Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1871-1872, 1872-07-25
Henry County Humanity.
AN HONORABLE CHARITY.

ing Supervisor Mayo, Judge Guysr. Sheriff
Payne, Treasurer Reid, Mr.. Hull, Mr.. hsrns
of Moline, Capt. Hsvsrasick, of the Union,
and the editor of this paper, took the cars
for Geneseo. Arrived at GeneseO we were
met at the depot by Supervisor Perry and
Assistant Supervisor Levi Waterman, who |
is chairman Of the Henry county Poor
House Committee,-Also by DR.. Ira Wells, !
A. P. Fisk, Geo. Wilson, P. Worrell, and John !
7. Miller, with carriages to take US to the
poor farm, situated six miles from Geueseo,
in Muuson township, about midway between
Gsneseo aud Cambridge. Two carriages
filed with Geneseo ladies were also in at
tendance, expecting the Rock Island party
would bring ladies. They accompanied US
to the farm. The ride was through = most
delightful country--a succession Of rich
farms, comfortable homes, luxuriant crops
and charming views.
At the farm We we're met BY several off
cials and citizens of Cambridge-Judge
Human; Circuit Clerk l.. Fl. Pattsn
County Clerk F. G. WeltOn; County Treas
ursr W. l.. DSlrymple; Nathaniel B. Gould,
OF the Poor House Committee, Mai. Amos
Gould, aud Mr.. Geo. O. Smithe, editor of
the Cambridge Chronicle.
The first business was to examine the es
adjustment. The outside appearance is
very progressing, having the tasteful look
of some fine charitable Institution usually
seen in or near our great cities. The main
building, which is occupied by the superin
tendent and family, with business and recep-
ton rooms, pArlorS, &c, is 40x60 feet.
Two wings OF 1886 feet each
are attached projecting an equal dis
lance beyond the main building,
front aud rear. These wings are designed
for the psupers, Sore for each sex. The
entire building has . fine basement story, l |
feet high in the clear. In this apartment is
large tubular boiler, used to generate
steam for heating the building and to pump
water into q large tank in the attic. The
water is drawn from huge cistern, capable
Of holding 1000 barrels. The basement
also contains kitchen, lSuudry, storerooms
and psupers' dining room.
The first regular story is % feet high, the
second u feet, the whole surmounted by
, an airy attic which can be made available
for psupers rooms, should they ever be
needed.
The internal arrangement of the building
is irst-clsss in every respect, especial attsn-
ton having been paid to the three first re-
quisitss Of health and comfort-light, air,
and water. The Superintendent residence
is in the center or main building, cut off
from either wing By hall doors, and etfectu-
ally separates the male from the female
paupers, one wing being devoted to each sex
There are 10 rooms, and the attic nov
used for clothes drying ROOM will, if ever
needed, furnish room for probably q hun
bred persons more. The psrlors aud family
rooms are neatly, but not extravsgsntly fur
uished. The paupers' rooms all have iron
bedsseads and look as neat and clean as the
best hotel rooms. They are well lighted
and each one, as well as all the halls, is
heated by direct radiators or coils OF steam
pipe 80 that the temperature of each room
or hall can be perfectly controlled All the
rooms and halls also have large ventiIstng
iues leading into chimneys or ventilatihg
stacks, o, which there are four, with large
openings in the basement for producing a
draft. On each floor or each wing is a
wash room, with marble slab and porcelain
wash bowls, silver plated alter cocks, and
hot and cold water,-slso bath rooms and
water closets on each floor in each wing, with
hot aud cold water. The drainage is ample
and perfect. Each floor has also plenty
Of clothes rooms, of the psupsrs none
being allowed to keep clothes in their own
rooms. These rooms are literally supplied
with shelves and clothes hooks, so that
the clothes can be kept in nice order, The
floors in the corridors are hard wood, and
will soon be supplied with mating and the
main stGirwayS carpetsd.
The building is q massive structure cf
brick, with heavy water table and sills of
Joliet rock. A double portico runs along
front and rear. The roof is of Vermont
slate with a layer of felt underneath. The
Hastings are of zinc. The windows are
high and surrounded with finely ornament
ed frames. The building rests on q stone
wall feet thick, running feet below the
/ level Of the basement. Six hundred thou
sand brick we're used in It's construction and
rs cords of Tubble stone. The brick were
made in Geneseo, and the sand hauled from
that vicinity. The mortar has the appear
anoe Of great superiority and durabilily-in
fact the whole structure, wood work and all
is Of excellent workmanship and constructed
for durability as well as comfort and beauty.
With proper care and repair it will last
hundred years.
The contract was let on the 26th of July
1871, to Frost & Archer, Of Princeton, for
43,l69.22. The heating apparatus cost
about $4,000. The plumbing was done by
BiIchof & Bederman, of ChicAgo,-and
the whole cost Of the establishment is q lit
tie under 49,000-at least Sl5, 900 or
$4,000 less than good judges of such work
would estimate it to be.
The architect was A. j, Kinney, of Chi
cagO, and the building committee was A. W.
Perry, of Genssso, DR.. R. r. Sayles, Of Co.
Iona, and John Blackburn, of Kewanee. The
Superintendent is Lyman j. Wilkinson, for
merry of Bureau county, where for two years
past, he has had charge of the county farm
and poor His services were secured BY
Henry county about the first of last March.
He seems every way admirably fitted for the
discharge of his responsible duties, and Mrs.
Wilkinson is not only competent to dis
charge the delicate duties of Mairon but can