The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-11-29
POOR FARM FIRE DANGER.
Has Existed a Long Time-COst OF
Changes.

1--WE have long recognized the danger from
fire at the Poor Farm" said County Com
missioner Greer yesterday. THE conditions
there are as they have been any time in
the last twenty years. It is true that In
case of a dangerous fire inmates of the mems
insane ward would be in danger. There
might be considerable loss of life. The
building is not without fire protection.
There Is a large reservoir, with the water
driven through the building under high air
pressure, and 1t can be filled as rapidly as
diminished There is plenty of hose and fire
connections. But for this system the en-
tire building might have burned at the fire
we had there. The building ought to be re-
modelled. Mr.. McGregor and l talked about
this subject several months ago. At that
time 1 told Mr.. McGregor that I might
never have an opportunity to carry out nee
essary changes there Now we may be able
to accomplish some of the ideas we have
had in mind"
How could the danger be obviated?"
''As 1 stated Saturday to a representative
of the Journal, l am in favor of removing
the women from the Poor House entirely
placing them in a separate institution, under
the sole supervision of women. If this were
done, the insane male inmates now kept con-
hned In the upper stories of the main build
ems department. The upper stories could
be torn away from the main building, MAX
ing Il but two stories in height. There
would stu be plenty OF room, the old men
would not have TO climb three or four flights
of stairs to get to their rooms, and the dan
ger from death by fire would be reduced to
What would 1t cost TO remodel the build
ing assuming that the women had been
"Oh, tho expense would not be great-be-
tween 5000 and $1,000
Concerning a new home for the women,
Mr.. Greer says that undoubtedly the mod
ern cottage plan is the most desirable-the
chief objection against it being the primary
expense Mr. Greer thought that land away
from the Poor Farm could be purchased
and womens building that would meet all
demands Tor Years TO come could be erected
at cost OF $4,000 to $4,000.
so that the old building could be remod-
eled and new one built for the women for
abe ut $O,0O0?" he was asked
Yes, about that"
Mr., Greer was unable to say what the
present Poor House had cost, but thought
that it was something like $4,000. The COM
mssioners might consider a proposition to
sell the present farm and buildings. REIN
vesting the proceeds in new home, If a
liberal proposition were made. But for the
fact that the county is already in debt the
commissioners would have undertaken to do
something along the lines mentioned last
summer. Now that the subject is being agi-
tated, they hope that something may be ac-
complished. The board hopes to make i'm
provements in the future that are as nee
essary as was the building of a new home
for tho Board of Children's Guardians at
Irvington. They feel that in such an under
taking they should have public sentiment
with them. The fact that there is danger
at the Poor House by fire has been known
a long time. Very frequently grand jures
have CALLED attention 10 this subject, par
ticularly with regard to the ward for in
sane persons. At present there are 2S5 in
mates at the Poor Farm, OF whom tifty-two
are women and the remainder men, In the
insane wards there are nineteen women and
forty-tive men. With the fifty-two women
removed 10 q separate home, this shows
there would be more than enough room in
the women's department for the insane male
inmates. The number of inmates at the
Poor Farm does not vary much, although II
increases slightly from year to year. Dec.
81 1896, there were 210 inmates, OF whom
thirty-eight were women and La men. There