Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-06
COMBINE SOLDIERS HOMES.
Suggestion Of Some Members Of Special
Investigating Committee,
WOULD ABANDON GRAND ISLAND PLACE
committeeman says Grand Island
- 80 condition. and
ought TO ne Consolidated with
Milford InstitutiOn.
WOULD ABANDON GRAND ISLAND PLACE

The coming legislature will be called
upon 70 pass upon a matter which Will be
presented by some Of the members OF the
committee which was appointed by the
governor 70 visit the soldiers homes OF the
state. Some OF the members Of the COM
mittee will seek to have the home at Grand
Island abandoned. Said one Of them:
ION our last visit to the home we found
everything in as good shape as possible
under existing circumstances, but we also
found good reasons for favoring the con-
solicitation OF the homes. Attached to the
Grand Island home are 500 acres OF land
which 1t was believed at the time the home
was established would make the inftitu-
tion in a measure self-supporting. TINS
It has failed to do. The land is so poor
that 1t will raise nothing but alfalfa and
this has not been developed to a paying
point. The state has from time to time
appropriated money, to be spent in plant
ing trees. but the trees fail to grow in the
soil, which Is impregnated to a greater or
less degree with alkali. The ground upon
which the buildings stand has no drainage
and II will be practically impossible to
maintain the buildings in the way they
should be kept up IL the health and comfort
Of the inmates is to be considered.
at MILFORD the state has forty acres OF
land, which Is sufficient for all purposes
OF the home. The situation Is beautiful and
the drainage perfect. II the Milford home
should be increased in size to accommo-
date all Of the inmates OF both homes 1t
would be possible and advisable to take adj
vantage OF the river there to secure W
for electric lights and the operation Of
other necessary machinery in connection
with the home.
Needs Immediate Attention.
This matter should receive attention at
this time, because IL the Grand Island home
is to be maintained it will be necessary to
appropriate a comparatively large sum OF
money to repair the buildings and make
necessary improvements, while with a COM
paratively small sum in addition to this
new buildings could be erected at Milford
and the Inmates of the Grand Island home
transferred to that place.
I'm. addition to giving the inmates OF the
nome a better place to live the state would
save a considerable amount Of money each
year by the change, the saving being so
large, in my opinion, that 1t could afford to
give the land and buildings at Grand ISL
and away rather than to maintain them.
OF course the state could realize something
out of the land and buildings at Grand ISL
and and this could be applied on the new
buildings at Milford.
1.-THE principal item of saving to be made
by consolidating the homes is in the matter
of management. At the present time we
have two complete staffs of officers and at
tendants. With consolidation only one
stan would be necessary, and the number
OF attendants could be materially reduced.
The amount annually expended on both Of
the homes, while much too small, would
make a better showing IL 1t were all spent
upon one. At Grand Island today there
are no carpets or rugs upon the floor Of the
hospital. Even in the sitting room, where
convalesccnts spend their time, the floors
are bare and there is an air OF desolation
around the place which is very depressing.
All Of this could be changed If the homes
were consolidated at Milford, where the
surroundings are pleasant"