Annual Report
of the
Colorado Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Home
Golden, Colorado, December 10, 1903
To His Excellency,
JAMES H. PEABODY,
Governor of the State of Colorado
Denver, Colorado.
Sir-Pursuant to the requirements of law, I have the honor, herewith, to present my annual report as President of the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Home Commission, for the fiscal year, closing November 30, 1903, together with the reports of the subordinate officers of the home, which are attached hereto.
The Changes which have occurred in the Board of Commissioners during the past fiscal year are as follows: The term of the late President of the Board, M. H. V. Smith, expired on the 3d of April, 1903. Mr. L. H. Cheney, of Monte Vista, was appointed to the vacancy. The term of General J. W. Huff, of Victor, ex-officio member of the Board under the law, as commander of the department of Colorado and Wyoming, Grand Army of the Republic, ceased upon the election of General H. S. Vaughn, of Denver, as such department commander, who assumed the duties of a member of the commission at the meeting of the Board, at the Home, on the 23d day of July, 1903.
The Board is now constituted as follows:
President, George West of Golden
Vice-President, R. J. McNutt of Eureka
Secretary, L. H. Cheney, of Monte Vista
Treasurer, H. S. Vaughn, of Denver
The present officers of the Home are as follows:
C. S. Aldrich, Commander
Samuel West, Adjutant and Bookkeeper
Leroy Beard, Quartermaster
Rev. William Keary, Chaplain
E. L. Foster, M.D. Surgeon
Charles Rehm, Hospital Steward
J. H. Madden, Orderly Sergeant
At a regular Board meeting, held on the 29th of May, 1903, Commander John H. Shaw, who had faithfully served in that important and onerous position for four years, intimated to the Board that the state of his health would not justify him in retaining the office longer than the coming fall; whereupon an election was held for the choice of his successor, and Captain C. S. Aldrich, of Monte Vista, was unanimously chosen as commander, to assume the duties of the office on the first day of September, 1903.
At a regular meeting of the Board, held on the 4th of April, 1903, E. L. Foster, M.D., of Monte Vista, was unanimously elected to the position of Surgeon of the Home, for the term of one year, to fill the vacancy caused by the retirement of Dr. R. W. Cary, M.D.
The last General Assembly made ample appropriation for the maintenance of the Home for the current biennial period and liberal provisions for improvements, to wit: $50,000.00 for maintenance and $10,000 for improvements, but the uncertainty surrounding the financial condition of the State treasury caused much anxiety on the part of the Board of Commissioners, as the institution had, up to this year, been held as being in the third class for distribution of monies appropriated by the General Assembly. Our Board held that this decision was an erroneous one, as the members of the Home ought to be classed as involuntary wards of the State from their lack of resources, sickness and the like, and that after once becoming members of the Home, they could not go and come of their own volition.
When we were informed by the honorable Auditor of State that the funds of the State would not admit disbursements to institutions of the third class, in company, with General H. S. Vaughn, of our Board, I had the pleasure of appearing before your excellency to lay the matter before you, and I am happy to say that both your excellency and Attorney General Miller took the broader view of the subject and sustained us in our contention. Upon our request Attorney General Miller rendered an opinion upon the question for the guidance of the Auditor of the State, who promptly and gladly placed the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Home among the second class institutions, thus relieving us of any further anxiety as to a lack of means for maintenance at present.
The appropriation for improvements is not as yet available, but we earnestly hope that it will be at our disposal shortly, to expend in making accommodations for the increasing membership.
The attention of your excellency is respectfully directed to suggestions contained n the report of Commander Aldrich, herewith attached. With this appropriation, besides providing much needed additional room for the growing number of members, the Board hopes to spare some of it for the improving of the Home Lake, which continues to be menace to the health of the occupants of the Home and also to the whole neighborhood.
It is with great pleasure that I am able to report that all work is done by the Board of Commissioners has been done in the utmost harmony, the members vieing with each other in the interest of economy and for the best interests of the Home and its membership. In this direction we have been most ably and unselfishly aided at all times by the late Commander, John H. Shaw, by the present Commander, C. S. Aldrich, and by our very efficient and painstaking Adjutant and Bookkeeper, Captain Samuel West. The latter named gentleman, who has occupied this most important and responsible position for five and a half years, has made his services indispensable.
Thanking you for the many acts of courtesy extended to the Board, I have the honor to be.
