Daily Kennebec journal., 1901-01-24
TOGUS HOME.
The Report Of the 1900 Official
inspection.
Complimentary Words for the Man.
agement Of the Home.
p,culation.- Discipline. .Amuscmen.s- Farm.
Finances. Hospital. Food.

u,rshall Brown, Portland, Me-. whose
I'm, as a member of the Board OF
u,uaeers expires in 1902. The officers
,re. Governor. Col. S. II. Allen: treas
,,sr Mai. A. l.. Smith: surgeon. MAJ.
" E. Elwell; quartermaster and COM
,;ssarv of subsistence. Capt. S. j.
Gallagher. These officers have con-
.;r,ed on duty since the date of last
;nsnecton, and they impressed me as
icing energetic and efficient. and the
entire branch presented satisfactory
onnearance due to careful manage
MONT and constant attention.
About $50 acres of new land has been
purchased or negotiated for during tie
mast year. This land is in two lots ot
{; acres and 45 acres. respectively, the
former of which adjoins the original
observation on the southwest. south OF
,bo Hallowell road, and is needed
for the wood and for cultivation and
nasturing. The price paid was $4,000
about 500. 80 per acre. 1t is considered
very fair land for this locality. The
latter plot adioins the reservation on
tho north. east of the Augusta road.
The negotiations had not been closed
on the date of my visit, but it was
thought shortly would be. and 81 800
was to be paid for it. This land was
covered with brush and shrubs and
looked rocky and of little value. but it
was explained that "speakeasies" and
dives" of like character had sprung
nm on the grounds and were being eS-
tablished closer and closer to the
Home. and it was considered good
policy to purchase to keep them at as
great distance as possible.
The military appearance of this
Branch is marked. Ornamental heavy
guns are found here and there and The
field pieces near the flagstaff have
pleasing effect. The calls are sounded
on a trumpet. as is done at nearly all
of the other Branches. This is most
appropriate.
The new double frame barrack has
been completed and was practically
ready for occupancy. This barrack
will temporarily relieve the crowded
condition observed here on every hand.
but another similar barrack Will doubt
less be needed later. The new building
is attractive in appearance, extremely
comfortable and will give accomoda-
tons superior to any of the other bar
racks All of its appointments are
modern. including a large rotunda in
the center for recreation and an in
divdual room, equipped with a roll
top desk and other conveniences for
each of. the company commanders.
The barrack has capacity for more
than 200 men. and if the central part
of the attic should be finished and used
80 more men could be nicely accommo-
dated 1t will be heated by steam
generated from two tubular boilers, OF
ample capacity, located in the bulid-
ing A feature in the ventilation, not
observed elsewhere. is n sort OF double
window a small tranSOm-like a1air,
above the regular window. Large open
fireplaces. or fiues. are also found in
each dormitory The site of the build
ing, however is on low ground. ana II
the water should rise to the height Ii
attained last spring the fires in the
boilers would be put out. This par
rack is without verandas. and the uh-
covered stairways on the OUTSIDE at
each end of the building are possibly
to be used only in case of an emef-
sency.
Considerable interior and exterior
painting has been done here since my
last visit and new and lmproNeu
toilet conveniences have' been placed
IN Companies A. b, D. f, and l. har-
racks All the old plumbing has been
renewed or thoroughly repaired ana
new rooms have been built Tor the
company comanders in these barracks.
Larger soil and waste pipe connec-
tons to main bathroom have Deen
made ard new tubs added, the enamel
on some of which had already begun
to crack and peel. While the eniarg-
ing of the capacity of the bathrooms
and the changing and renovation OF
the plumbing was greatly needed ana
Is commendable. more of the latter
work remains to be done. In one par
rack it was observed that upward OF
~ men used single hopper ana
urinal Many of the closets are In the
interior of the buildings, with no ven
tation, and the foul air enters other
not be conducive to health.
new steam heater for headquarters
building has been put in place, ana
additions to the surgeons quarters
which We're being repainted: ana to the
motel, the latter at a cost of sl,f24,
nave been made.
drying room for the laundry, re-
curing $500 feet of 1-inch pipe with
necessary fittings has also been built
-cm feet of new plank sidewalk nave
"een laid; a new coal shed and a
uestlework for the railroad to the coal
Sned has been erected. 1t is thought
mat if the shed had been built to coy
p the trestle. so that the ears could be
run into it and then dumped. it would
nave been d considerable saving in
labor.
ana complete switch board has been
paced in the theater.
'hree frame cottages. pertaining tC
the post fund. at 81 900 each. by con
tract have been erected during the
year. This makes six Of these cottage;
VII the Home grounds. and the GOV
erhor says that more of them would bf
oeheiieial. Great trouble is expert
elced in keeping good men in the
hume to fill the clerical and noncom
nissloned staff. and as it is found thai
muse with family ties are more to bt