discharged at their own request, 21 for misconduct, 1 left the hospital without notice, and 31 died. The total number of inmates of the Home treated there for the past year is 299. The number now remaining there is 71. The expense to the Home on this account, including clothing and transportation, has amounted to $24,994.15.

DISCIPLINE.

The rules of discipline have been duly enforced.

ENTERTAINMENTS AT STANLEY HALL.

Entertainments were given at Stanley Hall during the autumn, winter, and spring at an expense, exclusive of light and heat, of $549.75.

THE BILLIARD, AMUSEMENT, SMOKING, AND READING ROOMS, MUSEUM, AND LIBRARY.

These are kept in good order, under charge of noncommissioned officers, and are constantly used and enjoyed by the men.

THE BAND.

The band consists of the band leader, Mr. John S. M. Zimmerman, 10 inmates, and 8 civilians employed and attached as temporary inmates. In the summer season it gives open-air concerts, two per week at the hospital and five at the Home. In the winter the five at the Home are given in Stanley Hall. It also furnishes music for all entertainments at Stanley Hall and for memorial services and funerals at the cemetery.

RELIGIOUS SERVICES.

Roman Catholic, Lutheran, and Episcopal services are held each Sunday in the chapel.

Funeral services for deceased inmates of the Roman Catholic faith are attended by the Roman Catholic chaplain, and of the deceased Protestant inmates by the Episcopal chaplain.

OFFICERS, NONCOMMISSIONED OFFICERS, AND CLERICAL FORCE.

The deputy governor, surgeon, treasurer, clinical assistants, and chaplains have performed their duties most faithfully and acceptably, and full and free acknowledgment is given of their cordial support of the governor in the administration of the Home.

The sergeant-major and all the other noncommissioned officers form an efficient body of men, conscientious and faithful in the performance of their respective duties. The clerical force is attentive, intelligent, and faithful.

ASSISTANCE RENDERED BY THE POLICE FORCE OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

To the chief of police and his officers and men hearty acknowledgment is given for the abolition of speak easies in the neighborhood of the Home and for efficient service in patrolling the grounds to the preservation of shubbery, flowers, and Home property from destruction or damage at the hands of thoughtless or irresponsible parties, and in the general interest of good order.

Very respectfully,

GEO. D. RUGGLES, Brigadier-General, U. S. Army, Governor.

The BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE SOLDIERS' HOME,

Washington, D. C.

REPORT OF THE INSPECTION OF THE SOLDIERS' HOME.

WAR DEPARTMENT, INSPECTOR-GENERAL'S OFFICE, Washington, August 20, 1902.

SIR: I have the honor to submit the following report of an inspection of the Soldiers' Home, District of Columbia, made May 27-30, 1902, as required by the act of March 3, 1883. The accounts were inspected July 7, 8, 9, 10, 1902. I was accompanied by Lieut. Col. Thomas T. Knox, inspector-general, and by Mr. William T. Kent, accountant of the Inspector-General's Department, who both rendered excellent assistance, one in the general affairs, personnel, improvements, and needs, and the other in the examination of the books and financial transactions of the Home.

OFFICERS.

There has been a change in the personnel of the officers of the Home since my last inspection-namely, the relief, by Maj. Henry M. Kendall, U. S. Army, retired, of Capt. Charles W. Taylor, Ninth Cavalry, the efficient and energetic secretary and treasurer.

The other officers are now as follows: Governor, Brig. Gen. George D. Ruggles, retired; deputy governor, Lieut. Col. R. F. Bernard, retired, and surgeon, Maj. L. A. La Garde, all of whom are both efficient and zealous officers. It is submitted that at least one line officer on the active list is needed on duty at this Home, perhaps as adjutant.

POPULATION.

The total population of the Home on June 30, 1902, is given as 1,403 officers and members, 888 of whom were present and 515 absent, the average for the year being 896 present and 536 absent, or a total average of 1,436. The highest number present during the year was 930, on March 10, 1902, and the lowest was 506, on June 19, 1902. The average temporarily cared for during the year was 45, and the total cared for was 2,365, an increase of 114 over last year. There were 360 members absent on outdoor relief, or 45 less than the previous year. Seventy-one were sick at Fort Bayard, N. Mex., or 13 more than last year. How different this status is than the overcrowded condition about a dozen years ago may not be often recalled by many, but marks a great and steady improvement in the condition of the beneficiaries of this establishment. Those on outdoor relief seem more economically cared for than the others and surely equally contented, and it offers the best escape from any repetition of the overcrowding. Some of the building operations heretofore have seemed expensive and occasionally

of questionable character or quality, and any repetition of such extravagant mistakes may well be avoided, though there is apt to be a furor for building in public institutions.

