Daily Kennebec journal., 1901-01-24

1
| a new amusement hall. for which
| authority mas been obtained to expend
| $io'ooo from the post fund. which al
the tlme OF my visit had balance OF
SlS.3oSll, with probably small liabili-
| ties outstanding. This Improvement
is much needed, as the basement un-
der the library, now used as an
| amusement and smoking room. is illy
suited Tor the purpose being too
small, dark, and badly ventilated. and
the noise incident to the billiard and
pool games disturb the readers in the
room above.
small. sluggish, stagnant creek,
called the Greedy Pond Brook. tray
erses the low grounds of this Branch.
At the time of my visit it contained
considerable decaying vegetation and in
some places green scum covered its
surface. The disposition of the sur
plus water in the springtime is a scri-
Gus problem here. and the high water
is frequently very troublesome 1t is
| thought that by deepening the outlet
OF the brook, thereby creating great
er fall, for which an appropriation has
been made. this difficulty will be re-
! moved.
| The average present during the year
! increased 2S over the figures last year.
| While gain of 50 is shown in the aver
age number absent. and on June 30.
| 1900. these present at the Branch num-
bered 1866. At the date of the in
| spection. July "a. 1900. the officers and
members numbered 2,011.
A review was held on July o6 1900.
participated in by 4 officers. 900 mem
bers. and band of q pieces, all of
whom marched past the inspecting
officer with the exception of the Home
officers. The ceremony was creditab bly
performed by the veterans who pre-
Sented in most instances neat and
! imposing appearance. Three hundred
and nincty-four members. who We're
i'll the convalcscent formation, We're
also inspected.
The abSenteeS from the review were
accounted for as follows: Sick. 314: ex-
ira duty. All. Six hundred and thirty
nine members We're absent from camp.
| L of whom without leave.
Eishty-onc p~~ cent. of the members
did not commit any breach of dis
cipline during 9 year, but there were
Ifiio u AstiS vi uihtHIlcSS, lcllCe
, jumping. abse:. without leave, and
other offenscs. one hundred and
thirty -four of the members were tried
three times or moro. and the greatest
number drunk in Dnc day was %. sub
seauent to pension day. June %, 1900.
Forty-four performances of the best
talent touring the State were given in
the wcil-appointed theater during the
year. at cost of $1.16G. or Sl6213 per
performance. No charge is made to
the members. but otitCrS are charged
an admission fee of 10 nd 25 cents. and
$9Sl.55 was the reVcc- Q from thlS
! source.
The daily concert givcN by the eX-
cellent band of y pieces. under the
efficient and painstaking leadership of
Prof. +. w. Themc, was largely at
tended and greatly enjoyed by the
members.
This Branch reports the largest at
tendance in the library of any of the
Branches. and the number of books
read or circulate reached 36912. Three
societies, a Grand Army Of the Re
public. Union Veterans Union, and
Veterans Social Club. with a member
ship of 400. are said to have a good
effect on discipline.
Among the efforts being made to en-
! large the scope of amusements is the
! erection of a new and more commo-
dious building for billiard and smoke
! room.
| Services are held by the Catholic
| chaplain on Sundays and holy days in
| the basement of the chapel. which is
open at all times and should have new
| pewS instead of the old benches. In
| it's present condition this basement
| looks unfinished and as it is frequented
daily by a number of the members for
| devotional purposes it should be better
| furnished. The Protestant services
are held in the chape! proper Sundays.
with meetings twice week and on
| Sundays. The attendance is given as
| 400 and 300. respectively.
This Branch reports 500 acres under
cultivation. the largest number re-
ported by any Branch. The soil in
the low land is of a dark peatty ap-
pearance. and when mixed with fer
| tiIizer is fairly productive for such a
vegetable as cabbage, a large area OF
which had been planted. Considerable
hay was being made at the time OF my
! visit ana II appeared 70 pe VI ia'
quality \ magnificent herd OF cattle
consisting of 81 cows, Il heifers,
bulls. 4 oxen. and 10 calves is kept ana
! the Weld of milk during the year was
given as SS5 gallons. which would
cost 20 cents per gallon or s1O,lU IN thc
| nearest town. The value of the 1afm
stock. June 30, 1900. is given as S6,l4o'
and the value of farm products for the
year is reported as follows
MIX t5o.SS5 Gallons> turned in
! commisSary. 7Ao'i''-V
egetan,e9 '"i "e' 800
| Forage, may lo"oei' 297:.M
! 20 20. 1, 1901
/ attic SUI cor.e 1U.H
| Total, ~.
farm proper was $S,l6Sto
The accounts and disbursements
were examined from the date OF las
inspection. December 4. 1899, to July
81 1900. inclusive.- and the TRANSACTIONS
may be summarized as follows: 'ei,
eral fund, s166. 1924; pension fuho
s226, 1896; post fund, S5S,269.2'; totai