Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-10-04
SOLDIERS HOME DATA
Report of General Ainsworth,
Secretary Of Board.
THE EFICIARIES
DECREASE OF SO SINCE LAST RE-
PORT WAS FILED.
Amount Of Permanent Fund Deposited
Cost of Observation-Disclosures
ment of Institution.
THE BENEFICIARIES

The Secretary of War has received the
annual report of the board of commission
ers of the Soldiers Home. through Major
General Ainsworth, the military secretary
who is president of the board. The number
of beneficiaries on the rolls June 30 last
was 1882, a decrease of So since the last
previous report. OF the total number en-
rolled, $50 at the home, II less than
last year; 314 on outdoor relief: 80 in the
Government Hospital for the Insane: 30 on
furlough; 50 in the general hospital at Fort
Bayard, N. NJ, and six are absent without
leave. The daily average number of in
mates during the year was 922 and the
total number of deaths 121, of which num-
Der one committed suicide.
The permanent fund of the home de-
posted in the United States Treasury
amounts to $3,965,606. an increase of 1855 1853
during the year. The total receipts during
the year were $466,317 and the total dis
bursement $412.367. leaving balance of
So3,949 The sum of $162. 691 was expended
during the year in permanent improvements
and repairs. There was an increase of over
$l3.oOO in the cost of subsistence over the
preceding year, due partly to the general
increase in cost of all food supplies and
partly to the decided improvements made
In the mess at the home and in the hos
pital. to the great satisfaction of the in
mates.
There are LA beneficiaries who served IN
the war with Mexico and 377 who served
in the civil war.
The nativity of benefciaries is about one
half American, one-fourth Irish, one-siXth
German. and the balance are natives of
other countries. Their ages range from "a
to sc years; 408 of the 80 resident inmates
are from 60 to So years of age, and 322 Rave
served from 20 to 81 years in the army.
Addition to Hospital.
Gen. Ainsworth says that the construc-
ton of the large addition to the home
hospital Is well under way. Work upon it
was necessarily suspended during the win
ter months, but it is expected that the
building will be completed early in the
coming year. The same remarks apply to
the construction of the new adminiStra-
tion building.
In the last annual report it was stated
that the board had also under considera-
ton the construction of a new mess hall
with additional dormitories to meet the
increasing demands of the home. Plans
for the building have since then been
carefully considered by the board, and
the specifications are now completed.
They call for an imposing building of
white marble. rock faced, to conform in
style OF architecture with the Scott build
ing. The site selected for it is in rear of
the present library building and on a line
with and within a few feet of the rear of
the Sheridan and the theater buildings.
which will leave in front of the mess hall
a large plaza, 1t being intended to re-
move the library building as it is re-
garded as no longer suited for the pur-
pose, and that better arrangements can
be made in the present buildings for the
library and reading room
1t having been found that the enlarge
ment of the hospital, the construction of
an administration building and of a new
mess hall required that very large in.
crease be made in the capacity of the
present pumping station and of the power
house to supply the required amount of
neat, iight and power, the matter was
carefully considered, and the board. find
ing that to increase the capacity of the
pumping station and the power house to
meet the requirements of the additional
hul!dlngS would involve a considera BILE
outlay at both places, and build up at
great expense two separate plants, de-
cided that central heat light and power
plant would be preferable to supply all
the heat, light and power required for the
entire home grounds and all the buildings
therein.
Employment Of Experts
Instructions were therefore given to Major
Baker, the constructing officer. to saeure
the services of expert electrical engineers to
investigate and report upon the practca bill
lty and desirability of such a system and
as the experts made very favorable reports
ana recommended that the system be adopt-
ed the board authorized the preparation of
plans and specifications for the construc-
ton of a central heating light and power
plant. and they are now in the course of
preparation.
A wagon shed and tool house with a root
cellar underneath has also been constructed
during the past year to meet the needs of
the home in this respect, and three miles of
brick sidewalk have been laid in the home
grounds.
The account of the farm and dairy shows
that their cultivation has TO
in producing early and late vegetables and
a better quality of milk than can be OBJ
tanned by contract
The treasurers account of funds belong
ing to the inmate pensioners shows that he
had on hand June 30, 1903, $50. 5.26: that
he received during the year $1303T9.S2, and
paid to pensioners and to legal heirs of de-
ceased pensioners $1330061. leaving On
hand deposited in the United States treas
ury. as required by law. $780, .96.
The Closing of Streets.
In closing his report Gen. Ainsworth says:
"The construction by the United States
of large plant for the filtration of the
Washington water supply Immediately
south of the Soldiers Home grounds having
made it necessary for the District to close
the streets running east and west through
the tract of land required for the purpose,
with the exception of Michigan avenue, and
it being desired that this avenue be kept
open without extending it over the f1ltra-
ton pIaht, lie podiu VI SoHiHIssIohefs
granted permission to the United States
engineer department to extend part of
Michigan avenue through the southern end
of the home grounds, all expenses connect
ed Herewith to be borne by the appropria-
ton for the filtration plant.
The general sanitary condition of the
home and grounds has been excellent
throughout the year; the water supply and
drainage are satisfactory. and there has
been no prevalent or epidemic disease
among the inmates
The buildings and grounds at the home
are in excellent condition and special at
tention has been given to the food supplied
the inmates whose welfare has received
every consideration from the officers of the
home.
Result of Inspection.
In an accompanying report Inspector
General Burton, in giving the result OF a
recent inspection of the home, says:
home. n all its branches at date OF