The Washington times., 1901-09-08

1t cannot, it would seem, be consist
emily. said that republics are always
ungrateful when such object lessons of
nations gratitude exist on every hand
in the soldiers homes which have been
erected In various parts of our coun-
try. More than 1,250 disabled veterans
of the Regular Army are provided for
in the Soldiers Home here. an,i besides
the institutions. of similar character for
volunteers furnished by twenty-seven
of our States there are eight national
homes supported by Government ap-
propriations. These are located at Day
ton. Ohio; Milwaukee, Wis; Togus.
Me; Hampton, Va; LeaVenworth,
Kan; Marion, Ind; Danville, ILL.,, and
Santa Monica, Cal. All except the first
named are for volunteer soldiers only,
and to the number is now added the
most magnificent OF all. soon to be
erected at Johnson City. Tenn, and for
which a Congressional appropriation Of
$4,000 is available.
AS the result of a comparison Of COM
petitive plans called for by the board
of managers. six architects from as
many different States having submitted
designs. the contract for the construc-
tion of all the buildings, the general
layout of grounds and landscape gar
dening was awarded to Architect ]. II.
Freedlander, of New York City, grad
uate of the Massachusetts, Institute of
Technology, and of the EcOles des
Beaux Arts Paris, who received spe-
cial diploma from the French Govern
ment in 1895. He has also won prizes
in the competition for designs for the
great New York library, in the inter-
national competition for the University
of California, and for the Maine moDu-
ment in New York City. AS a gradu-
ate of the Ecole des BeauX Arts it is
natural that his scheme should show
the influence of that school, to which
the United States is indebted for many
remarkable architects who have made
their mark in this country. Accepting
an arbitrary term. the general char
acter of the structures to be erected
will be that of the French renaissance.
Or the latest development of architect
ural art.
The general scheme contemplates
thirty-five different buildings, for the
erection of which, as stated, there is
an appropriation of 81 100000. to be sup
plemented probably by another $780,
000 The home is intended to provide
for at least $500 disabled volunteers,
''both of the Union and Confeder ate
armies of the civil war, and all other
wars in winch the United States has
been engaged" This recognition of
the universally of patriotism and good
feeling win doubtless be approved by
all, though it is practically a new de-
parture in the government of the
homes. That the latest and largest in
stituticn of this sort should be thrown
open to all, regardless of sectionalism
or of sentiment engendered by the civil
war, is guarantee that the era of good
feeling SO necessary to our development
as a nation has at last arrived.
The site selected for the new home is
a tract of land about a mile and three
quarters long by three-quarters of
mile wide right in the heart OF the pic
turesque Tennessee mountains, where
the scenery is exhilarating and the eli
mate, owing to the altitude and sur
roundings. is healthful and invigorat-
ing. Although isolated and forest sur
rounded and sufficiently remote from
the large cities to be quiet and rest
ful, the site is easily accessible over the
Southern Railway (Which will erect a
station on, and run a spur to the
grounds) and only short trolley ride
from the small town known as Johnson
II =. I,,r al f-fa
three hours ride over the hills on
horseback from Asheville. N. c.. the ia
nous resort. where among other pre-
tentious buildings may be found the
celebrated home OF George W. Wander
bilt, Fillmore, a creation of the late R.
NJ. Hunt, another graduate of the
French school of architecture.
Environed by noble forests of pines,
the grounds of this soldiers home will
be parklike in character. with groves
and driveways, the landscape features
tending to enhance the naturally pic
turesque appearance of the place. A
ravine running through the forest fur
nishes a mountain stream which will
be utilized for electric power and fur
ther made available for the entrance
Of the railway spur for freight and 9TH
er purposes. The storehouses and utiI-
ity buildings. as well as the power
house, coal sheds, etc. will be situated
near this ravine, being, together with
the freight cars and tracks, practically
concealed from the larger and Shower
buildings.
The entrance to the grounds will be
marked by a triumphaI arch or ornate
gateway, under which will run the
main roadway forty feet wide, lined
with trees. This roadway will cross the
grand parade ground-i00 feet wide by
Loco feet in length-at one end Of
which viii be placed the fine memorial
hall
The special architectural features will
be the memorial hall. mess hail. chap
els. barrack buildings, administration
building, and governors house, each
structure being provided with its own
little park or flower garden, which will
be supplied from the extensive green
houses located near the canteen and
band stand. These latter will be con-
yeniently situated to the gathering
places Of the old soldiers beneath the
trees, and in the little pavllions which
will be erected at intervals all over the
grounds. Here they will fight the war
over again and tell how it would have
been conducted had they been in com
mand.
The chief structures, like the mess
hail. chapels, memorial hall, and bar
racks. Will be built around a semi