
mosphere of the Home has been much
improved by their absence. and such
summary discharge has served as a
warning to others. 1t gives me pleasure
to report that quite number have,
within the past year, given up the drink
habit entirely.
The provisions and clothing furnished
are Of good quality, and at this writ
ing the cooking is very much improved
in the main building, in fact, 1t Is en-
/ tirely satisfactory. The cooking at the
4 hospital has been of the best.
The building for old people, old SOL
diers and their wives. provided for by
i the last general assembly, has been
i completed for several months, but in
asmuch as the appropriation for build
ing and furnishing (save about $450)
4 was consumed in construction, 1t will
not be possible to furnish more than
twelve or fourteen rooms before an
4 appropriation is made for that purpose
The building erected Is but little more
than half as large as the original bill
i called for, but now that the state is out
of debt. and considering the large num-
Der of applications on file that can not
be accommodated, I would earnestly
recommend that an appropriation be
asked for to complete the building as
per original plans and specifications
and to comfortably furnish the same
i A large amount of grading. filing and
soddsng has been done about the build
ing. with but little outside help.
The old board of trustees secured
about four acres OF land adjoining the
Home grounds in exchange for the ex-
elusive right to cut ice on our river
front for fifteen years. after the wants
of the institution are supplied. The old
hog pens have been torn down and a
convenient and attractive house bull,
on the four acres above referred to-
What was once disgusting hog wallow
has been converted into a pretty lake
which will In time, we trust, make good
returns for all labor and expense by q
supply of fresh fish for the table.
This institution is greatly in need OF
a headquarters building. The presen,
offices are inconvenient and remote
from each other. The army discharges
and pension papers are now kept il
wooden cases, and in case of fire would
all be destroyed. in which case we
would be subject to criticism by the au.
thorites at Washington. An attractive
. convenient building. with a safet,
vault for filing papers. can be erected
for from $4,000 to $4,000. A large, we'll.
lighted and cheerful reading room ant
postoffice should be arranged for in the
basement.
The rooms now occupied as offices and
reading room could then be used as
dormitories and would thus make Il
/ r. 1t