Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-01-02
CAPITAL CHAT.
Increasing Cost of Maintaining
Togus Home.
FEATURES Of Inspector General Bur-
tons Report
Many Things Praised and Warmly
Commended.

y
great comparatively, and is increasing.
For the fiscal year 1908 the per capit;.
cost was $1i4.79. as against sI32.52 the
previous firscal year-an increase Of
S12.27 per capita and this per capita
cost is exceeded by only one of the
branches of the Soldiers Home. That
is the branch at Marion, Ind
This is one of the noteworthy feat
urcs OF the report of Brig. Gen. George
H. Burton. inspector general of the
United States army, which has just
been sent to Congress and made pub
lie. Gen. Burtons inspection trip COW
cred all of the time between July IS
and October 81 last. He was at ToSus
early i'll September. AS the branch of
the Home is located al the way across
the country, his annual inspection
meant travel all the way from Santa
Monica. the most western branch OF
the Home, to Togus, Me, the most
eastern branch.
Gen. Burton points out that the in
crease per capita in the cost Of MAIN
tanning the Togus Home occurred I'M
der the following subheads of the an
nual appropriation: Current expenses,
1898: subsistence. S1.32; farm, 40
cents; transportation, SO cents; hospi-
tai S1.44; household, 1854; repairs,
s1.32. Under clothing the per capita
expense was 90 cents less than for the
preceding year.
one thing Gen. Burton praises eX-
tensively at Togus in his inspection re-
FORT is the condition of the new bar
racks. He says that Companies E and
Fl in the new barracks recently con-
structcd, are the neatest and most or
derby of the organizations" and then
he adds: This new barrack is butt
on 4 very attractive plan. 1t provides
for one company up stairs and one
company down stairs. In front of the
stairway on the second floor is a large
vcstibu!e, circular in form. 1t is light
and airy, and the men spend most Of
their tigle there in bad weather. TIE
barrack accommodates 22S men. This
is the best arranged barrack I have
seen. either in the Home or in tic
army
Gen. Burton says he found that tho
brick harraCk + was not in as good
condition IS the rest Of the barrac ks.
Company L balrack had u ielky roof,
all the walls were in poor condition and
the equipment vas not good. Barracs
\ WAS also found in unsatisfactory
condition. but BArraclz X. of ell the old
barracks of brick, was found in the
best condition. Gen. Eurtcn says that
with the exceptions noted the barracks.
quarters. and s:orchouses were in All
excellent state of preservation and re-
or cleanliness was observed in any
organization, adds the inspecting Off
Ger, 1t was pointed out to the officer
in charge. who promised immediate
corrct ton
Gen. Burton says the balrack ca
nacity of the Home at Togus is sufli
Gent for present needs. None of tho
men was found sleeping on the floors.
Tho average dormitOry space per man
Was 526 cubic feet-the smallest of
any of the branches. He found So bath
tubs for the use of the members and
the average of men to the tub was
about 81. He notes that the cost of
improvements to the Togus Homo dur
ing the fiscal year was $27.S15.S0. while
the cost of repairs to the Home for the
%.
the grounds in and around the Home
We're in a fine state of preservation,
continuing: The flowers were still in
bloom at the time of my inspection and
they gave a beautiful appearance to
the grounds"
There was net loss Of % members
at the Home during the fiscal year.
The average number of officers and
members present and absent during |
the year." says Gen. Burton in his re-
port, was 2760 Ca decrease of seven !
from the preceding year, CT whom 217O /
was the average present and $50 the |
average absent. The highest number |
present during the year was 22S5: the |,
lowest number present was 1872, on
June IS. 1903. There are only eight !
colorcd members at this Home. An /
average of two men were temporarily |
cared for during the year. The total |
cared for was 3129-a decrease !
of four from the preceding year.
"a census of the camp taken on
Sept. 4. 1903, showed 2446 officers and |
members in camp. and SOS absent; to-
tai. 2011. At that date there were 10
vacant beds in hospital and one in
barracks. and no members were in
There had been a net
gain Of 3s members since June 90, 1903.
"A review was also had on Sept. 4.
at which 1865 men were in line, all in
present in camp, but not in
line, S73: total present. 223S. There
were then absent 565 men, only one of
whom was without leave.
'''The principal offenses committed
during the year" adds Gen. Burton in
his inspection report, were said to be
and absence without
leave. The total number of members
as offending was 345: the to-
tai number of arrests. 494. Those Of
Tending Constituted 15.9 per cent. of
the average present, only the Pacific,
Western and Marion branches showing
smaller per centages in this respect"
Gen. Burton comments in his report
about the excellent condition in which
he found the hospital. 1.-THE hospital"
says he, "was above the general
of those l have 50 far in
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