The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1868-09-09
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON
POOR HOUSE.
Read before the LadisA' Benevolen MT
society Of Ksokah, Sept. 9.ls6s.


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soeiesy o. sep''
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lug So'n'n's.e' "PPo.n'ea :" - $50
ing OF tbs Society on tue Lee County roor
House resnectfulIy submit the following re-
port:
The present management OF the Poor House u
based upon the following resolutions 81 the Board
of Supervisors, passed January Sd, 1866, TO wit:
Tint the Committee on Poor House belnstruct-
ed 10 advertise Tor proposals with view TO leasing
out the Poor Farm, together with such property
as belongs to it, and that the said Committee be
authorized to contraction the term OF years to the
hest bidder, provided that no person be awarded
the contract except such as the Committee will be
satisfied shal be in every way eligible to take
charge Of the House, requiring the said bidder to
give good and sufficient security tor the faithful
performance Of his contract.
Resoired, That the Committee shall, In framing
the terms Of the contract soc ure the nteresf OF the
county, together with the proper treatment OF the
Poor, and if, in the Judgment OF the COMMITTEES,
there cannot be q contract made favorable 70 the
county, in accordance with the views herein ex>
pressed. then they may make other arrangements,
In accordance with those resolutions in Februa-
ry, 1865, the Farm was leased to Messrs. smith d
Butler, under contract the terms of which rele-
want to this report, arc ns folows.
That the iessees shaii Keep ana support tiii the
$50 10 ra.s hs .snt nv +hs lawfnl author;t;a.
10 the county poor farm defraying all expenses Of
such kind as boarding, washing. ling, de-;
clothing bedding, furniture and medical attend
anre being furnished by The county. Far this ser
vice the lessee s to receive trom the county. the
sum Of two dollars aud twenty-five cents For week
for each psnper maintained. Jointly with this
agreement il the lease to Messrs. Smith a. Butler
Of the Poor House farm, consisting of eighty
Of tiisase land for which the iesscss TO ray a
rental OF tive dollars ard 9fty cents an acre. The
Contract further provides that the lcssees shall be
entitled to any reasonable labor which the pauper
inmates may be able 70 perform at any time and
that the dead shall receive m appropriate burial
from them at their expense. The lessees have the
refusal of this contract for two additional years
next after the first of March, 1869, But the right
to modify the contract after three years is reserved
by the county.
In March last it was resolved that in addition
20 the regular standing Committee on Poor House
Committee Of three be appointed to be called the
Poor and Poor House Committee, whose duty it
shall he to hnvc general snperintcndence of the
Poor House and all matters rotating to the care
and support of the poor of tho county.
This Committee was instructed to appoint SUI
perintendant Of the Poor House and farm.
II is under the direction Of .nis Committee, con
sisting of Messrs Goodricf Merriam and Holman
TINT the Poor House is Tow conducted Mr. Good.
rich acting as Super intendent.
TEE fooR HOUSE.
The Po''r House Of the county Of Lee is situated
hre mes from kenkuk, on the Lee county farm,
TACT Of one hundred and twenty acres. eighty of
which are tiaele. The house, built at cost of
42s,aee Is large and substantial, preventing dne
exterior appearance. 1t is Of rectangular shape,
and including the basement, Is iour stores high.
One half OF the basement Is used as the mons
ward, the other halt Is occupied by the kitchen
and wash rooms. Halt OF the first hoor is oeeu-
pied by the family Of the keeper; half by the fe-
male paupers. few rooms IN the second story
are uped rs sleeping apart nlents, but the most Of
this floor and all Of the upper story is entirely I'M
occupied.
The interior of the building has an unfinished
appearance the piaetering of the walls Is rough
and without whitewash, the woodwork seems 10
have had but one coat Of paint.
The basement room, occupied by the men, is
very large. 1t has ten windows above ground
six feet from the floor, one and half by two feet
in measurement. It is said by the keeper TO be
preferred by the paupers on account of its more
favorable temperature summer and winter II is
entirely unfit for the purpose OF ward or dormi-
tory 1t could be used properly as a sitting room.
The furniture is rude and altogether insufficient.
There are no stands for the beds of the eick-no
spittoons. This room WAS not clean, but our visit
was made at very early hour in the morning.
The half Of the second floor, occupied by the
females, Is divided into a number Of small bed
rooms and sitting The bedrooms six feet by
twelve feet, are lily ventilated. They ane furnished
with be ostesd and chair. The beds Of loose
coarse straw, thin, long used and far from clean,
were provided with one sheet and comfort. The
windows we're not curtained The bedrooms gen.
eraIly had very urt;ay appearance and an air Of
discomfort which wae not chargeable mainly to the
occupants or housekeeper, but was referable chiefly
to tho want Of the necessary accessories to the
plainest bed chamber The impure air Of the
rooms results in part from the defective eon.truc.
ton of the partitions forming them The doors
are not provided with tran.oms, .aa whenthers