Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-03-04
IOWA SOLDIERS HONE
Full Report of Special Legisla-
tive Committee Which Visit
ed That Institution
FOUND AN EXCELLENT SERVICE
FOUND AN EXCELLENT SERVICE
Officials of the Institution, Are, How-
ever, Laborins Under Disadvantage
es From the Lack of Proper Equip
ment-Recommend Establishment
of More Adequate Fire Escapes.
snectal to Times Republican.


Des Moines, March 4.--The following
is the full report Of the committee on
visitation of the Soldiers Home con-
sisting of Captain S. II. Harper, OF
Ottumwa, member Of the senate, ana
Joseph Mates. of Odebolt. chairman of
the appropriation committee. and E.
d. Ghassell, of LeMars, house mem
Der, which committee visited the
Home with a view to deciding on Its
for the next biennial period:
1--WE spent all day Saturday the 18th
inst. making a thorough investigation
of all the buildings and of the grounds.
We directed to the various places of
interest by Commandant Horton, and
the services of the heads of the various
planning the needs of the various
buildings. Where deemed advisable,
this investigation was made without
any of the officials of the Home pres
ent. We consulted with numerous Pc.
tients In the hospital and inmates IN
the several wards and buildings. In
every particular we desire to coramend
the excellent service which Is being
rendered the state by the officials u
the institution. We found that in
numerous instances they were labor
ing under disadvantages from lack
OF proper equipment. and because OF
the fact that the buildings ard ap-
paratus in many cases are sadly IL
need of repair, and need appropriations
for reconstruction or renewal. The
patients were found to be cheerful and
they were apparently comfortable ana
well cared for.
Main building-The porches on the
main building are badly out OF repair,
the pillars and supports being rottsd
away SO that 1t is necessary for tent
porary supports to be used. The COM
mittee recommends that these porches
be renewed, and that fiat roofs b..
made. and that stairways be arranged
so that the roofs and stairs may be
used as fire escapes. There are at
present no fire escapes on the front
of this large building and by this
arrangement Of the porches, further
obviated. The kitchen floor is deeaye1
and temporarily patched up. Il should
be renewed. The ceiling Is In bad
condition la inesss of sste rooms ana
should ne renewed. as Well as the side
minor nature are needed
Old mems builiing-This building
was formerly the hospital, and much
repair is needed on the walls and
ceiling. as the plastering is cracked
and loosened in many places. The
porches need repairing or reconstruc-
ting, and fire escapes should be placed
on the east and west sides, and an
outside stairway from the front porch
is recommended to be used as a fire
escape.
''old ladies' building This build
ing is In excellent condition. Ii has
adequate fire escapes on the second
and third stories. Should have fire
escape or stairway on the front of the
building.
.old peoples building build
ing is occupied by Old soldiers and
their wives. and is a model of neat
ness and convenience. The couples
are each assigned a neatly furnished
room, which has an alcove opening
into 1t for a bedroom. These suites
of rooms are arranged on botn sides
OF the building. separated by a hall
running from one end to the other,
with access to the porch at each end.
In the middle OF the building n flight
of stairs runs UP to the second floor.
and down to the basement which is
e.. tyi,t Itv,t,,
A neat and pleasantly furnished par
Tor or reception room is located on
the first floor near the stairway. con-
veniently accessible for all the resi-
dents of the building.
Your committee was entertained at
dinner with the inmates of this de-
partment and partook OF the. regular
fare. which is supplied to the steady
boarders. We found the food to be
palatable substantial and we'll served,
and much better than that which IS
furnished at many of the ordinary
hotels.
The land on which the building
stands gently declines to the west. In
the basement in the east end are locat-
ed the kitchen and dining room The
management of the Institution consider
that the practical place to build
wing or addition for the accommodate
tion of further inmates would be CT
the north side Of the east end. This
will bring the inmates in the new
wing convenient to the dining room
The condition of the land on which
the wing would be constructed Is such
that three story building will De
ACCESSIBLE and convenient for the
inmates. They can enter on the sec
ond floor at the other end of the main
part Of this building and not be
obliged to climb two sets of stairs to
reach the upper floor of the addition
Owing to the number of applica tons
on file for admission to this building,
your committee considers it extremely
that this wing be construct
ed, and would recommend ar appro-
priation OF $4,000 for that purpose"
Hospital-The hospital is Il new
building, and supplied with modern
equipment. 1t is neat and clean, and
arranged and heated. The
size of the building makes il necessary
to have more kitchen and dining room
spate, and your committee recommends
tend and enlarge the wing watch is
now used for those purposes.
Quartermasrer's Building quar-
terrnaster's department is small and
entirely inadequate for the needs of the
institution. This is really a store of
general merchandise for nearly thou
sand people; and clothes, flour, gro
ceries. hardware, utensils and other