The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1898-08-19
THE ALMSHOUSE OPTION
Freeholders Grant 1t and Raise
the Price to 100000.

Estimating Cost Of New Buildings
for County Poor Conditions of OPP
ton and the Discussion Among the
FreehoIders-Mess Crane and
Bower Address the Board d-Mr. Mil
ledge Has Another Plan and Votes
No.
The county Freeholders met in special
session Monday morning to decide upon
the application Of Benjamin J. Crane for
an option on the county almshouse build
ings at Parsippany, filed last week and
commented on in the CHRONICLE of Fri
day last. For the special committee to
which the matter was referred last week,
consisting of Messrs. Norris, Van Winkle
and Whitehead of the regular Aims
house Committee, with Messrs. Troxell,
Hoagland and KimbalI added, reported
through Mr. Norris that an estimate of
the cost of new buildings for the county
poor and the purchase of suitable prop
erty for same had been secured from
Architect Bower, who placed the cost at
about SOS, 900; therefore the committee
had decided to recommend to the Board
the granting of the option under the con-
ditions first proposed, provided the price
was raised to $50, 200. 1t was moved at
once that the option be granted at price
named by the committee. the conditions
governing the sale, if effected, to be the
same as offered in the first communica-
ton of Mr.. Crane, namely, to allow the
county one year in which to vacate the
premises, with the use of all crops now
standing, provided that purchaser is al
lowed to make improvements on grounds
during same time, such as laying out
roads, etc.
Mr.. Crane, who was present at the
meeting, was asked if he would take the
option at the increased price, and replied
that he thought the price very high and
didn't think for moment that the COM
mittee would ask more than $25, 900 at
the utmost, yet he would do the best he
could at the price named.
A thorough discussion of the subject
followed, in which nearly every member
participated. Freeholder Hoagland
stated that the. architect had figured on a
building of brick, with two wings for
male and female inmates as required by
law, with necessary sanitary improve
ments, etc. The Almshouse Committee
have in hand some things that may
be sold, probably sufficient to purchase
a small plot of land. He was in favor of
the sale provided the people of the coun-
ty were not put to any expense, which,
with the price proposed, could be
brought about. Mr.. BARLEY was also in
favor of the sale, but thought also that
$25, 900 was not a sufficient figure. Mr..
Vreeland asked if the buildings proposed
were to be fire proof, and thereupon the
architect, George W. Bower of this city,
stated that the buildings estimated on
were not regularly fire proof with iron
beams, concrete arches and so on, as
such buildings could not be erected for
the money named. They would be sub
stantial, ordinary brick buildings.
Freeholder Troxell stated that in his
experience the time to sell was when you
have the opportunity. As member of
former Almshouse Committee his ex-
perience was that the poor farm did not
pay and much less land would suit the
purpose. The present state of the build
ings is bad; they are constant expense,
and the committee is even now arrang-
ing for the repainting, of the buildings at
cost of about $500, and it is only ques-
ton of year or two when the buildings
must be replaced. Freeholder Milledge
was in favor of compelling each town
ship to care for its own poor and thus rid
the county of this expense. as in Essex
and Passaic counties, adding that his
township (Montville) had only one or two
paupers at the house. Mr.. Troxell re-
piled that other parts of the county had
more, and also paid more tax.
The resolution granting the option as
above stated was then passed, Freeholder
Milledge of Montville voting solitary
stno.''