Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-11-09
A SOLDIERS HOME.
CALIFORNIA; Ample Provision for Its
Disabled Veterans.
For the Reflector.

home for disabled volunteer soldiers
is located at Santa Monica or to be
exact three miles out nearer the foot
hills. 1t is beautiful for situation,
north is the Santa Lucia range grad.
ually sloping down into Point pama
which constitutes the northwestern
boundary Of the Santa Monica bay
From the upper verandas of the gov
eminent building the sea with the
island Of Catalina is seen, while look
ing down from the northeast is "Old
Baldyn mt. Antonio) with it's snow
capped peak and a little further east
the city Of Lo, Angeles fifteen miles
away can be seen,
The grounds contain over 700 acres
Of best California land. The build.
ings are many and spacious yet mad
equate to the needs for they are all
oyercrowded, even the attic rooms.
The 500 soldiers away upon furloughs
have been notified not to return until
their furloughs expire. They now
have asked congress for an approprla'
ton for two more barrack buildings.
The present number enrolled is
1900. OF these soldiers it is estimat-
ed that ten per cent are here from
choice, the rest from necessity
There are eight of the barracks and
numerous other buildings, including
the hospital and annex, the admins
tration building, the assembly hall
and library, the laundry and engine
house and Others besides the residence
Of the governor Of the home and
other officials. GOV. La Grange, now
in charge Of this branch OF national
homes, has the interest of his charges
at heart; his administrative capapll'
ity is evident.
OF necessity the hospital is the cen
ter Of interest, for with the increasing
age and infrmities Of the home men,
bers it is only a question Of a SNORT
time when the whole institution must
come under this department, Yes
terday there were 800 patients in the
bospital add annex with 80 outside
for daily treatment and more room
must be afforded. One surgeon IN
charge, three assistant physicians
twenty. seven male and seven female
nurses look after these sick soldiers.
The roll of members shows IA sur
yiyors of the war of 1872 and III Of
the Mexican war, three from Manila
and the rest from the Civil war
The Shaw memorial hall is fine
will seat thousand people with con
venient stage adjuncts, All enter
tainments are free to inmates OF TIT
Home, also the library OF 2,0O0 vol
umes and many magazines and papers
The supply is not equal to the de
mand for the inmates OF the Hom'
are readers; the percentage OF Tilt
eracy is small.
The Home has two chaplains, Prot
estant and Catholic. The new churcl
I is a double building for Protestan
and Catholic churches.
The grounds are laid out with broa'
walk and driveways, much handsom
shrubbery and just now pampa
plumes and beautiful chrysanthe
NUNS are the pride of the Home gar
deners. The water supply is guarah
teed to furnish $4,000 gallons day
Particularly interesting is the vege
table garden where is grown nearl
all vegetables needed. There is ais
a fine orchard, dairy, chickenyar
and hog pasture.
The engine room contains machlf
ery of enormous power which pei
forms numerous duties, among theI
I the steam cooking in all the kitchens
; the electric light plant, power use
in the manufacture OF ice and IN u
laundry.
A brass band gives concerts ate
Moons and everything possible nece
sary to the comfort and happiness
these men is done--a tribute glad
given by the United States to its d
tenders.
In the cemetery are about u
9 graves. 1t lies under the shadow
! the mountains and overlooks u
grounds and sea. 1t is beautiful
l. kept and artistically arranged, ro'
ofwhite stones marking the restll