The invoice value of property received during the year was reported

as follows:

There were 20 employees working in the laundry during the year, and 53,616 pieces were laundered, at a cost of $3,370.73, no work of this kind having been done outside the Home.

The machinery was in good condition and ample, but was of old pattern.

The protection against fire at this Branch consists of Fire department. 2 chemical engines, an old unserviceable steam fire engine, hydrants and standpipes, with hose. The boiler of this fire engine has been in very bad condition for some years and has been condemned.

The fire organization has 8 permanent men in the engine house, and all members of the Home assist in cases of emergency. When tested they did not appear to be well organized, 3 men being on one hose reel and 2 on the other. The 2 chemical engines seemed satisfactory, but will need constant watching and frequent testing to be of much use. Though there are many frame buildings there is only 1 standpipe, which is on the main building, the other buildings depending on the fire plugs for protection in case of fire.

In the test given the fire department one stream had a pressure of 35 pounds and would not reach the top of the barrack building. The pump would not work for twenty minutes, but afterwards delivered a good stream.

There was a small fire in the hospital laundry which was without loss, and was put out by extinguishers.

ment.

The general supervision of the engineer department Engineer depart is under the superintendence of the chief engineer, who has employed under him the following men: 1 first assistant engineer, 1 second assistant engineer, 22 laborers, 6 plumbers, 9 steam fitters, 3 brick masons, 2 tinsmiths, 12 carpenters, and 10 painters.

The steam plant comprises 13 50-horsepower and 2 100-horsepower boilers, costing $42,000. The cost of maintenance of the same for the year was $24,500-an increase of $659 over last year. This is probably due to the loss of heat-about 50 per cent-caused by the unprotected state of the steam pipes, which are in the ground without casing or other protection. They should gradually be put in trenches.

Sewage and drainage is carried off by means of pumping and gravity. The condition of the system is good, but an additional pump at the hospital latrine seems needed.

There is no lighting plant at this Branch, electricity being delivered by contract from the Hampton Electric Light and Power Company, of Hampton, Va., at a cost during the last year of $7,941.65 for 21 arc and 2,430 incandescent lights.

The cold storage and ice plant consists of 1 10-ton ice machine, which has a capacity of 5 tons per day at a cost of 57 cents per ton, and cools 15,627 cubic feet of air space.

Commissary depart capacity for 1,176 men.

ment.

The mess hall is a brick building and has a seating The tables are set twice for each meal. Its condition is generally satisfactory,

with the exception of the numerous roaches.

The bill of fare for the week ending June 30, 1901, was as follows:

Monday.

Breakfast: Sugar-cured smoked shoulders, potatoes, bread, oleomargarine, coffee. Dinner: Beef stew, bread, oleomargarine, coffee.

Supper: Bologna sausage, bread, oleomargarine, tea.

Tuesday.

Breakfast: Sugar-cured pickled shoulders, potatoes, bread, oleomargarine, coffee. Dinner: Sliced roast beef with gravy, macaroni with cheese, potatoes, bread, oleomargarine, coffee.

Supper: Cracked wheat mush, sirup, bread, oleomargarine, tea.

Wednesday.

Breakfast: Hashed beef, bread, oleomargarine, coffee.

Dinner: Corned beef, cabbage, potatoes, bread, oleomargarine, coffee.
Supper: Stewed dried apples, bread, oleomargarine, tea.

Thursday.

Breakfast: Boiled sliced beef, potatoes, bread, oleomargarine, coffee.

Dinner: Sliced roast beef with gravy, potatoes, stewed onions, bread, oleomargarine, coffee.

Supper: Boiled rice with sugar, bread, oleomargarine, tea.

Friday.

Breakfast: Stewed codfish, bread, potatoes, oleomargarine, coffee.

Dinner: Baked fresh fish, potatoes, bread, rice pudding, oleomargarine, coffee. Supper: Stewed prunes, rolls, cheese, oleomargarine, tea.

Saturday.

Breakfast: Beef fricassee, potatoes, bread, oleomargarine, coffee.

Dinner: Roast beef with gravy, lima beans, potatoes, bread, oleomargarine, coffee.

Supper: Bologna sausage, bread, oleomargarine, coffee.

Sunday.

Breakfast: Sugar-cured breakfast bacon, baked beans, bread, oleomargarine, coffee.

Dinner: Roast mutton, potatoes, rice pudding, bread, oleomargarine, coffee. Supper: Stewed dried peaches, cheese, bread, oleomargarine, tea.

There was no check on the issue of rations. The average number permanently employed in the kitchen was 20 and in the dining hall 90. The method of disposing of the garbage and swill in cans by hand is not desirable, entailing too much labor. There should be a garbage tank.

Thirty cents per barrel is obtained for garbage, and $985.50 was received from the sale of it for one year, which is the next largest of the other Branches.

The bread at this Branch was not good except when fresh. When twenty-four hours old, it is hard and tough. The flour used is not of good quality.

The hospital was in generally good condition. The Medical department. woodwork on the outside had been repainted and looked well. Its capacity for patients is 470, with quarters for 335 convalescents. An addition is to be built, which will include an operating room and dispensary.

The appliances here are not so complete as at the other Branches, and a new equipment is needed. There were 792 patients admitted during the year.

The percentages of the principal diseases are as follows:

Chronic.-Diseases of the lungs, 12.4; gastro-intestinal, 10.6; rheumatism, 7.2; of the heart, 4.7.

