Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1907-10-11
National soldiers, Homes.

National soldiers Homes.
II am deeply interested in the Unit.
ed States soldiers homes" writes a
veteran reader. Wi you please tell
something about the national homes.
how many there are and where they
are, and how many soldiers they &C
~commodate? 1t seems as If, the wal
being so long past, the homes must
begin to be thinning out in popula.
tion."
March B., 1865, Congress established
the National Home for Disabled Vol
untcer Soldiers, with provisions allow
Ing for branches in different parts of
the country as they should be needed.
There was already the Soldiers Home
in Washington, founded Under the lead
of Gen. Scott, for soldiers of the resi,
lar army.
The eastern branch at Togus, neal
Augusta, Me-, was the first branch OF
the national home for volunteers TO be
opened. 1t was opened for use in 1866.
1t has 1884 acres of land and can ac-
commodate 1900 members.
Central branch, at Columbus, Ohio,
was the next put into use, in 1867, and
was immediately removed to DaytoA,
Ohio. This became the largest of all
the homes. Its cost was over a mil
lion and a half dollars, and it can take
care of 5000 men.
The same year northwestern branch.
at Milwaukee, Wis, was dedicated, and
within its beautiful precincts are hous'
ed in comfort, at times, $3.50 members
Southern branch, at Hampton, Va.
was the next home opened, in 1870, ac-
commodating $3.50. Western branch,
nea Leavenworth, Kan, followed in
1885, with room for $500. The land
for this home was donated, with char
acteristic Western generosity. 1t has
1856 members.
In 1855 the government showed its
care for the health Of the veterans by
opening the Pacific branch. near Santa
Monica, Cal. The 630 acres of this
branch were donated. This home can
take care of 1909 members. The
Marion home, near Marion, Ind, was
opened in 1890. 1t can house and care
" l,oto lllCLlpSlSs lS llASs LIZ
home was opened in 1898, and has room
for 2,45O men. Mountain home, near
Johnson City, Tenn, is row under con.
%struction. 1t is in use, and has been
in use since 1908, though not entirely
finished.
II addition to these nine branches
there is o. being built, at Il cost of
a million dollars, Battle Mountain san
itarium, at Hot Springs, S. ID. Already
patients are received at this sanitari-
UNI, which is run as one of the adj,
juncts, if not as one Of the regular
branches, of the national system OF
homes for disabled volunteer sol
diers.
The officers of The national homes are
the following:
Managers-The President of the
United States, the chief justice, the
secretary Of var eX-of1iciis; Gen. Mar
tin I. Mcmahon, president Of the board
of managers, New York City Col. John
J. Mitchell, first vice president, Mil
waukee, Wis; Gen. Thomas J. Hender.
son, second vice president, Princeton
H.; Col. George w. Steele, secretary,
Marion, Ind. Gen. Charles NJ. Ander.
son, Greenville, Ohio; Col. Sidney G..
Cooke, Harrington, Kan: Maj. William
II. Bonsall, Los Angeles, Cal; Gen. J.
Marshall Brown, Portland, Me-; Col
Walter p. Brownlow, Jonesboro, Tenn.
Capt. Henry E. Palmer, Omaha, Neb.
General Treasurer-Maj. Moses Har-
ris, =. S. A., NeY York City.
Assistant Inspectors General Gen,
n. NJ. Curtis AMI Gen. ]. t. Richards,
New York City.
Assistant General Treasurer and As
sistant Inspector General-George Is,
Patrick, New York City.-Chicago
Journal.