The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-11-22
MONEY IS NEEDED FOR SOLDIERS HOME Temporary Funds Have Been
 Obtained by Board THE VETERANS ARE HAPPY Old Fellows Show Pathetic Desire to Work, But Are Too Feebe-Ar-
 engagements at the Home
 Are Ideal.
THE VETERANS ARE HAPPY

Montgomery, November 21.-(speciaL)-
 Renewed attention has been attracted to
 the Confederate Soldiers home at Noun
 tain Creek. by a report recently made
 which indicated bad management and
 lack of judgment in the administration of
 the affairs of the institution. Because
 of the use by the former commandant
 of money for Improvements that should
 have been applied only to the maintenance
 of the home a dificit has occurred that
 promised to bring about trouble before
 the end of the year. Happily, however,
 this has been averted and all the money
 needed to keep the home going with
 comfort and attention to every interest
 has been secured by the board of con- troll
 It Is only just to say that the cond- tions at the home were one of the results of the illness of Col. Jefferson M. Falkner,
 who originated the idea, secured the mo-
 ney to erect the buildings, gave part of
 the lands outright and lease for twenty years on others, and has proven staunch friend to the work since the state took charge of it as well as before. Not a Sunday until he became very i'll, sixteen | months ago. found him away from the home and on each of these weekly visits | he shook hands with every old fellow there. After becoming i'll. however, he
 was kept away and matters did not run so smoothly as when he saw to every detail, | including the rooms of the members of l the home.
 Falkners Health Better. l Colonel Falkner, having largely recov- cred his health, has resumed his visits 1 to the home every Sunday. Day before I yesterday he took out a party of friends 1 to spend the day. They were shown over 1 the grounds of the institution and then ] taken to the old country home of the host l for a dinner characteristic of happy ru- ral life. Speaking of the report of the | examiner and the trouble that recently 1 came up. he said:
 Tt was entirely useless. If had known l how things were we should have had | all the money We needed in few mo- ments. As 1t was we went to the bank
 and secured In short time every dollar | it will require to tide us over to the next | appropriation, and if more is necessary | 1t can be had There has never been
 time when the home was not able to | get whatever 1t needed, and, now that | I am regaining my health. l hope there will be no more trouble and see no req | son why there should be. Dr. Fielder, 1 the new commandant. is man or dis- I cretion and ability and l am sure that
 he will soon have everything in the Lest | of condition"
 Convenient Home.
 1 The home prepared for the old soioiers, l located at Mountain Creek, is a marvel or convenience and comfort It IS situated
 in an enclosure of eighty acres, with big I oak trees and an expanse or peautilui 1 landscape that would do credit to scene
 nainter. Down in the low part of the l grounds will be located two fine fish l ponds. or lakes, which will add greatly to | the pleasure of the old fellows who are | there The walks are to be laid on, nice driyeways will be made and all sorts of flowers put out over the grounds. Every 1 cottage Is to have its flower yard ana l the memorial hall is to be given beau- l tiful surrounding by the florist Of the home, Comrade Welch, who is as indus l trious as he is competent To the fiocks l of poultry already there will be added | others and the cattle herds will be en- | larged. Just now Colonel Falkner Is get ting money to buy separator that Will give the inmates every bit of butter they need and he has a plan maturing to pro- vide fried chicken for them all the year round. Patches nearby are to be used to raise vegetables. and these will give variety to the meals.
 Can Not Work.
 Unlike many places of this kind, there | is no help to speak of to be secured from the labors of those who are accommo- dated. As a rule the men who go there are broken in health and cannot work If they would. The result is that there can be nothing produced to speak of save by the work of hired men. The old fellows seem to want to do things, however. One old warrior, too weak to leave his room said to the party yesterday: q want you to have a bill passed by the Legislature forcing us lazy fellows to work. We ought to have 1t to do." Right then the old fellow could not have stood up long enough to button his own coat. Another
 old fellow was engaged in picking a gull tar His room, kept entirely by himself, was as neat pin. Pictures lined the walls and his table cover and washstand scarf were immaculate. He takes a pride in his room, and says that the ladies al- ways compliment him. He Is doubled up in a knot, almost, by rheumatism but laughs and talks and plays and sings with l the zest of a school boy. It Is the same | way all through Many of the inmates
 would be glad to help out but they are not able to do so.
 | Need More Money.
 | With all the advantages of the home at | this time. it needs more help. The appro- | priation of $125 year for each inmate | is far from adequate, and must be made | larger if the state desires to do what i;
 should for the men who are now helpless
 and dependent upon that source alone for aid. It is believed by many citizens thai
 s200 year for each inmate would not be
 too much, and then all the money for im-
 | provement would have to come from
 friends as contributions. The grounds vii