Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-02-09


square are old and feeble and elevators
installed there would materially in
crease the comfort Of these members.
In relation to this metter we have
been at work for sometime with in
structions from Headquarters to In
stall elevators to take care Of these
men and the same will be installed as
! soon as we can get to 1t.
| 16. Fourteenth Criticism: The
bedding Of members is aired twice
year At other Branches blankets are
aired weekly; and. weather permit
| ting. such should be the practice at
this Branch"
Will say that the windows Of all the
barracks are left open each morning
and the bedding is aired for an hour
and half, and when the weather per-
mits in this climate they are taken
out into the open which would seem to
be as much care taken as in first
class hotel or in any individual home
in the State.
II. Fifteenth Criticism: "A num-
Der of buildings need exterior paint
ing"
Will say in relation to this criticism
that Captain Mitchell. the former
Quartermaster and Governor Richards
my predecessor, had been at the Home
many years and instead Of using the
appropriation for Repairs for the up
keep Of the buildings the records Of
the Treasurer shows that they turned
back into the Treasury Of the United
States in and for the fiscal year 1915.
s3.461.0s and in addition to this did
not draw from the Treasury but $685.
102.S0 Of an available appropriation of
s35,000.000 thus failing to use not only
the s3,461.0s, turned back but also
$6.s97.2o not drawn, making total Of
$10.35s.28 not used Of the appropria-
ton for Repairs, fiscal year. 1915.
This placed a burden on this years
appropriation Of doing what We could
on two years. upkeep. / will say upon
inquiry from the Treasurer that he re-
ports a balance available under Re-
pairs for this year at the present time
Of about $4,000 with several more
thousand to draw and all indications
point to the complete using up Of the
appropriation for this year.
49, Sixteenth Criticism: New
toilets are needed in the ladies' wait
ing room at both the railroad sta
tons"
In relation to this criticism I will
say that the management of the cleo
trio railroad system coming into the
Home has been notified a number OF
times Of the bad condition of these
toilets and l have no knowledge that
he has even taken any notice of these
letters from our headquarters and we
certainly cannot be held responsible
for the bad condition of the toilets be-
longing to the railroad.
10. Seventeenth Criticism: Nearly
all the closets in which are kept the
brooms, mops and cleaning materials
were found to be dirty. Closer super
vision Of these places appears to be
necessary"
This matter has been given atten-
ton and is being closely watched.
20. Eighteenth Criticism: The ex-
terror police Of the grounds in the vi
cinity of the mess hall was not salts
factory at date of inspection. especial
ly in the case of the ground in the
vicinity of the slop hopper, where an
attempt had been made to reduce the
odor by scattering lime instead OF
thoroughly cleaning it,
viii say in relation to above that
on the date Of inspection the man that
hauls the waste away unfortunately
backed into the sWill tanks and upset
the whole shooting match. On &C
count of the short time I have nc
doubt considerable lime was scat
tered about there as the best means
of taking up the Objectionable articles
and eliminating the odor
Il. Nineteenth Criticism: "Unsani-
tary drinking cups were still being
Used at the various drinking hydrants
throughout the branch. Recommen-
dation is renewed that sanitary
drinking fountains be installed
In relation to above will say tina,
Major Jackson has made this report
twice and report was made to Cen
eral Richards and Quartermaster
Mitchell and nothing has been done
but orders have been now issued SO
that proper arrangements will be
placed in use when the fountains are
turned on for summer.
%. Twentieth Criticism: THE
roads need repairs
The roads are being repaired as
rapidly as possible with funds avail
able. The non expenditure Of the re
pairs appropriation for 1915, as ex-
planned above. made it hard to- do ali
the repairs needed this year.
90. Twenty-first Criticism: "At
this Branch the younger members are
CHARTERED In one barrack. 1t ap.
pears to be a very satisfactory ar
rangement."
The above appears to be a com.
mendation and should be listed as i'm.
provement number five.
"a. Twenty -second Criticism: THE
kitchen of the non commissioned Of
ficers' mess was not clean"
This matter has been taken up an6
adjusted since the visit Of the Inspec-
tor.
rs. Twenty-third Criticism: Prop
er telephone communication with the
power house in case of fire has beer
installed since last inspection. There
was no fire at the Branch during the
year..
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