Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1898-01-20
Will We Have a Poor Farm?

Every day the Poor Farm question
il being discussed throughout th'
county. This is well, for the more the
question is discussed, the more people
will know about it and the more in
| tellegently they will vote on it. TheT
| it is but little more than three weeks to
election day, February u.
Indications were that as a rule, the
boroughs would vote in favor Of the
Poor Farm and the townships against
it, because there are usually more pau
pers in towns than in rural districts.
Also there are some communities,
where poor tax is unnecessary. How
ever if the people see that Poor Farm
will be an economic and sensible i'm
provement, large majority through
out the county will be rolled up in ia
vor of it. Two weeks ago we published
letter from Franklin stating that
Vsnango County's Poor Farm expense,
all told, was about 81, 800 year. They
have about 100 paupers to care for.
Butler County's poor tax is over $21 900
year Now assuming this county 3
Poor Farm could be run as cheaply as
Venangos and would care for about
the same number of poor, there is a
balance of $12, 900 in favor of the Poor
Farm and against the present system.
The warmest advocates of a county
farm, suggest that land, say 200 acres
at from $35 to $50 an acre be purchased.
This can be done, and 80 all the real
estate necessary will cost not more than
$40, 600. AS to buildings, it is not pro-
the poor in Several small substantial
buildings, without any expensive extra
gingerbread about them, would be best
and cheapest No difference if they
are plain; the first qualifications Of
architecture are simplicity and neat
| ness A row of five houses all under
one roof, or rather long house of five
| or six apartments each containing fou.
or five rooms, strikes us as being about
| the proper thing. Four such apart
| ment houses we would estimate suffi-
cent to shelter all who are sent to the
| farm.
The authorities of the insane as
1 sylums at Dixmont and Warren say
| they will not renew the contracts,
when expired, to care for Butler Conn
| ty's insane So it might be well to
| have one building constructed express
| ly for the care of insane. Some are al
| 50 in favor of having workhouse at
| tachment for confinement of those in
| the county convicted Of minor crimes.
But this would be mixing punishment
and charity, and it is question wheth-
er these two blend well together.
All the buildings, for whatever pur
pose, could be constructed for less than
$40, 900, and the total cost of farm and
houses would be less than $40, 900. This
could be paid by the County in one
| year by levying one extra mill of tax on
the dollar Then if the County Com.
/ missioners will be so considerate OF
their fellow tax payers as to select an
honest, industrious, capable Superin
| tendant who will make the inmates
work and who, by economy and skill
full management, will make the insti
tuition as nearly self sustaining as pos
sible, we believe the county tax payers
will never regret the Poor Farm as an
economic move Once the concern j,
started, it's success and efficiency will
depend on the integrity of the officials
We believe there are hundreds of capa
BILE men in Butler County, honest and
honorable enough to superintend 8
Poor Farm as public servant and moi
for selfish private interests, who viii
recognize that the chief virtue of an
official who expends his fellow citizens
money, il economy.
February 18th is the deciding day
vote as your conscience dictates Ii
the CITIZEN Of Dec. 2, 1897, the act o.
June 4, 1879, governing poor district
was published. A few copies may ye
be obtained on application to this of
fee.