The herald., 1897-09-29
COUNTY FARM
Not the Worst Place in the
World
IF ONE SHOULD GO BROKE
A BIG AND DELIGHTED EXCUR-
SION THERE YESTERDAY
A Luncheon and Speeches, Followed
by Tour Of Investigation Of
Houses and Grounds

If the "poorhouses" in other parts Of
the country could boast Of one-half the
attractions that are part and parcel of
the Los Angeles county farm" Will
Carleton's well-known poem would not
have carried with 1t nearly 80 much
realistic pathos, and the prospect of an
INDECENT old age would be robbed of
| most Of its squalid horror.
On the principle that "a prophet isnot
without honor save in his own country"
it was probably an agreeable surprise
and convincing object lesson to the
taxpayers Of Los Angeles yesterday
when they visited the farm, to find so
practical an illustration of what the ju-
dicious and intelligent use Of money can
accomplish.
Over 200 prominent and representative
| people responded to the invitation Of the
supervisors through the chamber Of
commerce, and the Terminal road offic
ials placed special train at their dis
posal The excursionists, chaperoned
by Secretary Virgins and the board of
supervisors, left the city about half past
one, and when they all left the train
twenty minutes later they were the fol-
liest and most complacent crowd that
ever went to the county farm.
And it is farm-a sure-enough farm
Not one of your hollow mockeries Of
farms, where they buy their milk and
eggs from the nearest town and eat
canned fruit and vegetables. All these
IL Inv ri ro ro c cnd
| on the place, and after the home table
has been supplied the balance Is sold as
means Of income to the place.
| Ir the efficient hands Of DR.. Ell. Bur-
dick and his capable wife, the resources
Of the farm have been steadily develop
ed, and the end is not yet. From the fifty
COWS on the place they get enough milk
to sell forty-f1ve gallons day on the
average to the county hospital, and have
| plenty for their own use besides
Since the 1st of January, 1900 dozens of
eggs have been sold to the county hos
pital and 400 dozens to the Associated
| Charities; $1100 has been realized from
the farm hogs; 5000 from the orange
] crop; and, in all, so far this year, the
| farm produce has brought in $3O5O Next
year Dr. Burdick expects to raise the In
| come to $4,000, for there will be $3.50
| day from the milk Of 100 cows; IS day
from eggs Of 1000 chickens; the hogs,
also are expected to add $1,000 to the sum
| total: and whereas there have been but
| two or three tons of fruit this year, next
wear the whole orchard will be in bear
| ing.
All these things and good many more
were borne in by degrees upon the minds
| of the visitors yesterday afternoon. Az
| ter leaving the train at the entrance to
| the farm the whole party strolled slow"
| ly UP through the grounds, along we'll
kept. broad path, shaded by an ever
green hedge and tall eucalyptus trees
| on one side and rows Of palms, orange
| trees ard rose bushes on the other.
Skirtng the orchard and market gar
| den entrance was made to the lawn in
front of the buildings that are shaded by
| immense trees and under which were
| spread yesterday lorg tables covered
with snowy linen and generous piles of
sandwiches clusters Of fruits and plat
! ters of cakes.
Beside the tables were several barrels
of lemonade and punch, and scattered
over the lawn under the shade of the
| trees were chairs placed for the expected
guests. In front of the main building
| Dr. and Mrs Burdick bade cordial well
come to all and at little distance, ev-
ery face bearing its message Of hearty,
If unspoken, welcome, were the old men
whom illness, ill-luck or other misfor-
tune had driven there. Nearly all of
them are over 60 years DID, most of them
, are afflicted with rheumatism or phys
ical ailments of one kind or another, but
all who could get out did so yesterday,
and were as pleasant as children with
| the party
| At present there are no women at the
farm, but substantial brick house has
lust been finished for their use, and
eighteen or twenty will be taken there
from the, county hospital in the near fu-
ture They will bring the number Of res
idents up to over 200, and as there are less
than 15O acres of tillable landon the farm
it averages about three-quarters OF an
acre to an inmate. That makes it al
most a physical impossibility for the
farm to be entirely self-sustaining, but
DR.. Burdick Gays If they could have
enough land to make it about four acres
J to the person they could take care of
| themselves out there and not cost the
supervisors cent, an assertion that will
bear pondering upon by the taxpayers.
Following close upon the arrival of the
excursionists the. refreshments were
served, followed by some impromptu
speeches by Supervisor Field, General
Forman, Councilman Silver, w. c. Pat
terson and Supervisor Davis.
| Mr.. Field welcomed the guests in be-
half of the supervisors and DR.. and Mrs.