Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-08-06
THE NEW POORHOUsE.
Its Site Chosen aud the Cork
Commenced.

wearing up Tue SITE yesterday, ana
the contractors have commenced prep
arations to burn brick for the body of
the structure.
The brick are to be manufactured on
the ground, and by the first Of next
month it is expected the kilns will be
ready to open, so that the foundation of
the walls can be laid. The ceremony of
laying the corner stone will come off
about four weeks hence, after which
the work will be pushed forward Wig
orously, so that the house may be
completed and ready for habitation
before the inclement weather of win
ter sets ia.
DAY BEFORE YESTERDAY
a party went out to the poorhouse.
which is four miles or such q matter
from the city on the old Raleigh road.
and on what was once known as the
Pope place. The coterie included
Esquires Galloway, Coleman, MoFet,
Slaughter, County Attorney Taylor,
Architect Jones, and others. Their
business was to choose the site the
purposed building will occupy. The
gentlemen performed that duty and |
other preliminaries necessary to 50 !
important an enterprise as that of in
auguratinga respectable shelter for |
the pauper and the insane population
of this county. !
During the trip out itI
was noticed that Esquire Mof-
fet was unusually reticent, and
nothing seemed to enliven him in the
slightest degree. He spoke to his
comrades in mOnOsyllables, and by the
sadness Of his expression it was gen.
orally believed that something had
to cloud his spirits.
Upon arriving at the county farm
all hands were inspired to consider
able degree by DR.. Duncan, the host
of the premises, who extended all a
cordial welcome and placed an ice
water pitcher before his guests with
out delay. The cooling beverage had
a refreshing effect upon those who
partOOk of it. After a draught or
two it loosened up the colloquial
powers of Esquire MOffet. His eyes
when he was mentioned as
orator Of the day and he was called
upon to make speech. He made one
promptly, an impromptu affair, and
won unbounded applause.
THE EsoUIRE's SPEECH.
Gentlemen" said Esquire Moffet,
you have called on me for a speech,
and, by the powers, I'll make you one.
Some Of you may not like it, but |
don't care. I'll speak my mind to
you, and no apology need be asked
for. You are going to build a poor
house for the crowd OF paupers now
in your care, and sixty-nine lunatics
besides, with the prospect of rapid
increase of the squad. / have seen
your architects plans, and have ex.
amined them carefully. II it is putt
up in the shape you propose it
will be credit to the
county. The blessings of our
poversy-stricken and mind-wrecked
people will be showered upon you and
those Of the future will remember
you with gratitude. 1t will not cost
beyond $4,000, but it will be some
thing which every citizen will feel a
pride in. There is, however, one
feature about it | don't like. Sensa.
tion.l Your plans include a windmill
to cost about $500 or such matter,
and with it you propose to pump water
up into a 00-barrel tank to supply
the building, clean the upper story in
mates and wash the sewage a quarter
Of mile away into hollow run, where
the natural drainage is TO carry it
I'm opposed to the wind
mill. profound sensation. You
don't need such an expensive addenda.
It's a fifth wheel to wagon sort of
an affair. and it can be dispensed with.
You have a windmill on hand
at the courthouse with more
power than you want. Transplant
the Quarterly Court Chairman's,
clerk, Bob Malone, to these grounds,
and the pumping power will be more
than supplied [uproarI; while the
Chairman, who has lost over thirty
pounds of flesh by being obliged to
listen to him, will have his life saved
and soon regain his former vigor.
Increased uprosr.] There is another
feature to which | wish to refer: You
need an extra cell here, with extra
solid walls and doors fastened with
hooks and bars of steel, to keep your
Probate Judge in good shape.
might refer to other changes that
would be proper, but this is enough
just now, and I'll reserve farther re-
marks for future occasion"
By this time the din of applause
was immense, and no single voice
.oo,ld he heard ahova u As tbo din