Evening star., 1921-07-15
|EXPLA|NNEW USE.
!. OF MT. WEATHER
Speakers at Arts Club Out
line Plans for Wounded
War Veterans.

Plans for converting Mount Weather
the abandoned weather bureau station
near Bluemont, Va. into . Rehabilitation
school Of arts and industries for wound
ed world war veterans, with elimination
Of all government red tape through pri-
,vate management, were explained 10
members of the Arts Club Of Washing
ton last night by H. X. Bush-Brown'
local sculptor, at q meeting In the gar
den at the clubhouse on street.
Tho school. to be known as the Sol
diers' Institute. II intended to supple
ment the treatment which wounded SOL
diers have received in Army hospitals
by taking them in before they have been
thrown on the world and training them
in occupations for which they may pc
fitted and through which they may gain
living In after years. It was pointed
out.
Cooperation Formed
A corporation has been formed. with
many local prominent men and women
being made to have Congress turn over
the property at Bluemont for tho use OF
the institute, Mr.. Bush Brown stated.
A letter from President Harding ex-
pressing interest in the project and
announcing his regret at being unable
proposed school. was read.
John NJ. Nunan, a member of the
board of trustees formed to direct
the institution. explained details OF
the plan. Declaring that vocational
training schools have proved to be
discipline and SLOW government pro-
| cedure, Mr.. Nunan called attention to
the policy OF the Soldiers Institute
to cooperate with the veterans in
choosing en- occupation agreeable to
their physical and temperamental
| ing hand in making q success Of their
pursuits.
| . Not Under Federal Control.
| It Is the intention, he said, to oper-
| ate the establishment entirely dis
tinct from federal institutions, but
under the supervision Of government
officials Congress has promised to
appropriate certain funds yearly to-
ward maintenance, once the institute
| Is under way, he stated.
Instruction will be provided in agrt-
culture. Quarrying. carpentry and
similar trades and in various artistic
professions. he said. The natural re-
sources at Bluemont provide ample
means for carrying on such work. he
| added.
Mrs. J. H. Boggs. one of the origi-
nators Of the project. stressed the ne
cessity for taking care Of wounded
soldiers after they have about re-
cuperated and for finding work for
idle hands to do" She said that she
has found that these veterans are
tired and worn out from being con-
fined for months in hospitals and In
stitutions Of like character, under
rigid military discipline. A privately
managed establishment, where the
men could show Initiative in occupa.
I tional practices, and could regain lost
confidence in themselves and the
! world would be a. boon to those at
ficted, she declared
William S. Culberson Of the tariff
commission also indorsed the plan. He
! is on the board Of trustees for the in
stitute.
| Board Of Trustees.
The board of trustees at present in.
eludes the following: Justice wendell
Phillips Stafford, DR.. Harvey W. Wi.
ley.t William 8. Culberson, Frederick
p. H. Siddons. Jerome F. Barnard
Miss Byrd Mock. W. B. westlake
Henry Graves, John NJ. Nunan, Charlie,
F. Nesbit. n. X. Bush-Brown, Mrs. ]
H. Boggs and Mrs. c. c. Calhoun.
The advisory council includes Johr
JOY Edison. Robert N. Harper, jaime.
A. Preston and Mrs. G. NJ. Minor.