Acute.-Bronchitis, pneumonia, and pleurisy, 13.6; diarrhea and gastritis, 5.43; influenza, 5.21; of the nervous system, 2.6.

Surgical.--Genito-urinary, 1.2; fractures, 0.85; abscesses and ulcers,

0.78.

Local.-Gastritis and diarrhea, 5.6; conjunctivitis, 2.3.

Infectious or contagious.-Pulmonary tuberculosis, 8.9; erysipelas, 10; typhoid fever, 3.

The number of deaths occurring during the year at this Branch was next to the largest, being 324 members. The average age at time of death was 68.43 years. Two of these were caused by violence, 3 by accident, and 319 from natural causes. The death rate per 1,000 of the whole number cared for was 59.13. The number of these buried at the Home was 196.

They are buried in uniform, and at a cost of $13.50. The coffins are much better than last year, costing $5.60 each, or $4 more.

There are 79 members employed in the hospital and 21 civilians, at a total cost of $20,395.96, an average of $203.95 per employee.

The cost of the extra diet for the year amounted to $1,101.38. Although the flies were numerous, there were no fly screens; they are much needed.

No letter-press copy books are in use, the letters being copied by pen in a blank book. The money due patients is kept for them by the surgeon, but not in separate envelopes marked with the name of the individual owner, except in a few cases, and the total general account did not agree with the totals due individual members.

The number of members showing indications of disordered minds during the year were 85, of which number 22 were considered permanently insane and 14 were sent to an insane asylum.

The insane are quartered in wards and are confined only when they are violent. Some of them sleep under the level of the ground. The majority of them are cared for in the wards with the other patients and a few in special wards.

They are taken good care of by the nurses, and for recreation they have the free use of the grounds and all the conveniences of the other patients, except a few who are violent.

The facilities are not ample to properly care for them, and separate grounds and special buildings should be provided.

The number of totally blind members was 17. Forty-five had impaired eyesight and were unable to read. Forty-five are read to twice daily.

No. 10.-REPORT OF AN INSPECTION OF THE MOUNTAIN BRANCH MADE NOVEMBER 13 AND 14, 1901.

The representatives of the Home here are Gen. J. T. Richards, as superintendent of construction, and Mr. Smyth A. Byrd, as his assistant. This new Branch is located about 2 miles west of Johnson City, Tenn. There are about 375 acres purchased for the Branch. The site is well located on high ground, which is sufficiently rolling to effect good drainage. The Southern Railroad runs along the entire south side of the reservation, which is of an irregular shape, the east end being somewhat contracted. Additional land, adjoining on the north, is much desired to make the boundaries more symmetrical, if the same can be purchased at a reasonable price.

Little work has thus far been done except clearing the land of brush and other growth preparatory to building. Grading of part of the ground was in progress at the time of inspection, as was also the planting of stakes to indicate the position of the buildings to be erected. The general plan is a very pleasing one, prepared by an architect (Mr. J. H. Freedlander) in New York. There are to be twelve barracks, eight of which are on the line of a semiellipse, and the other four are on an interior smaller ellipse, parallel to the larger one.

Much thought has been given by the Board of Managers to the question of water supply, as some difficulties appear in the way of getting this matter satisfactorily settled, partly on account of the available supply and partly on account of an intervening ridge between the source of supply and the site of the Home. The entire ground which furnishes the water was gone over. The reservoir of the Watauga Water Company appears not to have sufficient elevation, and there is some doubt as to whether the quantity of water is sufficient, or will be if the demands of Johnson City increase. About 2 miles above this reservoir and about 2 miles in a direct line from the Home are a number of springs of excellent freestone water in sufficient quantity and which appear to have sufficient elevation. The land on which these springs are located, as well as that over which a small mountain stream runs, is owned by Mr. J. B. Cox, of Johnson City, who is desirous of supplying the Home with water and expressed to me his wish to do so at a reasonable price. If a contract for supplying the water by Mr. Cox is made, every precaution should be taken to safeguard the interests of the Home and the prevention of any complications in the future.

Specifications have been prepared and proposals invited for the erection of the hospital, but as yet no construction work has been commenced.

The establishment of the Mountain Branch, which will be the ninth Branch of the Home, was authorized by the following act of Congress, approved January 28, 1901:

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Board of Managers of the Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers are hereby authorized and directed to locate a Branch of the Home at Johnson City, Washington County, Tennessee, or within a radius of five miles thereof. The same shall not be located on a tract of land less than three hundred acres in extent.

SEC. 2. That said Branch Home shall be located and the ground purchased (unless the same be donated) by said Board of Managers within three months, or as soon thereafter as practicable, from the approval of this act.

SEC. 3. That within six months, or as soon thereafter as practicable, from the approval of this act, the said Board of Managers shall commence the erection or purchase of a suitable building or buildings on the grounds so purchased for the use of said Branch Home. That said building or buildings shall be completed at as early a day as possible.

SEC. 4. That the sum of two hundred and fifty thousand dollars is hereby appropriated for the purposes hereinbefore mentioned and the improvement of the grounds of said Branch Home.

SEC. 5. That all honorably discharged soldiers and sailors who served in the war of the rebellion and the Spanish-American war, and the provisional army and the volunteer soldiers and sailors of the war of eighteen hundred and twelve and of the Mexican war, who are disabled by age, disease, or otherwise, and by reason of such disability are incapable of earning a living, shall be admitted into the Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers.