The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1868-06-12
VISIT TO THE COUNTY pooR FARM.

iuSlteu 70 accompany athem put sent our
assistant along to note whatever might be Of
interest to the public. Mr.. Cable extended
the courtesies Of his road to the party and ia
every manner administared to their comfort
and enjoyment. The ride to Coal Valley, in
| the cool hours of the morning, was indeed
delightful, and especially so to those whose
pursuits permit them only an occasional
breath efpure, unadulterated country air
The scenery along the valley is nov worthy
Of more than passing Commentator, the
| towering bluffs on either hand being crown
ed with the most hxariant foliage, while the
| rich farms along the bottoms begin to indi-
cate the results of early Summer and the
husbandman's toll, in no uncertain manner.
We doubt if Black Hawk, in the palmy days
of that ehieftain's power. ever saw the valley
| more greenly arrayed in natures loneliness.
| And still the work Of improvement is@going
\ forward, and short win be the time before
not an idle acre will lie between Camden
and Coal Valley. All along the route, the
| farmers were busily ploughing their eorns
| which looks well, Notwithstanding the
| gloomy representations based on the back
| wardness of our spring. On arriving at
Coal Valley, three conveyances were await
| ing us, in charge of Mr.. D. w. Carson, war
| den of the county farm. We had scarcely q
| evinced on every hand in the growing town
| around us, before we began our ascent of
the bluffs, and upon the plateau above we're
| greeted with an interminable succession of
rural views, which are rarely equalled, and
never excelled, in all thriving Illinois. A
person more poetical than a regular gall
driver, might easily have imagined himself
| an explorer of Arcadia, or q denizen of earth
| in the golden age of man. Far as the eye
could reach, farm succeeded farm, laid out
| in unvarying order, and titled to modern
| perfection. IA lodge in some vast wilder
ness" or "a green little isle of our own"
were dull place indeed, to snug farm on
| one of our fertile prairies. .5
After a pleasant ride of two miles or more,
we arrived at the county farm. Viewed
from the road, through the vistas offs maple
grove, and lines of towering poplars. with
its ample front and neat surroundings, it
| appeared more like the country seat of some
wealthy gentleman, than the asylum OF the
| impoverished and distressed. Many of its
inmates, numbers being partially insane,
came out to meet us, expressing much pleas
ure at the arrival of visitors-an unusual in
cident. We forthwith began tour of in
| spection through the building.
! The floors and halls were in clearly con-
diton. The walls and ceilings are badly in
need of coat CT whitewash, which improve
ment had already been provided for. The
atmosphere of some OF the rooms was any
thing but agreeable, but this is probably
more on account OF the habits of the occu.
pants, than Of hesneghgenee of The keepers
The bedding, We are compelled to state, did
not exhibit that degree of cleanliness most
essential to health during the present warm
weather. Half dozen of the inmates agreed
ia stating that the sheets were never chang
| ed oftener than once in two or three weeks.
| Some of the board to whom we mentioned
the matter, were of the opinion that no state
ments the paupers might make could be
believed. Those to whom the care of the
rooms is committed, claimed that the sheets
were changed twice week. Judging from
/ appearances, the statements of the paupers
were the nearest correct. Much complaint
was also made in regard to the ratiena the
standard article of which is IA. pork two OF
three times day, week in and week out
We ure not disposed to give much consider
alton to such complaints, considering thai
| faut46nding is a chronic habit with such PEG
| pie, but believe, with one or two ofthe board
that a few changes in diet would have ia
vorable sanitary effect, and perhaps save
some expenditures in the medical depart
i ment. Fresh meat twice week, with less
grease and more pure vegetables, would con
stitutea desirable change, fand probabl,
without any additional expense worth speak
ing Of. The present diet is not light enough
Nearly all the inmates are cripples, infirm
persons, and those of advanced age. The,
are capable of taking no exercise, and d
course the fbod intended for strong work Ing
men is not adapted to their cases With
one or two exceptions, the members of the
board disagree with us, and think the fare
is sufficiently proper and wholesome. ii
We did not take a list of the inmates
The oldest is Thomas L. johnson, q nativ'
of Virginia, and eighty six years old. H,
has lost the sight of his right eye, and TIL
same misfortune win soon attend the lief
one. axas.s .,.,.5. ss4 2
r For nearly two years past Thomas Elliot
formerly of Company c.. 10th Illinois In
fantry has been caredaafor here, rendered
helpless from q severe wound received il
the shoulder at the battle of Fort Donelson
He states that his discharge papers are al
fright, and it appears to US that an effor
should be made to secure him pension
and also to remove him to some soldier
home. Az - .n1n
After examining the building and premis
es, the board held an informal meeting. Tht
committee appointed to consider the propri
ETY. of erecting an additional building on tn
farm for the purpose of confning such 10
sane persons as are considered dangerous
lrendarad a rarho1 ~a,,o~& -, az ,Hnc+ AZ a.