Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1900-12-06
Bellows Falls Times
THURSDAY, DECEMBER, 6, 1900.
STATE NEWS.
Report on the Soldiers Home.

By request we publish the report Of tn
committee Of the senate aud the house o.
representatives on military affairs on thu
Vermont Soldiers Home at Bennington.
| Pursuant to joint resolution of the sen
ate and house of representatives the com.
mittee of the senate and house of repre-
seutatives on military affairs, visited the
| Vermont Soldiers Home at Bennington
VT, on Friday, November 16, 1900, and
would now most respectfully submit the fol.
lowing report:
Under the direction of Judge Hugh
Henry. president; Hon. Cassius Peck, Col
G. G. Kinsman, trustees; and the superin-
tendent R. j. Coffey, your committee pro.
ceeded to inspect every department OF the
institution, and examine its condition and
adaptability to the purposes of its use in
promoting the general welfare of the wards
of the state, the veterans of the war Of the
rebellion.
The buildings are commodious and well
arranged for their purpose. The capacity
of the buildings is about 1875 inmates
The office ana reception rooms are well
furnished together with dining room and
kitchen. The sleeping rooms are well
furnished, and only one occupant to a
room. Nearly all of the sleeping rooms
have been furnished by towns, Grand Army
posts, different asso clations and individuals,
aud are tasty, eat and comfortable.
There Is general day room in which all
the inmate may coDgregate, and pass their
time as best suits them, abundant reading
matter i, supplied from the library which is
we'll stocked with substantial works on his
tory, religious teachings. congre ssior al
records, and many lighter works of fiction,
toge ther with a large number of differ ent
papers OF the state.
The old soldiers of which at the present
time there are about "a present and fur
Laughed, present tidy, neat appearance in
dress and gener raj cleanliness, which speaks
well tor the oversight which is given by the
superintendent and matron in charge and
of whom the veterans all testify to their un-
form kindness and vigilance in ministering
to their needs and wants. In conversing
with many in regard to their home lite in
the Home, they were all emphatic in say
ing they we're well taken care of and the
utmost kindness and solicitude shown by
every officer and trustee of the institution.
There is q laundry under supervision Of
competent woman who has charge of the
linen and clothing and the storeroom, where
all unused articles were packed away on
shelves, showing neatness and precision. A
needlewoman is employed to mend and
keep in repair all clothing, and that this
economic measure is practiced was evil
denced by the neat appearance of the ap-
parel of the veterans. There are also
cook and assistant with three table walters
to look after the providing of daily meals.
For the character OF the subsistence pro-
vided, we would refer you to the menu"
published in the biennial report and the
committee find the amount provided ample
and quality good. The water supply is
good and the drainage and sewerage sys-
TENS perfect.
Passing from the main building through
conservatory of beautiful shrubs and
flowers, we enter the hospital, which con-
sists of dining room and kitchen, COM
modious and well-stocked dispensary, -
we'll furnished rooms with one and two
beds each, besides the general ward room,
in all about 80 beds.
There are at the present time only three
or four who are confined to the hospital.
Every thing in connection with the hospital
evidenced the most scrupulous system and
thorough neatness, and where everything
of an infectious character Is daily taken to
small crematory outside the building and
incinerated.