Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 38, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 October 1905 — Some Facts About the Soldiers’ Home. [ARTICLE]

Some Facts About the Soldiers’ Home.

At the dedication ceremonies of Jasper County Cottage at the Indiana State Soldiers’ Home last Wednesday. October 18th, Col.. R. M. Smock, the Commandant, in his address of welcome, gave some highly interesting and instructive facts and figures, regarding the number of buildings and inmates of the Home. Nearly all of the Northern States have erected and maintain soldiers’ homes. The National Government has established and maintains more than a dozen soldiers’ homes, throughout the country. All of these Homes are doing a grand and noble work, but they receive and care for soldiers only. The Indiana State Soldiers’ Home, at Lafayette receives and furnishes homes for both the veteran soldiers and their wives, and after their deaths for their widows; not as a charity, but as a partial payment of a just debt for services rendered, for sacrifices and suffering endured in behalf of our national life and perpetuity. The following is from Col. Smock's address: Number of building at the State Home erected by the State 12 Large buildings erected by j counties (4 rooms or more) 27 Small buildings erected by counties (2 rooms each) 10 By Dept, of Ind. G. A. R. 5 i By Dept, of Ind. W. R. C., 1 j By Ladies of the G. A. R. 11 By Marsh B. Taylor Post No. 475. '' 1! By John A. Logan Corps W. R. C. 1 Total 68 This list does not include carpenters, paint, plumbers, and blacksmith shops, barns and wagon sheds. These were all put up out of savings from the maintenance ' fund. On October 18th, 1905 the records show an enrollment of fBB Veterans present 381

Women present (wives and widows) 340 Veterans absent on furlough 124 Women absent on furlough 143 Veterans in Hospital 37 Women in Hospital 38 Total number in camp and hospital 731 Number of empty beds in hospital 13 Number of empty beds in camp for men 10 Number of approved applications on tile where the applicant has not been reported because there was no room 140 Total uuniber of members that have been received into the home since it was opened 2814