The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-07-29
SEES THE BIG FLEET.
The President Visits Squadron of Bat
tleships in the Hudson River.

Oyster Bay, July 29.-President Roose-
welt after spending two hours in an in
spection of the Sea Breeze home estab-
lished at Coney Island, N Y, by the
New York Association for the Improve
ment of the Condition of the Poor, re-
turned to Sycamore Hill. The president
dictated statement concerning the trip
and his reasons for taking it. The state
ment follows:
Il went down today to see the hospi-
tai for children suffering from bone
troubles. which is managed in conjunc-
ton with the Fresh Air fund of the
New YORK Association for the Improve
ment of the Condition of the Poor. The
hospital is at the Sea Breeze Home,
Coney Island. About 280 children are
taken each week to the Sea Breeze un-
der the fresh air fund and over 5000
during the season. The hospital has
room for only 45 children and there are
more than 1000 cases of bone tuberculo-
sis in the tenement house district of
New York. Now, the trustees are try
ing to raise a fund for hospital which
will hold 400 patients. The fresh air
fund people are obliged to refuse adj
mission to 1000 or 5000 applicants an
nually.
THE sea air treatment of bone tuber-
culosis has been found to be marvel
ously successful in France. Here also
it has proved so successful that at the
Sea Breeze home they have not lost a
single patient. All were benefited and
most Oh them were cureQ.
Now about three weeks ago MISS
Laura Wilmington, who had been pri-
vate secretary to DR.. Lyman Abbott
and had taken great interest in the
fresh air fund. was dying of cancer in
St Luke's hospital. When she learned
of the need for increased facilities for
the children at Sea Breeze she wrote a
letter setting forth the work and the
needs in the outlook, signing only her
initials.
1ry7n xzr
to be a large giver in charities. but
who never allows his name to appear,
saw this letter and asked Jacob Riis
to go to Sea Breeze and to investigate
and report to him on the facts. Mr.. Riis
Investigated and reported so strongly on
the good being done and that the need
for additional facilities were so great
that the man in question subscribed
$4,000 for charging the hospital, and
pledged himself to give 81 900 annually
for ten years for maintaining it. An
other man also subscribed $1,000.
Mr. Riis at once sent word to Miss
Wilmington, telling her what her ar
ticle had accomplished, and it cheered
her last three days. She died last wed
nesday.
Meanwhile Mr. Riis had asked me
to be sure to come down, to his home
and see for myself. I went down to-
day, l was immensely impressed by
the work being done there. Senator
Crane, of Massachusetts, went with me.
I feel that there can be few more bene-
ficent works than that which is being
accomplished with the fresh air fund
and this seaside hospital for the tene-
ment children suffering from bone tub
erculosis.
ION the way home the Sylph went up
the Hudson and when we passed the
battIcship 1 signaled them not to sa-
lutte. but I did want to see the formi-
dabie squadron which I believe to be
collectively and individually as fine a
lighting fleet as the finest in the world.
/ was Immensely pleased at the way in
which Admiral Evans and the officers
under him have performed their duty
in maneuvering this great feet. and al
50 with the target practice and tactical
efficiency shown by the fleet maneuv-
ers. 1 feel that every American should
be proud of that splendid fleet, splend-
idly officered, and manned, as it lies
there in the Hudson"
Where the average girl is concerned