PACIFIC BRANCH NATIONAL HOME FOR DISABLED VOLUNTEER SOLDIERS, SANTA MONICA, LOS ANGELES COUNTY, CAL., NOVEMBER 21, 1890. LOCAL MANAGER: Col. H. H. MARKHAM, Pasadena, Cal. OFFICERS: Col. CHARLES TREICHEL, Governor. Three years ago there was no branch of the National Home west of the Rocky Mountains, and the State Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, in upper California, was filled to overflowing. Since that time a branch of the National Home has been established on the Pacific Slope, which on November 21, 1890, was caring for over six hundred impoverished and invalid volunteer soldiers, while the State Home of California has grown in capacity and membership. From several inviting places along the Pacific coast, all surrounded with more or less favorable conditions, the Santa Monica Valley, in Los Angeles County, was chosen. It extends from Los Angeles 18 miles down to the ocean. The village of Santa Monica, a picturesque collection of villas, cottages, and shops, embowered in luxuriant growths of semi-tropical trees and plants, occupies the bluffs facing the bay at the lower end of the wide valley, and is connected with Los Angeles by a branch of the Southern Pacific Railway. Three miles to the eastward of the village, up the valley and on its northern slopes, the growing Home enjoys a landscape of incomparable beauty. A quadrant of its horizon rests upon the ocean between Point Dumas on the northwest and St. Vincent's Point in the southwest, and includes within its scope St. Nicholas and Santa Barbara Islands, 30 miles to seaward, and at evening it is filled with evervarying and enchanting sunset splendors. From Point Dumas start the foothills of mountainous ranges, which run behind the Home and fill the sky to the northward with bold serrated lines, which fade far away in the southeast. The foothills in the springtime are covered with a brilliant mantle of flowers, and at all seasons their warm and changing tints enhance the grandeur of the Sierra Madre chain behind them. Upon Mount Wilson, which towers in easy vision 8,000 feet above the sea, is building an observatory in which will be used the largest telescope yet made. Above and beyond in the faint sky-line may be seen the snowy summit of "Old Baldy" and other peaks, over 70 miles eastward. Between the sea and the mountains to the southeast stretched a broad valley teeming with fruitful towns and haciendas of beautiful names bestowed by adventurous Spanish priests in days almost ancient, long before this dormant coast was awakened by the mighty energy of American development. In its landscape the grandest dimensions of nature are presented at once to the eye in inspiring contrasts. The soil is marvelously fertile, and the climate seems to one who has endured the blue rigors of the north like a golden and azure enchantment. To the natural advantages which invited the selection of this site, was added the inducements proffered by distinguished citizens of Los Angeles County, which resulted in a presentation to the Home of 570 acres of land on which it is established. The first plan of the Home embraced the design of building twentyfive pavilion barracks to accommodate 100 men each, or altogether 2,500 men, with the other essential buildings. The barracks were to be placed in echelon, opening out to the right and left from the center, where the dining hall was to be built. Four of the barracks have been completed and occupied, and it is not probable that more than four more will be added. Each barrack is 207 feet long and 26 feet wide, of two stories, and has a piazza 12 feet wide along the front and around each end, with a short lap in the rear. It has a gabled center, in some doubled, and all are tastefully turreted, the turrets sustaining airy bell-shaped summits. The eaves are 34 feet high and the ridge 56 feet. The rooms are spacious and well furnished. There is one fireplace in each room, and ventilation is also otherwise provided. The ceilings are 13 feet 4 inches high. The attics, with their dormer windows affording a fine lookout, are pleasant quarters, although unfinished, and now largely occupied as dormitories. The individual lockers, made of redwood and resembling mahogany, are notably good furniture. There is only one bathroom on each floor, and they were not in good order, and no bathing roster was kept by the sergeants. During the dry season at this Home the bathing facilities should receive close attention. The barracks are warmed with steam and lighted with oil. The Home was first occup'ed October 1, 1888, and before the barracks were completed the care of arriving members imposed a great strain upon the administration. The first great need of the Home, and the one which awakened the gravest apprehensions, was the water supply. To meet this supreme necessity was the first step to be taken. The tireless energy and skillful exploitation of Col. E. F. Brown, the inspector general, conquered all difficulties, and produced the most satisfactory results. A source was found 5 miles from the Home, in a cañon of the Sierra Madre range, from which water was brought by pipes to a well constructed service reservoir a mile in the rear, on an eminence sufficiently elevated to give a pressure of 60 pounds at the boiler house. The capacity of the serv ice reservoir is 240,000 gallons. Near by this, a storage reservoir has been partially constructed by taking advantage of a very favorable configuration of the hills surrounding a natural basin, which will have, when completed, a capacity of 120,000,000 gallons. It may be finished in another year, if means be provided, and will be ample to supply all possible demands. Puddling materials are fortunately convenient and available on Home land. Another general service pipe from the reservoir to the Home will probably be required during the next summer, as the present and only one, of 4 inches, may be inadequate, and should any accident interrupt its service the Home would be embarrassed to an almost calamitous extent. The water is clear and pleasant to the taste, but is hard. Its analysis is as follows, viz: These quantities are within the limits of safety, indicating no excess of organic contamination though above the average of good potable waters, with the exception of the alkalies, which coustitute the largest portion of the solids, and are present in rather too large quantity to render the water fit for drinking purposes. The water gives a decided alkaline reaction and taste. (Vide report of Wade & Wade, analytical chemists, Los Angeles.) Scale forms rapidly in the flues of boilers to such an extent as to necessitate excessive tiring, which strains and injures the boilers. It is proposed to use water purifier to take the lime from the water, used in the boilers, at a cost of $250, and subject to a trial test of sixty days. The boiler plant is in its infancy, but growing. There are two locomotive boilers, of 15 horse power, in use. A return flue boiler, of 50 horse power was expected to be put in place within ten days, to use crude petroleum as fuel, at a cost of $2.10 per barrel, and to effect a saving of 25 per cent. as against coal at $11 and $12 per ton. It was also expected that a saving of 50 per cent. in labor would be made. The coal used is called the Gallup, at $11, and the Wellington, at $12. A condenser is imperatively needed to return water to the boilers, which would go far toward preventing the serious scaling of flues, which must occur when such fresh water is constantly used. Hot water for other purposes should be provided independently of this plant. A proposition has been made to put in a Rademacher patent condenser and heater, with a capacity of 125 horse power, for $500, on sixty days' trial. The drainage and plumbing of the Home is complete and adequate for the present development, but difficulties are found with the barrack arinals, which become often choked with an alkaline deposit. It would seem that some sort of an acid drip or automatic acid flushing would prevent this affixture. The roof drainage is arranged to be carried off under the porches of the barracks, but not stored. There are fire plugs on the rear of each barrack, with hose attached; but they are too remote and inconvenient for quick work in the interior, with none but disabled soldiers to handle the hose. There should be standpipes inside, with attached hose on each floor and in the attic. LAUNDRY. The boiler plant having no engine, the laundry work is carried on by manual labor. Its operations take place at the foot of the slopes south of the Home, underneath the gnarled branches of a gigantic sycamore whose trunk is 6 feet in diameter, and under whose wide-spreading shade the legend runs that the good Father Junipero held mass for his mission in the earliest historical times of this region. Near by is an artesian well 90 feet deep, from which there is a daily flow of 5,000 to 7,000 gallons of excellent water. All the soap used in laundry work is made here from the waste grease of the kitchen. There is no laundry machinery, except some hand wringers and a mangle. The work is well done when the rain does not interfere with its operations. There is no building for the laundry excepting a small folding room. Close by the laundry is a small barrack containing forty-six beds which was used to shelter the first arrivals at this home, and is now used to shelter the last arrivals or T. A. P's. It is clean and comfortable. H. Mis. 38-13 CLOTHING. The supply of clothing was sufficient for five or six months, with the exception of No. 8 shoes. The repairing of shoes at the home shop enables members to use a pair over a year. The storage for clothing is at present in the attic of Barrack B, and was in good order and showed care. The stock on hand was as fol The books of the quartermaster's department were found complete, in good order, and well kept. COMMISSARY. The dining room is a temporary building near the boiler house, at the eastern side of the barracks, wherein there are seats at one time for only 352 members, so that a large part of the tables require setting a second time. The food is bountiful and well prepared. There were complaints of the soup bowls, which are of copper tinued, because they are too hot to handle, the tin partially worn off of some, and they are of such a shape-being made with a platter bottom all in one piecethat they are cleaned with difficulty. Here the water exhibits its prinpal faults. It is so hard that unless soda be used with it, its cleaning usefulness is unsatisfactory. The soup ladles and knives are also very badly worn, and should be condemned and replaced. Canoe-shaped, japanned bread trays were ob served in use on the tables and approved. New copper soup and vege table kettles are needed in the kitchen. The ruling prices of the leading articles of food were as follows, viz: The cost of the ration was 282 cents. The storage for supplies in this department is too limited in space to admit of the good order and neatness which should be maintained. The oven used in the bakehouse is of the brick reverberatory kind, with a capacity for three hundred 2-pound 4-ounce loaves at a charge. The account books were found complete and well kept, and the methods of purchase, inspection, and issue were regular and in accordance with regulations. The stock of household supplies on hand was reported as follows, viz: These are stored in the attic of barrack B, and well cared for. 201 80 640 324 144 100 SHOPS. Carpenter. Treasurer's office shows account of materials and labor expended up to September 1, 1890, and account of materials purchased, but not posted at all. In this shop, which was started May 8, 1890, books are kept showing expenditure of labor and materials to November 22, 1890, aud receipts to October 30, 1890, posted to September 6, 1890. No account of materials received kept since October 30, 1890. Tickets of driver, similar to a bill of lading, kept and turned into treasurer. Journal of work done kept in good order, and the work is of a superior character. No inventory has ever been taken. Harness. Contains inventory of private and Home tools, but nothing else. Accounts in desultory fragments of expenditure of materials and labor from September 1, 180, to November 21, 1890. Not posted, nor before to-day examined by treasurer. Shop too small-should be doubled in dimensions. Tin. This shop is in the same building with the plumber. The structure is 22 by 32 feet, of two stories and a basement. There is no power, except of hand or foot, used in any of the shops. This shop was not clean, and its account books, though not properly kept, made an intelligent showhg of materials and labor expended from May 19, 1890, to November 21, 1890. Blacksmith. Its accounts were started May 9, 1890, and continued to June 1, 1890, showing disposition of materials and labor, but not of receipts. There is need here of a metal screen between the forge and the combustible sides of the building, as a precaution against fire. The shop is well equipped. Paint. Books show efforts of treasurer's clerk to show how the books should be kept, as the first two pages are in his bandwriting. It exhibits expenditure of labor and materials to date, but nothing of receipts. The work is well done, but the shop is very small and inconvenient, being a low attic over the carpenter's shop. Shoemaker. Accounts show debits for labor and materials to September 30, 1890, and credits for repairs to August 31, 1890, not posted in treasurer's books. The shop is over the coal shed and is doing creditable work with one shoemaker. Tailor. Accounts show debits for labor only-no credits. The shop accounts require thorough and complete regulation. The books of no two of them are alike in form or method. No inspection |