The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1907-09-07
SITE FOR new
SOLDIERS HOME
Criticism Of Committees Choice Not
Well founded


ply of Pure Water-Convenient
to Navy Yard and Numerous At
fractions.
u ECAUSE of the disposition man
- ifested by some persons to con.
tinue and encourage criticism of the
site selected for the new Soldiers
Home, Senator Blair, chairman of
the locating committee, furnishes the
ISLANDER for publication the follow
ing excellent description of the site
written by Gen. Tibbetts, of Issaquah,
another member of the legislative
committee, which was composed en-
tirely of old soldiers whom it is most
unjust to accuse of having been in
fiuenced by any other considerations
than those bearing upon the happi-
ness and welfare of their comrades in
arms. Gen. Tibbetts says:
In many respects the site of the WASH
ington Veterans Home. the new branch
of the State Soldiers Home, is an ideal
one. 1t contains little more than forty
three acres and is situated on the south
srn shore of Port Orchard bay, an arm of
Puget Sound, about a mile east of the
town of Port Orchard Sidney and oppo-
site the Puget Sound navy yard.
The public highway between Port Or
chard and Colby skirts the northern and
eastern sides of the tract and broad
boulevard is about to be constructed from
Port Orchard to the site along the waters
edge. Between the roadway on the north
and high tide there is level stretch Of
about two hundred feet. This extends
along pebbly beach a distance of four
teen hundred feet and connects with q
small valley on the eastern edge of the
tract through which runs clear noun
tain stream. Along this stream is ma
tural park of great beauty. Thus all along
the northern and eastern borders of the
site, with but small outlay, there will be
a magnificent park which for beauty Of
location and variety of scenery will not
be surpassed In the state. The stream re-
ferred to has its source in the hills to the
south and is fed by springs at an altitude
that will furnish an ample supply Of pure
water by gravity and Of sufficient vol
ume to run the electric plant.
About two-thirds Of the tract is on .
plateau, or beach, about sixty feet above
high tide. This plateau is nearly level,
sloping gently to within two or three
hundred feet of the bay. From 1t there
IS a splendid view Of the navy yard,
Charleston, Bremerton, Manette, Port
Washington narrows, the northern ex-
tension Of Port Orchard bay, the western
end up Sinclair inlet and to the east to-
wards Seattle. The Olympics are in full
view and part of the Cascade range.
On tho summit of this plateau the prin-
cipa1 buildings will be placed. The CON-
tour of the ground is such that the cot
tages can be grouped in the form Of the
letter U with the opening part toward
the bay. The stables and other outbuild-
ings can be placed on the slopes Of the
ridge and in the valley out of range Of the
on the hill. The summit slopes
.,;g,tlv IN thraa fl;ra..tions. insn nrin0 nar-
faot dr.;n.oa and sewerage II ! m,r;mnm
cost Tbera ;s not : snot On the who,a
t. act that cannot be perfectly drained.
The heights can be reached by stair
way from the north, by roadway from
the northwest or the northeast but the
!. ,o-th...t from wh;ch ro;pt Z, the
wnar' wlli nkely % oA.e.usu.
tr;ns srasa from SEATTLE - to All the Port Orchard
ports and the Home win be included in
the regular run. Besides there are many
launches plying between the osy towns: