The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1871-06-24
The County Poor-the UnfoEtunatss at
.s3H Hama.

uoItneast OI CuCa, Is the lOCatlcn Oh tue La
Sale County poor farm and buildings The
situation Of the farm - to the healthfulness,
beauty of the surroundings and quality of the
soil. convenience Of water, coal, &C., cannot
be excelled. The farm il under high state
of cultivation, and annually yields hand
some percentage upon the investment, doing
as well, or better, than most of its neighbors.
As there are at present seventeen men
there, besides the manager and assistant, 1t
might be urged that this force should make
this farm as highly prosperous as the best till
ed private farm but ; when it is remembered
that out OF this number there are but three or
four comparatively sane men who can labor,
and out Of that number only . small percent
age can be induced to do anything whatever,
and besides these the great majority of the
paupers are utterly helpless or maniacs requir-
ing constant watching by some one who
could work, it will be seen why there is such
great disparity between the men there as
inmates and called capable of helping to sup
port the institution, and the men who labor,
and even these are by no means "tull hands,"
Some of them ''putter away steadily, but be-
| cause of q want Of interest in the work, or an
inability to concentrate their thoughts, accom-
complish but little.
There are thirteen females here, larger
number of whom can do something more in
| the way OF work than the men, but their SER
vices are only valuable as nurses of the old
crippled and insane people. They can pro-
duce nothing.
We speak Of these facts in answer to an oh.
lection to the Poor House management, that
the farm is not self sustaining, though it is
nearly 50. .0sAFEg 81 9t.-
The principal buildings of the Poor House
farm are long, two story frame house, butt
after the primitive style Of shed added to
another and another, until respectable series
of sheds comprises what is called the Poor
House. This two story cookery is divided
below into reasonably commodious rooms,
used as kitchen, dining, and large sittn g
| rooms. The dining room is as comfortable as
its want of light and comfort would make it,
but the causes result from no fault of the
keeper, Mr.. Phelps, nor the management. 1t,
like every ether room in the establishment, Is
as neat and clean as soap and water, often APP
piled, can make 1t. In fact. every room OF
the two dozen sleeping rooms, aud other
rooms, and in the cellars below. is kept in "a
manner that is admirable, and the scrupulous
cleanliness Of the whole establishment would
be An achievement worthy to be initiated by
many Of our danes in our palatial city resi-
dences. Cleanliness seemed to pervade not
only all the rooms, halls and walks, but
the garden yard and outhOuses ...a ..
The routine Of feeding the inmates is, at
A. n. all who are able of the men are sum-
moned to breakfast Of fried meats, potatoes,
bread, coffee, SC. At noon the fare is some.
| what varied. When noon arrives, the bell
rings to summer the field and garden labor
ers in, and they come in, the men gathering
in from their department, such as are able,
and are seated around q long table The tn
BILE, it is true, does not groan with all the del
icacies of the season, nor tropic cal fruits, nor
pyramids Of cake, and all that, but II IS pro-
vided with an abundance Of good, substantial
food, corn bread, baked or boiled potatoes,
salt pork and beef, boiled with vegetables,
and Ut the season OF fruits, with plenty of
such Of the latter and Of all kinds which grow
in abundance in the garden. At night about
six, they have supper, composed OF cold veg
etables, mush and milk or molasses and an
abundance Of it. We might remark here
that paupers a. class, especially the insane,
are hearty eaters. and We will further add
that they look fat and sleek. Not one looks
starved. Those who cannot attend the public
tables are waited upon at their rooms.
Southwark Of the main building is the in
sane house. Here the dangerous and vicious
are kept, some occasionally chained up, but
generally in cells with all the liberty conss-
tent with safety to themselves and other in
mates. Besides these buildings are barns.
sheds, tool houses, pig houses, chicken houses,
&c.
We had intended to write description of
the different unfortunates who are confined
there, but refrain until future time when we
shall have more time and greater space.
We only wish to say now that to all ap.
pcaranccs Mr.. Phelps and family, including
his energetic wife and Mr. and Mrs. Barker,
seem to be managing the Poor House success