Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1898-02-10
POOR FARM MANAGEMENT.
4 Card to the Voters and Tax
PAYERS of Butler County.

A Card to the Voters and Tax /
payers of Butler County.
Whereas. at the election 10 be held on
Tuesday. Feb. -. 1898, the voters of
Butler county will be given an oppor-
tunity to express their will for or against
a poor farm and the necessary and re
quired buildings and equipments there
on for the proper care and keeping of
the INDECENT poor and insane OF our
county. And whereas, in the event
that majority Of the voters at the said
election cast their ballots in favor OF
Door farm. the law will cast upon Us, as
the Commissioners of the county, the
duty Of purchasing such farm and erect
ing the buildings thereon and purchas-
ing the equipments thereof. we deem
L our duty as such Commissioners ana
in order that the voters OF the county
NAV vote intelligently and understand
inglv on the subject TO give this pubic
expression Of our views upon tne mat
ter and also the line Of action we
would deem il our duty as public serv-
ants Of the people TO pursue IN the as
charge of our duties and in the use and
0ISlllll-EllltlL ill INC BIDAA' ANA4AN'" 80
that behalf in case said election results
in favor Of poor farm.
Personally and as citizens and tax
navers. the action Of three different
Grand Juries taken from the great body
of the voters Of our county in favor OF
a. moor farm. the action of a majority OF
the boards Of oyerseers Of the poor OF
the various townships and boroughs OF
our county expressing themselves as IN
favor of a poor farm, the results IN
those counties of our state having poor
farms for the care and keeping OF
their moor as cOntrasted with those
counties which do not have poor
farm. as well as our own personal
experience and observation combine 70
lead rs to the conclusion that the pur-
chase Of a suitable farm by the county
and the erection of proper and suitable
buildings thereon and the proper con
duct and management thereof all on
GOOD. sound business and economical
PRINCIPALS affords the best, the cheap
| est. the most humane and most salts
factory way and plan of properly keep
| ing. car eing for and maintaining the IN
dige nt poor and insane'of our county.
So far as our public and official du-
| tics shall be concerned, in the event
| that the election results for poor
| farm. we shall favor and endeavor to
| pursue the following general plan;
First. The purchase OF farm OF
not exceeding 200 acres OF good land IN
| the central portion Of the county, IN an
accessible location, but sufficiently dis
tant from the borough Of Bntler, or
any other business centre, 30 that the
| price should not exceed the falr, reas-
| enable value Of the land for farming
! purposes, and 80 be always lntrlnslcal-
| iy valuable az land for the full amount
of the funds of the county invested
| therein We think such a farm can
be secured for from $50 to $50 per acre,
depending somewhat on location, quar-
| ity of land and improvements thereon.
In no event should the cost of the land
exceed $10,0 900.
Second The erection Of good. sub
gtaptial. permanent buildings OF suffi
Gent size and capacity to meet the
present wants and needs Of the COUNTY
and anv probable increase during the
next twenty or twenty five years. These
buildings should be warm, comfortable.
convenient and suitable, furnished with
all necessary cOnveniences and com
forts. but no attempt at architectural
display, and no unnecessary eXpendl
ture Of money in the erection OF massive
buildings for show and display. our
idea being. that aside from the insane
DEPARTMENT, the buildings should 50 lar
- --.-l.,-.. !. IL. - -
like character, appearance ana environ
| ment We think such buildings tould
be erected, furnished and properly
equipped and supplied at cost oil not
| exceeding $40, 600 10 go 900 thus max
ing the total cost Of farm, buildings
and equipment all complete and ready
for the use and occupancy OF the poor
Of the county at a total cost OF so 900,
or $50 600 at the outside, and are Dc
termined that it shall not exceed tn,
latter sum.
Third. The conduct and manage
ment OF said poor farm in thorough.
buginegs.like and farmer like manner.
with the atrictest regard TO economy
and The attainment Of the largest and
begt possible results, under the care
and management Of superintendent
| or manager. who should be farmer,
! with good education, and personal
! knowledge and experience rs farmer
| and stock raiser, with II suitable person
~ matrOu Of the establishment. Every
| inmate Of the farm possessed Of sufficient
/ Dhygicial ability and mental acumeu
| would be expected and required 10 con
! tribute their labor 10 the work and ser.
! vice Of the fam 80 that the amount ol
| expenditure for hired help, outside Ol
| the superintendent and matrOn, should
! be reduced to the minimum. Our obJect,
aim and intention would be 10 far M
| p0epible. and rs soon az possible, 10
| make the farm ycry largely y self sus
| tanning institution and we believe That
| after thn frat wear the
| products Of the farm IN
the way Of grains, fruits. vegetables
and meats. could be made contribute
very largely toward the keeping and
maintenance Of the inmates.
Relative 10 the employment OF the
superintendent Of the poor house, section
Z. Of the act Of 1879, provides:
The County Commissioners shall
elect. on the first Monday Of January
in each year the following officers, to
fsrve for one year, and fix their com
pensatiOn, that IL, one person 10 serve
in each Of the following positions.
namely. one as supsrtendent OF poor
house and grounds, one ~ physician
and surgeon. They shall also elect and
fix compensation Of all other necessary
employees and assistants, all Of whom
shall be subject 30 removal by sald
Commissioners at once.
joins MITCHELL,
II g. SEATOS,
-. II SUTTON
4. 4.