Very respectfully
Your obedient servant,
GEO. West,
President Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Home Commission.
Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Home
Report of the Commander
Monte Vista, Colo., November 30, 1903,
President George West, Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Home Commission.
Dear Sir-- Having but recently assumed command of this Home. I can no, of my own knowledge give any summary of the work done during the year for which tis report is made, but refer you to the reports of your Adjutant, Quartermaster and Surgeon, which I have the honor herewith to transmit, and which fully set forth the essential features of the year’s work.
So far as my knowledge goes all departments of the Home work have been carefully and judiciously managed during the entire year.
Since September 1 a number of old structures, consisting of temporary sheds, chicken houses and hog pens, located near the hospital buildings have been torn down , and more substantial and commodious buildings, for the same purposes, erected farther away.
The furnaces in the cottage and hospital have been reset and repaired, the cottage sewer relaid and the cottage porches remodeled.
A fire brigade has been organized, and the entire group of Home buildings equipped with Swan’s chemical fire extinguishers, and 400 feet of fire hose purchased, so that reasonable protection against fire is now furnished for all the departments of this institution.
Anticipating a coal famine, a supply of coal and wood sufficient to last until March 1 was put in early, at low prices.
There has also been purchased full winter stocks of clothing, groceries, provisions, flour, feed and hay, which were bought early and at low figures.
An additional supply of water for fire and household purposes is being provided by the erection of an outside tower and water tank, and the installation of a large hydraulic ram, by which both tanks will be supplied for ordinary use, enabling us to dispense with the steam pump, except in the event of a fire, or the stoppage of the ram for repairs.
The low ground north of the Home buildings has been surveyed for drainage, and the tile purchased, so that this swampy piece of land will be reclaimed in the Spring.
A contract has been let to the Monte Vista Electric and Gas Company to furnish the Home with electric lights. The poles are already set and wired, and it is expected that, with the beginning of the new year, the entire group of Home buildings and the contiguous grounds will be lighted with electricity.
There has been a notable increase of population in the Home since September 1, the aggregate membership now reaching 191, the largest number ever reported, and there is a strong pressure for the admission of many more.
Considering the age of the membership, the health conditions are remarkably good. There had been no epidemic of any kind during the year. The records show an average of only twenty-one in the hospital since September 1.
The inauguration of a weekly roll call and inspection, Wednesday afternoons, followed by outdoor sports and games, and concluding with the ceremonial lowering of the flag, has imparted a military flavor to the life of the Home, and has resulted in a marked improvement in the personal appearance of the membership and in the discipline of the Home.
After carefully studying the situation here for three months, I am convinced that the most pressing need of the institution now is more commodious buildings for administrative purposes. I have never known a State institution of as much importance as this with such poor facilities for doing the administrative work.
A building, providing convenient and commodious offices for the Commander, Adjutant and Quartermaster on the first floor, and living rooms for the Adjutant’s family on the second floor, is I am convinced, the most pressing need of this institution at present.
Such building should be of stone, constructed on carefully considered architectural plans, so as to harmonize with the present permanent structures.
I also urge, as of next importance, a two-story wing on the north side of the main building, similar to the west wing. This would allow the vacating of the west wing of the hospital for ward purposes, and permit its use for additional hospital facilities, which are very much needed. The addition would give a large amount of room for our increasing population.
I can not close this report without expressing my admiration for the zealous and efficient work of the Board of Commissioners and the heartiness with which they push forward every measure calculated to promote the comfort and welfare of the member ship of the Home.
Very respectfully,
C.S. ALDRICH,
Commander.
Report of the Surgeon
Monte Vista, Colo., November 30, 1904.
General George West, President Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Home Commission
Dear Sir-- I have the honor, herewith to present to you the following report, as Surgeon of the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Home, for the fiscal year ending this day.
I took charge of the hospital April 5, 1903. At that date there were 180 members on the roll of the Home, and thirty-one patients in the hospital. I made daily visits, prescribing for from twenty-five to thirty-five patients during this month. No deaths occurred, although there was one patient hopelessly sick. During May we had an epidemic of colds and la grippe, and there were many sick. I made daily visits, as well as a number of extra ones, prescribing, on an average for thirty patients daily. On the 14th of May James Smith, who had been brought in a few days previously, hopelessly sick, died of acute myelitis, aged sixty-six years. On the 17th of May Edward Jones (colored), to whom I referred as a hopeless case, died of cirrhosis of the liver, aged sixty-six years. On May 2 Robert Purvis, aged seventy-three years, died of gastro-enteritis, following a complication of diseases. Again on the 27th of May, Alphonso H. Lawrence died suddenly, of apoplexy, this being his second attack, aged eighty-four years. The month was notable for its mortality, being the greatest during the year.
