Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 35, Number 123, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 October 1903 — For A Soldier’s Cottage. [ARTICLE]

For A Soldier’s Cottage.

Rensselaer Relief Oorp, No. 39, presented a huge petition to the county commissioners, Tuesday asking that an order be made for the erection of a residence at the state soldiers’ home, at Lafayette, for Jasper county old soldiers and their wives. The petition, was signed by about 700 oitizStfß, and was one of the largest ever gotten up in Jasper county for any purpose, The petition was presented by Hon. Joseph B. Cheadle, of Frankfort, who gave an eloquent address in so doing, and explained the purpose and the ueoessity of the oouuty buildiag, at the state home. Under the present laws the commissioners have no power to order suoh a building until after an appropriation has been made by the County Council.

The matter will therefore have to rest until there is a regular or special session of the Council. There will be no regular session until next September, but there is sure to be a speoial session called some time c uring the oomiug winter, when this matter will p obably be brought before 4hem A Jasper county building at the state soldiers’ home is already in demand and will be needed more and more, as the old soldiers grow older and more inoapaoiated for oaring for themselves. The purpose of these state honses or oottages is t> afford quarters for old soldiers and their wives, as they beoome too old and infirm to doanything for their own support. The inmates live and sleep ia these oottages but get their meals at the main home, and the bounty is at no expense for their maintenance, farther than building Che cottage. It is suggested that a ’good substantial frame house be ereoted, large enough to famish from 6 to 8 or 10 old couples each with a sitting room and bedroom, with one large general hall or sitting room. There are already two couples from this county at the soldiers’ home and others who already would like to go, or soon will. The two oouples there are Wellington Traugh and wife and Wm. Phillips and wife, both of Remington. The proposed oounty building seemed to meet with almost universal approval, and is commended both as a humane and economial project. In the latter respect because, in the long ran it will save the tax-payeTS of the county more than it will oost, in the way of relieving them from the care of people who, otherwise would ultimately have to be maintained at the publio cost.