The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1862-02-11
For the Gate City.
orr County Posr Farm and House.

Ou1 Swumty FOoK f0Vm ana mouse.
We have just returned from visit TO
this public institution, and must say that
the persons having the management of it
lave been either incompetent or crimi-
naily negligent. We do not know the
number of acres of land under cultivation,
but it is about seventy FIVE. The house
IS large four story building, tincluding
the basement, which is finished with
rooms, ond is very expensive structure,
costing one-thlrd more than it should -
It's unfinished on the inside. The farm
has no barns, sheds or ont-buildings, ex-
ecpt an old log house or two, without a
door, rnanger, pen FOR hogs or chicken
roost.
In the front yard are a few fruit trees,
entirely neglected, and everything about
the house looks as if some one lived there
that was too poor and shiftless to do any
thing to lire comfortable, or even try to.
The farm is entirely run down and worth
less as it now is, both as TO fences and
cultivation of The soil, Everything indi-
eating laziness. This farm and house
cost the county large sum Of money
and we are rcaping no benefit from it and
the poor are suffering for the want of the
usfarss ~ forts of t;fa
The fist thing that should he done is to
put q good farmer ON to it, not what is
called . good farmer by old men who have
never learned anything, but one who un-
dersiands the business of farming in all
Its adaptations TO different soils. Instead
OF there being nothing on the farm, there
should be dozen COWS, an hundred hogs,
and other animals, such as will supply the
wants Of the house. There should be
barns and out-buildings for comfort and
convenience, to house al animals and take
care of them properly, summer and win
ter. Every foot Of the tillable land should
be plowed foot deep and then sub-soiled
another half foot, and then the teams of
the farm should be employed during win.
ter in drawing manure from the city and
elsewhere to restore the soil. With prop
er management this farm can be made to
support an hundred of the poor with good
food and clothing. This institution should
be 50 we'll managed that people who are
able to work, but not able to take care of
themselves, when left to themselves, would
90 there and work and have good home.
| With proper management it would not be
place of disgrace, but place sought for
by the unfortunate, and when there, be
assigned their place aud made to earn their
living The whole thing could be so sys-
tematized that it would be credit to the
county, without cost, after being put in
order, and a comfort to the class of per-
sons intended to be benefited. When
families go there for support, instead of
binding opAcir children 10 worthless
men, let them be kept and serve on the
place and receive limited education in
school on the farm.
| 1t is true that it will cost something
to put the place in condition, and put on
animals, fix the fences, and put the ground
in order for crops, and barns to house the
crops and stock But this is very small
matter for this county compared with the
expense Of letting it 60 as it is. A
special tax should be levied to be applied
for this purpose and then have the right
kind of men to apply it, and every one
will be satisfied. AS it is, all are dissat-
isGed, and the poor unproyided for to a
great extent. The amount laid out every
year by the county to keep the poor is
sufficient to make good start in putting
the farm in order.
The first point to be secured, as before
observed, is to get the right kind of :,
man to cultivate the soil and fix up the
premises, and at the same time to manage
and systematic the house SO that all car
be comfortable and done cheaply. Th.
4 women Of the house should spin and weave
all tire cloth that is worn and knit til,
stockings and socks aud make up til,
clothing and do all other work about tn
house. If no one was helped away iron
the institution there would be plenty Their
to do the work. and under proper ar
! rangement the most of the paupcrs woul
be source of profit to the county an
better off themselves, more happy an
healthy, while ii left to themselves the