During June we still had a great deal of sickness. I made daily visits, and some extras, prescribing for about fifteen patients. On June 7 David McCulloch died from senile pneumonia, following a cerebral hemorrhage, aged sixty-nine years. On June 22d Ludwig A Schaarwachter died, having been found in a comatose condition upon trying to awake him for breakfast. He never regained consciousness, and died twenty-four hours later, from cerebral hemorrhage, aged sixty two years. On June 25 Harvey W. Green died from typhoid fever, after an illness of six weeks, aged sixty two.
During July quite a number of the members went away on furloughs. Those remaining had fairly good health. I made daily visits, prescribing for about ten each day. No deaths during July. On July 7, with the assistance of Dr. R. W. Cary, I operated on the leg of Conrad Loesch, removing from the bone a great deal of necrosed matter. At the present he is greatly improved, so much so that he can now go around the grounds, with the aid of crutches.
During August the health remained fairly good, aside from bowel troubles. I made daily visits and prescribed for about fifteen patients each day. There were no deaths in August
During the first part of September the bowel troubles continued; due, no doubt, to the unsanitary conditions to the north of the hospital, to which the attention of the Commissioners, who were in session at that time, was called. On September 6 Enoch Fruit died of senile pneumonia, aged eighty-one years, the sickness lasting only three days. On September 8 Allen Downs (colored) was found dead in his chair, death having occurred from chronic heart trouble, of several years’ standing. I made daily visits during September, and prescribed for about ten patients each visit.
Owing to the changes and thorough cleaning up of the hospital, which has been done as rapidly as practicable over a period of some months, the general health has improved and things have been going nicely for some time.
During October I made daily visits, excepting on Sundays, prescribing for about fifteen patients at each visit. These were mostly chronic cases from the quarters, the hospital having fairly good health. There were no deaths in October.
Through the month of November, owing to a good many colds, I have prescribed for more patients than during October. On the 1st of the month I operated for a case of hydrocele, and the patient is cured. I have made daily visits, and at this time the health is better than at any time since I have taken charge, which I attribute to the sanitary conditions and the cleanliness in which the hospital is kept, and also the culinary conditions.
I would here offer a suggestion to the Commissioners, which I think could be readily carried out, and which would certainly be a great benefit to the hospital. As it now is, we have no place where we can isolate a very sick man, no place for a surgical case, and no place to put a patient when he becomes delirious. By making a few changes in the west ward, formerly the convalescent ward, these inconvenient conditions can be easily remedied.
Very respectfully,
Edwin L. Foster,
Surgeon in Charge.
Report of Quartermaster and Commissary.
Soldiers and Sailors’ Home,
Monte Vista, Colo., December 1, 1903
Commander C. S. Aldrich,
Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Home.
Sir--I have the honor to submit herewith my report of the cost of provisions issued at the Home during the year 1903, with the average per capita for members, officers and citizens; the cost of clothing for the same period, and estimate of the products of the farm for the fiscal year, ending November 30, 1903
Yours very truly,
LEROY BEARD,
Quartermaster and Commissary.
Subsistence
Total cost of provisions issued $ 10,959.23
Total wages of cooks, waitresses, etc. 1,462.50
Aggregate $ 12,421.73
Average cost per capita per month $ 7.26
Average cost per capita per diem .24
Clothing
Total cost of clothing issued 2,849.14
Average cost per member 15.65
Farm Products
Vegetables $ 147.55
Eggs 98.90
Poultry 48.99
Hay and pasturage 130.00
Hogs 329.56
Total $ 754.90
Report of Adjutant and Bookkeeper.
Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Home,
Monte Vista, Colo., November 30, 1903
Commander C. S. Aldrich,
Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Home
Dear Sir--I have the honor to submit my annual report for the fiscal year ending November 30, 1902, consisting of a detailed statement of finances, showing balances, receipts, and expenditures; also a list of donations received, descriptive lists of members admitted, discharged and deceased during said year, and a summary of the population of the Home, comparative with that of last year.
Very respectfully,
SAMUEL WEST,
Adjutant and Bookkeeper.