Tama County Republican. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1867-1872, 1867-02-08

concluded to hold as fund for building and
repairs. From this source the Cedar Falls
branch received in October, 1891. for huiid-
ing and repairs done TO the Home.
On the Is, of October, it was in debt St'Gl.
The expenses. for the month were S3,62S, and
receipts from State appropriation about ST 800
November expenses were So 900, and receipts
81. rs. thus it will be seen that after deduct
ing the State appropriation and the amount
received for building purposes, the debt Of the
Home had swcllcl to near $1,000 on the LIST of
December Some other receipts may reduce
this amount a little, but its financial condi-
ton as near rs cold be ascerained will but
slightly differ from the above statement. 1t
might be added that there is something OF
stock Of supplies and clothing still on hand,
purchased and included in the expense ac-
count during the above months.
The Superintendent hopes TO run within his
receipts the present month, but our convlc-
tons are that if he properly feeds, clothes ana
cares for these orphans, he vii! find hi'nsel 7
the close of each month, as heretofore, largely
in arrears, especially during cold weather.
un.ess he receives assistance elsewhere.
The item Of fuel alone amounts to near
$500 per month; and those Of us who have
childrea, kn:w how much more expensive 1t is
to properly clcthe them during cold weather.
Mr.. Abbot appears to conduct the affairs OF
the institution with rs much economy AS
could be expected from his brief connection
herewith.
He is gentleman Of refinement ready to
impart any infor,na ton desired and appears
70 he ably assisted by his wife, as we'll as by
the steward of the institution. lie has intro-
iuced much system into the Home, is endeav>
oring to Go the best his aightened circum-
stances will admit, and is willing to receive
and consider all suggestions Tor improvement.
An agent has already been sent east, by
him to solicit contributions, and is meeting
with some success. Others will lie dispatched
in liffcren. directions rs fast as they can be
secured.
The children for the most part appeared
healthy. Some twenty-five or thirty Of them
were afflicted with inflammation Of the eyes,
occasioned by not spc edily isolaling the cases
first attacked. The number however, is de-
creasing, and there arc no cases Of severity.
There were but four or FIVE cases Of sickness
in the hospital ; and only one death has &C,
Cured during Mr.. Abbo,'s administration.
~, llron ,uorn NJ >, M all dross-
cd as the average Of children Of their age
throughout the city.
Mr.. Abbot is making up as rapidly as pos
sible, a uniform style for the boys-bluc pants
and grey jackets They generally look con-
tented and happy, and are making reasonable
proficiency in their studies.
The Home is divided into seven wards, and
each ward contains from tweny to forty
children under the charge of female assis-
taut. The steward has charge of one ward Of
large boys. Each ward has ono considerable
room with benches, stove, table, lights, books,
&C., for the home proper Of the children when
not in school or otherwise engaged. Most Of
The wards have BEDROOM, opening into the
ward-rooms. These are small and poorly ven
tilated large portion Of the beds are made
by placing two army iron cots close together,
and covering them with ticks with straw, then
sheets and blankets.
Four children sleep togethe: on this bed !;
and there are usually three or four such beds
in each chamber, which occupy all the space
The Superintendent stated that he was in need
of moro beling, but kept the children from
suffering by keeping fires in their ward rooms
during the night"
They are in school five days Of the week,
from two to five hours each day according to
age: and onc-half day of every alternate week
is devoted to letter writing, in order that they
may be able to correspond with their parents
and fecnds. No employee or child is allowed
to leave the grounds without special permits
sion, but on suitable occasion this is granted.
All the children cat in one large room, at
tables accommodating from fifteen to twenty.
The hours for meals at this season of the year
are ~ a. NJ, III and ~ r. m. The following
was the fare 80 seen by your committee on the
day Of their visit: Breakfast consisted Of
bakers bread, and gravy made Of tutter and
water, thickcned with -four, with water to
drink. At dinner they had bread, and soup
made Of fresh beef and sprinkling of vegeta,
bles, with water as before. Supper was made
from the meat which was boiled with the soup,
bread and butter s;ewed dried apples and
water. All had the same diet from the young
est to the Oldest. Mr.. Abbot stated that he
cndeayored to furnish meat or fish once a day,
also some kinds Of vegetables, and OCCASION
ally beans AMI hominy. Milk could be OBJ
tanned but once week, and this was pur-
chased at twenty cents gallon, as there were
no cows at the Home. He had been trying
to build an oven for the last two months but
was quite unfortunate in having it cave in
two or three times. On the day Of our visit
lie was having a mason from Dubuque at
work upon it again. It occurred to us that a
squad of old soldiers would have constructed
it and turned out batch Of bread in couple
of hours. When completed he expected to
bake his own bread and also give the children
corn bread and baked potatoes. Your COM
mittee recommended Mr.. Abbot to purchase,
carly in the spring, number Of good mich
COWS, sufficient to enable him to give milk at
least to The younger children once n day.
Mush, bread, or baked potatoes and milk
woull be much better diet for this class than