The ages of the members present on June 30, 1902, ranged from 22 years to 90 years, and the average is given as 56.71 years, or 2.62 years less than last year at this Home, and is 6.87 years less than at the Volunteer Home, which may begin again to also have young men on their rolls and some even going back to the Mexican or Indian wars. The number of members receiving pensions, which ranged from $6 to $72 per month, was 731, or about half of the total average.

The great majority receive $12 per month. Forty-five per cent of the inmates present were natives of the United States, 25 per cent were Irish, and 16 per cent were German, the remainder being from various other European countries and Canada.

On May 27, 1902, 529 officers and members of the Home were formed and reviewed, including 9 members of the band. They presented a commendable appearance, being neatly and appropriately dressed, and seemed contented and well provided for. Their appearance showed a perceptible improvement within recent years. A large proportion of the remainder of the 888 members at the Home were said to be sick or on extra duty. There were 60 vacant beds in the barracks and 22 in the hospital, a total of 82 beds.

The accommodations in the present buildings are still ample for the needs of the present membership, as is shown in the following table:

From the above table it would appear that the available room is reduced considerably from last year, at which time the available room could accommodate 187 men against 117 this year; and, with the severities the Army has undergone in the Philippine campaign, it is likely that there will be a largely increased number of applicants.

BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS.

The various buildings were found to be generally in excellent condition, and the attractive grounds of 502 acres, with well repaired driveways and walks, reflected great credit on the present administration. Many improvements and repairs have been accomplished. During the year the grounds have been surveyed, maps of them made, grading and terracing done, the bridges, drain pipes, and sewerage repaired, etc., at a cost of $28,743.52. An addition has been built to the Home chapel, and it has been repainted and decorated at a cost of $5,006.19. A new calf barn has been added to the dairy, at a cost of $5,186.17. The old portion of the Barnes Hospital has been repaired at a cost of $4,626.24, and an electric-light plant is contemplated for lighting it

and the adjacent grounds, at a cost of $15,000. The present administration building is inadequate and unseemly, and in bad repair, and a new one required. New kitchens are badly needed; the present ones are antiquated.

A new mess hall, a bakery, a butcher's shop, cold storage, and commissary storeroom are all needed. One building will accommodate all of these and the kitchen, and will permit additional space for dormitory, single sleeping rooms, solarium, etc. This building could be placed back of the present library, and the library should be pulled down when the new building shall have been completed; not but what it is about as good as could be expected for a bowling alley, for which it is said to have been extravagantly built; but it has always been a ridiculous eyesore. The new building should comport in dignity of appearance with the Scott Building. The palm house should be more than doubled in size by erecting a central dome much higher than the present building, which should be duplicated on the other side of the dome, thus giving more dignity and pleasing effect to the structure. In the Scott and the Sherman buildings the walls of the rooms occupied by the men were cleanly and freshly painted; the floors were in good condition; the furniture presented an orderly and satisfactory appearance. New closets and urinals have been installed, and are now located on every floor, which greatly adds to the convenience and comfort of the men. The need of elevators and absence of comfortable porches are more than ever evident in this large structure filled with feeble men. The old red bedspreads, which may not show dirt so easily, continue in use; after they become worn they are unsightly and always unsatisfactory. Many of them have been condemned, and all should be discontinued and white ones substituted, of the special pattern with the American eagle, which looks so well in the hospital. The historic Anderson Building, which last year it was rumored was to be demolished to make room for an addition to the Scott Building, I am pleased to report is still remaining, one of the objects of interest in the Home, as the summer residence of President Lincoln and other former Presidents of the United States.

Many of the rooms in the buildings which otherwise are in a satisfactory condition seem untidy, from dust pans and brushes as well as oil receptacles being in full view. If boxes were made to hold them, as has been done for the blacking and brushes, and receptacles provided for the brooms and mops, as at the Marion Branch, National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, the appearance of the rooms would be greatly improved. All the books, records, etc., in the governor's office were well kept and complete to date. Stagnant water was observed in front of the steps leading to the basement of the hospital. Drains should be introduced or repaired.

DISCIPLINE.

As shown by the report, the discipline of the Home has been very laudable; over 90 per cent of the average present committed no offense since last year's inspection. The principal offenses during the year were drunkenness, for which there were 118 trials, and absence without leave, for which there were 44 trials. The number of members tried for drunkenness was 85 or 13 less than the previous year. The total number of offenses committed during the year was 225 and the