The Semi-weekly leader. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1905-1941, 1906-02-03
BEAUVOIR.
REPORT OF LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE
ON OLD SOLDIERS HOME.
Several important Recommendations
Made.

The joint legislative. committee
appointed to visit the Home for
aged and disabled Confederate
soldiers at Beauvoir, have made
the following very interesting re-
port:
To the Senate and House of Rep
resentatives:
Your committee, having in
charge the investigation Of the
affairs of the Old Soldiers Home
at Beauvoir, beg leave to submit
their report as follows:
Your joint committee visited
the home on January Goth, spend
ing the entire day in going over
the buildings and grounds, and
examining carefully into the care
and treatment of the inmates, as
we'll as into the sanitary and finan-
cial conditions of the institution.
We are pleased beyond measure
to be able to report that the man.
agement of the home by the ma
tron, Mrs. M. r. Wallace, and
other employees, is excellent in
every detail. We found the
premises in clean, wholesome and
sanitary condition, and an air of
tidiness and careful attention per-
vaded the entire institution and
was manifested in the bearing and
Of the inmates. We
found the soldiers we'll provided
for and accomplishing, and the
conditions generally indicated that
the home is being made as nearly
as possible home indeed, and
that those in charge have their
hearts in the work and their SYM
pathies thoroughly enlisted for
the veterans IN their care.
This home has grown rapidly
from two inmates at first, to a
total of sixty five in tho institu-
tion now. This is about the limit
of present capacity and more
room is needed as applications for
admission are being constantly
received, as evidenced by the ros-
ter, herewith attached and made
part of this report.
The greatest need Of the insti-
tuition at this time, however, is
hospital, and we urge that this is
practically indispensable. About
one-half of the old veterans who
come to the home are infirm with
age and disease and it is becoming
imperative that these should be
provided for in a hospital, where
they can be comfortably treated
and be separated from the well in
mates. As matters now stand, a
patient has to be nursed and treat
ed in the bed room with other in
mates.
Your committee, therefore,
earnestly recommend that sufii-
cient allowance be made, at this
session, for equipping a hospital
at the home and we think the hos
pital should be established with
out delay.
After carefully investigating
the home and its needs, your COM
mittee recommends that the fol-
lowing appropriations be made
therefor:
For tbirty-bed general hospit-.
al having a small but modern
operating room with needful ac-
cessories, sun parlor for GONZALES
cents, several small rooms for
patients about to die, layatories,
diet kitchen, room for nurses,
drugs and surgical supplies, mod
ern plumbing, steam or hot water
heater, all outside openings to be
screened, $500. For a spring
and winter uniform for each in
mate, $4,000. For an artesian
we'll or for such connection with
the Waits Home artesian we'll as
will furnish an ample supply Of
water for domestic purposes and
fire protection, ST. 900. For addi-
tional dormitories, wharf, laun
dry, repairs, etc., the snm unex-
pended of the appropriation for
1904 and 1905, SIS, ,982.92. For
support fund for 1906, $751;
For support fund 1907. SIT 800.
Aside from complaints and sick
ness to be naturally expected in
such cases, we found the health Of
the inmates good. DR.. H. M.
Folkes has been regularly attend
ing the home and nlinistering to
the sick, since its establishment,
and he has never received any
compensation for this generous
work. We think that such sacrii-
fee ought not to be asked of a
physician and some provision for
medical service should be made.
In conclusion, your committee
desires to express it's appreciation
of the splendid care and attention
bestowed on the home BY Hon. T.
Nj. Henry and his o-worKers on
the board Of directors OF this in
lstitution. Mr.. Henry visits the
home in person regularly and
keeps careful watch and super
vision over all Of its affairs. He
and other members Of the board
have shown splendid fidelity to
this important trust and Their
work is inspired by the puresl
motive of patriotism and benevo
lence. Mr.. Henry, by invitation,
was with the committee. and bis
Thorough knowledge and intimate
acquaintance with the inmates,
made him most helpful to the
l. .