The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-08-10
SUMMER Days 1T TIE SOLDIERS HOME.

Work on the new dining room at the
State Homo for Soldiers near Mime
haha park is progressing rapidly. The
building which has long been an urgent
necessity is of red pressed brick with
sandstone facing and will be two stor-
les high when completed. The first
floor will be used as a dining room and
the second for storage. At present
the veterans are compelled to dine in
basement room, of bare and uncheer-
full aspect and in relays, as there is
not sufficient seating capacity to per-
NIT all to sit down at once The new
building will be ITO by so feet in di-
mension and so large enough for COM
fort, beside being light and airy, none
of which advantages the present din
1ngroom possesses.
Scattered throughout the union there
are some eight national homes and
about thirtyone state - homes, yet
among all these the state home in Min
nesota has some unique features, and
differs a little from all the others in
regard to it's treatment of it's mem
berS-naemberS not inmates, it must be
remembered, for the veterans are very
sensitive upon just this point, they as
Sert and reasonably that they are not
inmates but members of this home
which is distinctly, different from a
charitable or correctional institution
in all respects. Here the members
contribute toward their own support
and the home is maintained in three
ways, that is, it draws its support from
three distinct sources, first, it receives
federal aid, next, state aid, and thirdly,
all members receiving a pension upon
entrance to the home surrender all
their pension with the exception of 81.
which is restrained, for personal or
any other expense the member may
, choose to ino(lr. The balance of this
pension, that portion he. surrenders,
is given to his wife or family or par
entS or those who are dependent upon
him. but if there is absolutely no one
needing it then it goes to the home.
Supplied With Everything.
Everything is supplied to the old
soldier, tobacco, matches, stamps, sta
tionery, all, once he is a member of the
home. If, however, he is furloughed
for thirty days or more then he collects
the whole of his pension even though
he intends to return again in the near
future. At present there are three
hundred members in the home and one
hundred and fifty out on furlough.
Many of the men who are able to get
out little, and do some light work
like very much to leave the Home in
the summer for a few months, draw
their full pension, and add something
to 1T perhaps by earning a little.
Of course one of the most important
features of this institution is the hos
pital and many of the veterans are in
for treatment rather than for resi-
dence. Old and wornout in the service
of their country they know that here
they have an abiding place, a home
and a house of refuge in their old age
and disability.
The greater number in residence now
are, of course, Union veterans, four
were in the Mexican war besides hav-
ing served in the war OF, the Rebel
lion, nine served in the Spanish Amer
lean war, and nine served here during
those days of terror in '62. They are
of course not young men and the av-
erage is 60 years. the average length
of service two years and a half, or
thirty months, and the residence in
Minnesota is thirty years.
Those Who Are Eligible.
In order to be eligible as a member
of this Home the old soldier must have
an honorable discharge and must have
been a resident of Minnesota for at
least year before his adnittance, or if
he has served in a Minnesota regi-
ment then he may be admitted from
any state. Among the more interest
Ing of the residents is a veteran who
Fhad charge of the engineering at the