Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1868-05-15


the Report Of Mr.. Hall on the Poor House
Of Bedford county. We hope it viii be reai
by every taxpayer in the county. 1t is Sc
complete that It is entirely unnecessary for u
to comment upon it at present
10 The Honorable the Judges Of the Court o.
Quarter Sessions Of Bedford County a
4pTji Sessions 1858.
The Report Of William Maclay Hall, audi
iioF, pro nj certificate of appointment heretC
attached, to take testimony, find the facts
and make report, &c, in the matter OF tbs
recommendation of the Directors of the Pool
and Of the House of Employment of Bedford
County in regard to the erection Of a new
Poor House, and the sale of the presen
Poor. House property, respectfully represents
hat having been first duly sworn to per
form the duties of his appointment with 6del
| Ity, and having given notice of the time and
place of hearing by publication in both news
papers published in Bedford, he proceeded
10 take testimony, fall notes Of which art
hereto attached. Aud your auditor report.
| the following facts as deduced from and sus
tanned by the testimony;
First. That the buildings on the present
property are not at all suitable for the proper
maintaining and employment of the Poor
hat the building known as the poor house
is entirely too small; of inconvenient arrange
ment; lily ventilated; with no means Of keep
ing the sexes separate; no Arrangement tol
/ heating except stoves; no proper place fol-
keeping patient with contagious disease; uC
proper place for insane persons: no running
water in the building, nor water closets; anC
that there IS an imperative necessity for the
erection of building in which the defect.
above enumerated would be remedied.
Gra1uT fFhat fba-s - cvar pf,aaa h..
tween the Stewards house aud the poor
house, which Is about $50 feet long, and 81
4 feet wide, from the turnpike TO the race
which would be suitable for the erection of .
proper poor house; that the mill race Is an
admirable sewer for carrying off all offensive
matter; that the old building could be retain
ed and used to advantage for waylarers; thai
the spring at the foot OF the mountain, which
now supplies the property with water, is am
pie and never failing, and can be carried IN
pipes to the top of three storied house; il
short that there is no better location as tC
water aud sewerage 70 be found anywhere.
Third That your auditor has examined
with sogle care the accounts, check books
and auditors reports Of the Poor House from
1873 to 1860, inclusive; that the remainder
| from 1861 to 1868, were not examined f3l
want of time; that the manner Of keeping tht
+ accounts, checks and reports for the sale
years is neither business Ike nor accurate
that there are great obscurities and opportu
mites for errors, and some things which look
very much Ike errcrs; that no prudent mar
would manage his business or keep his book;
as the business and books of the Poor House
Alii have been managed and kept; that, as
per statement hereto attached, the receipts o
the mill over the expenditures from Dec. ,
1872, TO Jan. /, 1861, amounts to Sjt4 S6
IafElr %3l f7 nor ounun7 and that in arf {
all the expenditures for the mill, race, dan
and miller S house, and in managing auc
carrying on the business Of the mill, and the
bad debts made for mill products, could be
arrived at with precision, the expenditures Of
the mill during SAID period have exceeded
the receipts, probably by a considerable
amount
Fourth. That the mill, and miller house
with about two acres adjacent including the
upper garden and ground enough to make 6
basin to hold a supply of water, could be sold
for from eight to twelve thousand dollars
fifth. That the Poor House farm contains
$50 acres, most -ot which is mountain land
That, apart from the mill, thus would sell f0i
from four TO six thousand dollars; that exceP
a good garden Of an acre or two and a tolera
bly, good meadow of about .wenty acres, there
/ is about forty acres of cold and wet second
| class farm land, and the remainder Is noun
lain pasture and timber, most of 1t Of very
little value.
lSirfh. That certain persons have Offered
for sale farms, as per offers hereto attached
as follows:
Ist. The property Of John Samuel aul
Daniel Snyder, situate iu SnakespCing town
ship, containing l53 acres and allowance O
g per cent. and adjoining lands of W. Foruey
Michael Wareham, Andrew SnobeTger, JOhT
srrl hf5ataaf EfrFai as~
This tract is offered at the sum of sixty
dollars per acre in payments, and is reported
20 possess a never failing stream Of water
which can be carried 10 any part Of a build
ing.
Second The property OF John Hafer, sit
uate In Bedford township, containing I0(
acres more or less, and adjoining lands O
VIVA Smith, the Holidaysburg turnpike OF
the the East, lands of Samuel Diehl, Davii
Points. Charles Stuckey and Ezra William
son.
This property IS offered for the sum Of sew
en- thousand dollars, and is reported to pos
sess only fifteen acres of uncieared land, t,
be al tillable, to contain good orchard
limestone and brick clay for building purpo
ses, and an excellent quality Of water Whict
may be carried at the different building site
10 elevations averaging from 4 to 5e feet.
Third The property of Jerry Shea, siru
ate in Showers Valley, Cumberland Talle-
township. containing about 100 acres, Z,
acres OF which is cleared. is well watered,
This tract Is offered for the sum Of thre,
thousand five huudred dollars ia payments
with interest. and is reported TO be principal
/ ly limestone, and to possess Is acres of inca
dow.
cssaiH That there have been three uev
mills, 10 VIII: Hartievs steam mill, Dickena
So Fpa1H-.l and fe1-1t-
burp's mill, In Snake Spring township, which
haze been erected within the last few years
within the custom Of the Poor House mill.
SO that the custom work Of the said mill is
NOT sufficient TO keep it going, and in orde
TO carry on said mill, It is necessary to bul
grain and usa a capital of about four thou
sand dollars, and that the business is attend
ed with risk. and is lily suited for the man
/ agemeut Of Poor Directors and their Steward
All Of which is respectfully submitted.
W. NJ. HALL, Auditor.
The following is he order Of he Court di
rectiug the building Of new Poor House
And now, TO wit May >, 1858, the Cour
upon hearing and due consideration approv
so much of the report Of the Grand jury a
recommends the erection of anew poor house
! F05 the purpose Of comfortably sheitering an'
maintaining of poor sick and insane persons
required by the law TO be supported by th
county-aHd disap2rove Of that part of sait
report which recommends the sale Of H.,
iarm and property on which the present poo
house now stands. By the Count.
The following exhibit will be very graf
flying one to the Democratic voters Of Bed
ford county. Itshows how the Poor House
5Iill has paid. Read it, study it and then as
certain whether other mills pay no better
S5atemeat of -HjH Receipts and Erpenatlure
Ercees o ErcesyoF
heceiptg. Expenditures
1843. ......... S42.9S
ISf4. .....,.., 2J0OC