The Colville examiner. [volume] (Colville, Wash.) 1907-1948, 1916-08-26


ed residence on the grounds.
Beside these buildings. there Is
also a conservatory, barber shop,
tailor shop, carpenter shop, chicken
house. blacksmith shop, commissary
store house for the colony, power
house, laundry, nurses cottage, and
a number of farm buildings, such as
barns. piggeries, root house, oil
house, carriage house and farm cot
tages. A new barn was recently
built at this institution with a 125
ton silo, which furnishes the princi-
pal part of the winter feed for "a
fairly good dairy cows.
The value of the entire property is
placed at $106,S30.0O. The farm
contains 1876 acres and the value of
the product raised amounts to $4,000
a year. There are outside attractions
connected with the home for many of
its members. Many have been farm
ers during their active years and they
seem to take delight in watching the
growing crops, as we'll as the stock.
The present death rate is sixteen
per cent. But few of the members
are under the age of 70 and practic-
ally all of those under that age are
Spanish American war veterans. The
population of the home, which in
cludes the colony, is about 700, but
many of these are usually out on fur
Tough, making a population Of about
half that number usually present.
Out of a population of 701, 63s were
veterans of the Civil war; 43 of the
Spanish war; II Of Indian
wars and of the Mexican war.
over one-half of the population
here give Pierce county as their
home. King county was the home Of
one-sixth of the population, and Spo-
kane sends but one-fifteenth. Every
county in the state is represented,
but many of the counties have a re-
presentation of but one member.
Five-sixths of the population were
born in the United States; Ireland
coming next with one-eighteenth of
the members.
No women are allowed in the home
proper, but in the town of Orting,
close by, there are many small
cottages, and there has been estab-
lshed what Is known as the Colony,
and men with their wives, or widows
who are alone, are given rations from
the state. All members of the Col
ony are allowed rations to the
amount of $500 per month and
clothing to the amount Of $1,000 per
year. They obtain. the cottages at
rental of from $500 to $500 per
month, which must be paid by the
occupants.
Practically every old soldier, or
widow of a soldier. receives a pen
sion, and with this money they pur-
chase luxuries or make visits to rela-
tives
Mr.. Ed. C. Warner. whose home is
in Everett, Is the present superin-
tendent Of the Home He Is himself
a veteran of the Civil war. Mrs.
Warner, his wife, is the matron.
The state appropriated 30 cents
per day for the maintenance OF each
member of the home, and the United
States Government allows $4,000
per year for each male member. The
amount which was estimated that
would be needed to run the institu-
tion until the end of this biennium
was sixty cents per day, which In
cludes overhead charges and all. At
the present time the cost Is running
much less than that and this instttu-
ton will have handsome surplus to
turn back to the state treasury from
the appropriation made by the last
legislature.
This institution has an abundant
supply of spring water OF an excep-
tionally fine quality with a gravity
pressure of something like twenty
Ave pounds.
There are ffty-seven employees at
the State Soldiers Home, nearly all
of them being members who work
for a very small wage. Each dormi-
tory or resident building has a Cap
tain, who is himself an old soldier,
and who has complete charge of his
building.
Washington Veterans Home.
This is one of the newest and most
modern institutions OF It's kind In the
United States, the 1907 legislature
creating 1t. It must be seen to be
appreciated. The site Is In many
ways Ideal The buildings are on
high bluff facing north-easterly and
overlooking Port Orchard Bay, the
city OF Bremerton, and the United
States Navy Yard. The battleships,
always In sight. and general naval
activities are a constant reminder TO
the veterans OF the stirring scenes OF
their early life. The situation has
one possible drawback. The wind
ha