The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1870-07-25
The Poor Farm.
;ditors OF the Register

Oi tue
| wish to inquire where are the gen
tlemen no,c, who manifested such energy
and zeal, in getting mp and circulating
petitions, demonstrating against the pur-
chase of Mr.. A. NJ. Jacobs farm, for a
Poor House Farm, when that was in
contemplation by the old Board Of
OverSeers Of Poor, but whose authority
and powers have since been transferred
or rather merged into the Board Of
Supervisors" who can and have used it
with IMMUNITY, by purchasing an old
worn out, hillside farm? The cleared
pieces OF the farm are almost entirely
worn out, by The incessant and constant
use of the plow; having been rented
farm for the last forty or fifty years, as
| am credibly informed; and rot only
that, but entirely destitute Of all kind Of
buildings, fencing, orchard, &c, besides
the prerequisite quality for Poor
House Farm-viz: fertility of soil, for
| presume it will not suit the taxpayers
very well, to be taxed in the future TO
nurse up and buy material 10 enrich by
artificial means the Poor House Farm;
Besides keeping tie poor. The OBJ
ject was, that the farm should keep the
poor, to save them (the tax-payers) from
being taxed for that purpose And not
only all this, but the inaccessibility Of
it as | understand to make it &C
accessible easily and conveniently at all
times of the year will require further
outlay of several thousand dollars, to
build a bridge across Wheeling Creek.
And not word is uttered publicly that |
have heard OF, nor q motion made to
circulate petitions demonstrating against
it. don't understand it. | repeat,
where are the gentlemen now, and
what kind of stupor is upon them,
that they are not aroused TO the great
outrage upon the taxpayers las Mey
pronounced it at that time) 10y the pur-
chase OF this mass of bramble bushes
and impoverished land Why there is
no comparison between the two farms,
for the purpose for which they were in
tended. They are in the best condition.
in way improvements, that a wealthy
man with English notions could devise,
far famed as the best improved farm in
this region OF country, and in the
highest state of cultivation, having been
an old sheep tarm, since and during old
Mr. Spriggs time, until purchased by
Mr.. George, W. Smith, when it was
kept up and MANFRED in English style.
Mr.. Editors: can Lot he charged,
with writing up this farm, with view
to sale of il; because the building l,Or-
ton has changed hands since, and |
presume is not for sale at all; but only
10 show there is no comparison between
the two, and still not n word said against
the recent purchase. And moreover
this farm and buildings, were offered at
] don't suppose, more than half the
original cost. But such q stir and hub.
bub as il created al the time, men nearly
killing their horses, riding the country
over, to get signers to their petitions
They got them, met the Overseers of
Poor, presented their long lists Of
names, and the Board quietly and sub
missively gave in, after having signitied
their intention of buying it, And we
heard no word Of the purchase of q
Poor House Farm, until recently. and
a pretty purchase they made of it. So
] say, come on gentlemen with your
petitions. | signed one OF them be
cause / believed it not exactly the
place for the Poor House. And | will
sign one now, although it may be too
late, to do any good. But We don like
the majority of the Board to hatter
themselves, that we taxpayers, when we
think they do wrong, will quietly &C.
quiesce in their misdoings, especially
against the opinions of our country
Supervisors, who it is supposed, would
have been the best capable of judging
what farm would be the most suitable
for this purpose.
1t may be somebody has an axe to
grind. | would like TO inquire OF the
Board, whether they have counted the
cost in this matter Just think OF $llO0
for the superintendency alone of the
erection Of buildings. This looks as
though We intended to erect some build
ing, at somebody's cost. 1t appears to
me Mr.. Editor, that this Board is dis
posed to be a little extravagant that
they take it for granted Tin another
sense) that every petition or request
must be granted. The consequence of
which will be, instead of our tax being
forty cents, it will be nearly if not quite
double that next year. Its no wonder
there are 80 many candidates for sheriff
atty. If / thought the, present Board
would remain in Office the next four
years, i would not mind it to be sheriff
myself during that time.
Retrenchment and decrease of taxa
ton in national, State and county affairs
is the true policy to permanent success,
and is l believe the policy OF the Dem
ocratic party. Hoping You will excuse
the length of this, but will publish il
as 1t reflects the sentiments of a large
portion OF the Taxpayers of the coun-
try portion Of the county and of the
city too, subscribe myselc
Yours LIBERTY Township.