The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1893-03-08
nrnnInns Asp lnrRorrNENrs

farm.
BUILDINGS AND iNFRoyEsESTs-
The buildings are all in good order and re-
pair and present fine appearance. During
tae year the wing Of the main building was
r. modeled by the taxing out of the small
windows ard replacing them with large win
dows so as to conform with The balance OF
the building. also, the building OF "a covered
portch in the rear, thus giving more light to
the rooms. taking away the appearance ola
Jail or asylum, and making it more pleasant
and comfortable for those occupying il. 4
new picket fence was built along the entire
/ front aud side ofthe yard inclosing the build
I ings. A new corn crib was erected, an inn
/ plement shed, large chicken house, and
tramp house were built, which were badly
needed and were all recommended BY the
grand jury on their visitation to the Home
They are well built and well adapted for the
purposes for which they were erected Dur
| ing the drought ofthe past year the water
supply entirely failed. Thequesiion OF wat
er has been one Of constant annsyarce for
many years. We contracted with The Con-
huence Drilling Company TO put down
well aud erect Wind Engine. They sue
ceeded in getting never failing flow Of wat
er at depth OF eighiy-seyen feet. reser-
voir was built with a capacity OF holding
sixty TO eighty barrels Of water, with pipes
leading from it to the various buildings. So
great is the stream OF water that on test one
hundred barrels were taken out in less than
tea hours with no visible decrease OF water
in the well. The Wind Engine is ofthe i'm
proved " star wheel aad does its work well
and furnishes an abundant supply Of water.
On the recommendation of several grand
ju-ies, also ofthe Board of Public Charities,
we placed IN the Home a steam heater,
which heats the entire main brick and white
frame buildings. The contract was awarded
to p A Schell. and the work was done by
Trimble & Luiz, of Wheeling, West Va.
| The boiler is the most improved sectional
boiler, the plants the most complete ofany
in the County every department. save one,
during the severe cold weather of January
was heated 10 a temperature offrom 20 TO so
degrees with from eight to twelve pounds of
steam. There's are fifiy-seven radiators, tax
ing the place ofthst number of stoves. 1t is
really comfort 20 the inmates, lessons the
the risk offire and will be a saving of fuel
This improvement is one that has long been
needed and sdds more to the pleasure OF the
Home than anything that has been placed
there fos years.
Prior to the first OF December the Home
was in darkness and the fear Of fire was so
great that 1t was not prudent to supply the
inmates with lamps, SO they were compelled
to sit in darkness. When tke Somerset Elec-
tric Light plant was built, al meeting OF
the Directors, some thirty citizens appeared
before US and urged the taking of the light
for the Home. After hearing the many argu-
ments and upon consideration we contracted
for the light. Every building including the
stables is lighted The pleasure it affords
the inmates only can be appreciated by see
| ing it. Itis used both in the evenings and
mornings The lights in the halls and hos
pitai rooms burn all night. And now in
stead of the inmates, many of whom are old,
MANNED and decrepid, cropping their way
through the halls, ue and down stairs,
stumbling and falling over objects, in going
to bed and getting up in the dark, they can
ses and get there without any discomfort,
the cost Of which is but three cents to each of
the taxables to maintain the same, the COM
pany having putt in the light at their own
expense. We believe oGr action in this mat
ter after seeing the benefit from ii will be
approved by all.
INMATES.
There were an average of seventy four in
mates in the Home during the yea, most
Of whom havesbeen there for years and aP-
preciaie the privileges and comforts granted
to them. The average cost per week for
maintenance forthe past year. ASIDE from the
cost for Improvements, was Sl-36.
CHILDREN.
Since the passage Of the Act Of Assembly
approved 18th June, 1888, no children are
permitted to be kept at the Home between
the AGES of two and sixteen years, except
MANNED, deformed, or Gnteachable idiots, for
longer period than sixty days. We cannot
estimate too highly this Law. Victor Hugo
! .ays ''One-half OF the vagAboEdage Of the
world comes from neglected children"
Neglected children are To be feared not be-
cause OF the childish attempts at evil rather
because the child being father TO the man,
bears in maturity the fruits Of seeds sOwn in
early training Children are coming to the
Poor House almost daily, the progeny Of
ungodiy human natures. results of vice,
proilgacy. dissipation and lack of self con-
troll. They are - Gods poor, and while
We recogn:zs beneath the seeds Of these vices
the embryo citizen, when their better nature
cultivated, the Law Of heredi;y overcome
by education, the baster tendency will die
for want Of nouriShment. In ali cases Il
has been our CREATES; effort TO find good
homes for ell children committed to the
Poor House 50 that they may have the ad
vantage Of CHRISTIAN homes and training. |
and schooling The organization of the |
Children's Aid Society will be of great aid |
and service to the Directors il finding and |
placing children in good homes. Heaven |
has given the prior right to women TO direct |
The course Of children" aud We feel satisfied |
that when they place child in home |
careful investigation was made before it was
PLACED there and that it siIl be jealously l
looked after. Hereafter all children will ts
placed in their care for disposal.
RELIGIOUS SERVICES.
Daring the year there was held regular /
religious services. at the. Home by the Chap
lain aud several times by Rev. DJmer; also,
services held at each funeral. We fear the
zeal and ell Irt Of various missionary socie- l
ties in foreign lands have so occupied their /
minds that they have entirely forgotten there
are many at the Home who are "hungering /
and thirsty for the bread Of life" Il Is la
mentable fac. that great majority of the in
mates OF the various Homes in the State have
never heard the '' Old, old story" and know
not Christ.
SCHEDULE "a"
List Of iumaies maintained ard employed by
the Directors of tie roOr during the year Isg2, /
together with their age, sex, time Of admission,
discharge, etc
MALES
Alb rigat samuel, age 50, admitted June 5. 1875,
eloped Oct 5, lss1
Alton Charles, age 81, admitted Jue 5, 1872,
eioped May 5, los2-
baldwin Richard. age s. admitted Now IL, 1891,
indeutured Feb. -, iss3-
Baldwin Benjamin. age 4, admitted Nov. Il,
1871, indeniured Feb. 8. 1871
Conrad Jacob age So admitted Feb. l. 1sT7.
H.. In.