New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-01-18

~ THE FIATBUsH INSTITUTIoN-THE IN
FLrENcE OF COMMISSIONER. BuRTIs IN Sc
cr.p1xG IMPROVEMENTS WHAT THE
pr.rcuAsE OF \ FARM INVOLVES.
Tho fact that the amshouse in Flatbush has no
department for work. and consequently thdt nun
dreds OF abe-bodied and healthy men are supporter
Their, in absolute dleness, as published IN Inc
Tribune has created considerable comment IN
brooklyn especially among those interested III
charitable and sociological subjects
Mayor Wurster said of the winter resort Tor
tramps at Flatbush: "The Department OF Charues
and Corrections bureau OF the county "o'-
eminent had control OF It's own affairs, SUBJECT "a
course to the control OF the Board OF SnperVsorS'
| know little of the workings of that department.
but propose to learn more. and will nave con
ference with CORPORATION Counsel Mcdonald this
afternoon relative 10 the control that the city ad-
mnistratlon has over II.
"Thcre s this much to be said. however: Inc
tramps who roam about the country In the sum
mer gather in the big cities in the winter where
a large number manage to secure entrance 10 the
amshouses and thus get food and shelter during
the inclement weather. Brooklyn undoubtedly re-
ceiyes it's share of this class OF Migrants Nhet"e
or not we receive than our share because
these fellows know they will have soft thlng al
Flatbush do not know.
This much Is certan-there should be "oih-
house there where the oilers should be made TO earn
something toward paying for their support, or II
there is not a workhouse there, these men shouih
b. set at work breaking stone or carrying stones
from one end of the yard to the other.
40 CONTRACT GOODS.
william Murray, the superintendent or the AIRS
house has for some time seen the absolute necessity
for providing work for the men in the institution
ANY one who sees the male inmates Of the aims
house gather in the two long sittng-rooms OF the
| no
sunerintendent in this respect. In these slttinS
rooms hundreds OF idle men gather daiy from "ioln
ing till night. The rooms are so overcroWdeu uSuA!
that the atmosphere is bad. and the Vtiated ar II
undoubtedly detrimental TO health. They are
dlsconsolate and useless lot Of oilers these men
| in the sting-rooms and halls and about the ohiy
| exercise they get during the day is taken wheh
they go to and from their meals, or shuine a''eS''
and slowly around the crowded sitting-roomS' o'
| wander along the corridors.
| There doesn't seem to be any valid excuse Tor
! the failure to provide workshop in the past, as
| the cost Of one would he insignincant "nen com
pared with the benefit that would result rom ~, ii
most Of the labor necessary i'i ~ volr, S
could be furnished by the inmates themselves, nu
MURRAY e., says o tnat G ahd in If could
he made nearly all of the articles OF clothlhS ely,
needed in the almshouse, and which now are Dough"
Mr. Murray says that about . per cent Of the men
are BILE TO do work which would really be benencIa
their health and would prolohg t1rr IT,, nv onnrn
also believes that there should be lat1i III M
needed in the amshouse ana n@SP'a abot such
asylum could be raseI nne ,s ~9N number Of the
male inmates busy at healthy labor; AT present d
few acres only are devoted 10 the cul'N "''o "a Nv
tatOes and cabbages
| COMMISSIONER BURTIS'S INFLUENCE.
To Commissioner John II. Burtis. the Republican
| member of the Board Of Charities and Corrections
Is due much Of the credit for progress in the Depart
ment since he has held office. He has been the
originator OF many of those reforms when nave
made the operations OF the Department more et-
in The Tribune with great deal OF interest, and
every word that o WAS sn9 approva The condition Of
affairs pictured in that article exists, ana mas SA-
sy,a tbat # IS So want to have it remedied
soon IA possible We asked the ola Board or super
visors for s2OOeD for the immediate needs or our
department. and We didn't get it. But the super,
sHs gave us on 10 a Of the
Department. and We have about 5000, or when
ance Was produced by the collection of number
Of old bills by Increased sums given US by me STATE
for the support OF State paupers, ana ~ rS'd
economy throughout the Department.
WORKHOUsE COMING
I'VE may be able to build workhouse ont Of
this money, and II We can We shall certainly DO
So Among the other things We want to do are
the building Of an administration building at the
almshouse which will relieve the overcrowded con-
diton of that institution the construction Of an
electric light plant in the pententiary grounds, ana
the construction Of building for IDIOTS ana i'm
beetles. so that these unfortunate people can DE
ella ssihed admittance.
II echo the call for a wOrkhouse at the aims
house with all my heart: 1t would be beneficial IN
every way 1t is due the taxpayers of the city
and the Industrious paupers themselves that work
be given to the male inmates so that, instead OF
being idle they will be self-supportng.
The oilers out at Flatbush, Of which The tribune
speaks could be employed so that they could make
the articles they use. If there were workhouse
perhaps there would not be so many idlers TO be
taken care Of because the deterrent influence on
the old FOUNDERS and tramgs would be great
workhouse could be built without great expense,
probably for about $4,000. $50 .
I'VE ought TO have farm, too. although IL
should be near the almshOuse. That matter mas
already been thought Of but il Is in allegiance. our
experience at St. Johnland taught us that it would
be suicidal to buy another farm where II would NOT
he under direct supervision We could get land
near the almshouse at $1,000 an acre. but IL Is a
question as to whether or not the purchase Would