Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-09-23
FOR THE NEW POOR FARM SITE.
Chief Elliot Intimates That the State
Board of Charities Must First
Be Satisfied.
ARGUMENTS FROM TWO POINTS OF VIEW
The Pressing Need of Municipal Hospital is Also
Brought Up

Stewart 1arm In w eStmorelanQ county
having been declared off by Judge Ewing.
The case will not be carried up to the
Supreme Court. City Attorney Moreland
was questioned on this point yesterday and
said: 'No, 1 shall not appeal from Judge
Ewingis decision unless ordered to by City
Councils. Do 1 think have grounds for
an appeal? Well, that is a leading ques-
Iior. 1 am satisfied with the decision as it
stands. Yes; some lawyers are always con-
fdent that they can persuade the Supreme
Court to reverse the lower court, but they
are dangerous people 10 do business with"
Mr.. H. S. A. Stewart, the owner of the
farm in question. was in City Hall yester-
day. He SAYS all he wants is to get his
farm back again, and to that end be asked
Mr.. W. A. Magee to present 4 Joint resolu-
tion in Councils declaring the deal off As
Common Council had already adjourned
that could not be done, but action will be
taken at the regular meeting of Councils on
Monday next which will release the prop
erty from its present peculiar position. The
city has an option on it, but can't buy, and
Mr.. Stewart cannot sell until the option is
declared of. Mr.. Stewart is not particular
~ ulSdppOAuAeu, BuL says HS VIII udNC uO
trouble in disposing OF the property for
more than it was offered to the city.
A NEW SITE SUGGESTED.
Mayor Gourley's statement, published in
SUNDAYS DISPATCH, that 20 acres were suf-
fcient for poor farm purposes has excited
much comment, opinion being about equal
ly divided on this point. His Honor was
x-aefordax- aonSiIoripO ,,oIa 10
him that the farm should be located in the
Twenty-second ward. The points made
were that the difference between the price of
the Stewart farm. Sl6s, 600, and 20 acres in
the Twenty-second ward would be about
Sl5O,000, the income on the difference
saved being about s., 900 a year; that
the location is the geographical center of
the city and in time will be the center
OF population; that the much-needed mu-
nicipal hospital could be located on the
same property, thus relieving the Poor Farm
proper of many cases now sheltered within
its walls; that the cost of transportation
would be greatly lessened, and that the saw
ing before mentioned would go largely
toward defraying the expenses of that hos
pital.
His Honor, in referring to the suggestion,
said: MANY persons agree with me in
thinking that 16 or 20 acres would be ample
for poor farm location. Internal Revenue
Collector Warmcastle and DR.. Evans, both
members of Councils, have personally in
dorsed my views, and 1 believe majority
OF Councils feel the same way. l hold that
a person " ho is healthy enough to work on
the Poor Farm, where they receive nothing
but their board ana clothing, had better be
employed on a farm, where they would re-
ceive wages in addition. II they are able to
work they are able to support themselves,
and should not be burden on the taxpayers.
THE MAYORS POTATO CROP.
II do not think there is much money in
farming" continued the Mayor; TAT least
that has been my experience. When had
a farm L was selling potatoes for &c cents
bushel that cost me 81. My opinion is that
the Poor Farm should consist perhaps of a
kitchen garden and nicely ornamented
grounds. AS to locating the farm in the
Twenty-seeond ward, that is a matter to
which l must give further consideration be-
fore l am prepared to pass an opinion. OF
course, the location is good one, and when
NuGTe - q UIluSB SOuueCllOu Will Tue OOuLD-
side, as there must be shortly, will be very
central. 1t will be long time, too, before
the Twenty-second ward is built up; per-
haps longer than some of the places where
Poor Farm sites were offered.
''The idea of connecting the Poor Farm
with a municipal hospital is also a matter
for serious consideration. We need such an
institution and have needed it badly for
years. There is hardly a day passes but |
sick and destitute persons appeal to me for |
assistance. There is no place ior me to send |
them. Mr.. Elliot takes many of them, al |
though they are really not proper subjects |
for the Poor Farm, but there is no other in |
stitution which will admit them. The hos |
pitfalls refuse to accept some classes OF |
chronic and contagious diseases, and in that |
they are perfectly right. 1 think, however,
that municipal hospital should be located |
nearer to the business center OF the city,"
Chief Elliot, of the Department of Public |
Charities, was met outside the door OF the |
Mayors Office and asked what he thought
about His Honor's suggestion that 20 acres
were sufficient for Poor Farm.
THEY BOSS THE FARM.
"Why, my dear boy" he replied, "peopIe |
don't seem TO understand the subject |
thoroughly. The city can purchase Poor |
Farm, adopt plans and make contracts tor |
the erection OF the buildings, but that doesn't |
settle the matter by any means. The State
Boards of Charities and Lunacy must be- |
consulted, and the location and plans must |
meet with their approval before any definite |
action can be taken. l am an officer OF the /
city, but nv actions are closely scrutinized |
by these boards, and If any conduct of |
affairs did not meet with their approval |
there would be trouble right away. How
ever, my relations with the gentlemen COM
posing the commission have been very
pleasant, and il is only short time since |
they informed me that they did not see how
/ succeeded in keeping the Poor Farm up |
to Its present standard and furnishing SO /
much outdoor relief upon the appropriation |
] receive.
1.-The city can make all the arrangements |
il Bleases, but unless these boards are salts
fed they will not go. If 1 want to build a |
little addition to the farm buildings such as
putting in a new ward, etc., / must first |
submit plans to the commission and receive |
their permission before / proceed. The |
State Board of Lunacy insists that all luna
tics shall receive proper exercise, and il |
they are able-bodied, that they shall be
employed in the open air as much as
possible. These regulations must be COM
piled with, as the power of the board is
autocratic. / make regular reports to the
CITY as to the number of inmates at the Poor
Farm, the money expended, etc., but that is
nothing to the details l have to furnish the
State boards. Why, if piece of plaster a
foot square was to fall out of wall have
to mention it in my report
WARDS OF THE STATE.
"We must have the authority OF the State