The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1867-08-05
% i,he County roor Houses


institution in which we expect to tran
GULLY pass our declining days-the
County Poor House. One month ago IL
was resolved that the next meeting ofthe
Board of Overseers of the poor should
be held at the Poor House. The OBJECT
of the President of the Board was to
bring to the knowledge of the members
thereof the true condition of affairs NJ
that place.
The members were conveyed to the
Poor House in an omnibus furnished by
Mr. Thomas Shallcross, and to place
beyond q peradventure the possibility
of accident, this gentleman accompan-
led the party and "held the strings"
And upon the invitation of the veneF-
able President, Mr.. hurry, Mr., John
Powell and Judge Samuel Greer took
seats in the vehicle, as also, lastly and
leastly, did the thrilling writer OF these
golden words.
The Board arrived at the Poor House
at about eleven o'clock, and Immediate
ly proceeded to business, which is else
where reported. At neon the gentle
manly and efficient Superintendent, MI.
Elias II. Burt, invited the persons pres
ent to walk into the dining room and
partake of Poor House dinner. A sec
ond invitation was unnecessary, as any
one who has ever passed over the Poor
House road knows something of the APP
petite that will be created by so doing.
All being seated around the table, Judge
Greer invoked q blessing and took upon
his plate half a chicken, the other
guests following suit"-as regards
chicken, excepting Mr.. Tolivar, who
"trumped" the trick by taking whole
fowl. The table fairly groaned under
the load of good things placed upon it
by the host and hostess, ard great efforts
were made to empty the dishes (for the
purpose, the Judge said, of kissing the
cook, but it was found to be impossl-
BILE. After dinner the Judge was taken
| i'll.
After dinner the members made an
examination of the buildings, after
which another session Of the Board was
held, when the party started honeward.
The branch road to the Poor House be-
ing in very bad condition, the load
being heavy, and the day quite warm,
request was made that the accommo-
dating driver stop at Frank Walters
for the purpose Of watering the
horses" The horses got the water.
The accommodations at the Poor
House for the number of paupers there
were found to be very meagre. In case
any are sick they must be placed in
rooms with others, which is unpleasant
and inconvenient, as well as injurious
to both sick and well. At the present
time there are forty-two paupers, twenty
men, eighteen women and four chill
dren.
1t will be seen by the proceedings of
the Board that they have taken action
looking toward thorough repair of the
Poor House. The question was argued
at considerable length as to whether a
new farm should be purchased, or re-
pair the present buildings, and build
what new additions are necessary. The
latter plan was adopted by vote of
four against three.
The roofand plastering of the present
buildings are terribly dilapidated, and
person is not compelled to go out
doors to see whether the sky is cloudy
or clear. (The Judge thought the cell
ing was painted sky-blue.)
We desire to call attention to the con-
dition of the road from the Bethany Pike
to the Poor House. 1t is in n horrible
predcament, and of course at this sea-
son of the year roads are in their best
condition. For some distance teams
are compelled to go in the middle of a
creek; and rocks and cutters and en-
bankments and everything compose the
"macadamization" of that road. If we
ever have the pleasure of riding over
that road again (and we expect toy we
will arm ourselves, in addition to a
strong wagon, with balloon and a life
boat. (The Judge said it was good
road-"it limbered him up" Still, he
recommended placing an inclined plane
from the Bethany pike to the Poor
House.)