The San Francisco call., 1899-04-07
NOT SATISFIED
WITH THE ODD
FELLOWS HOME
Two Reports as to Its
Condition.
ITS REMOVAL IS URGED
THE GRAND LODGE IS ASKED
TO ACT.
Division of Opinion in Relation to
Soil and Climate-A sugges-
tion to Sell the
Place.

nelQ IN LllS city III 1850 OdLlel Il I4AAI
(chairman) Samuel F. Smith and j. j.
Loggie were appointed committee by
the grand master to report on the condi-
ton of the Odd Fellows Home at Their
malito and make such recommendations
as it deemed necessary.
The committee has performed its labor
and will present two reports to the Grand
Lodge next month, for the committee IS
divided. The majority will be with Smith
and Loggie and the other with Chairman
Flint.
Both reports go into details as to the
home, the land upon which it is located,
the climate, the Improvements that have
been made, and each makes suggestions.
The majority says:
The soil of the uplands (all except twenty
five acres in the river bottom) is red clay,
interspersed and underlaid with gravel 1t
varies from twelve inches to twenty-fouT
inches in depth. is non-productiye and
sterile, being deficient in lime, potash and
phosphoric acid; it is not adapted to or
suitable for general farming purposes or the
raising OF hay. grain, deciduous fruits.
berries vegetables, and cannot be sue
cessfully used for the growing of those
things most needed at the home without
fertilizers, and loosened by being mixed
with large quantities of sand
According to instructions received from
Professor Hilgard samples Of the soil
were sent him and after examination he
1t is certainly not desirable tract to To-
cate an agricultural colony on. or any tnsti-
tuition that desires to grow its own supply
OF Vegetd bles.
I should add that have seen much bet
ter soil samples from Thermalito colony.
was so little adapted to agricultural use as
is indicated by the samoles sent.
AS to climate, the report says that it
is hot and dry in summer and cold and
dry in winter, the thermometer ranging
from &c degrees Fahrenheit in winter to
1l2 in summer" There is also consider
able malaria and the majority report
says that I'VE cannot otherwise report
than that the home is located in mala-
rious district and one which is, for that
reason not adapted for a home for aged
brothers" There is also some complaint
as to distance and cost of transportation,
which is So for the round trip from San
Francisco. The conclusions of the ma
jority are:
First-That it should be a healthful loca-
Second-That the location and soil should
be such that all the vegetables fruits. ber-
ries, hay, grain and other produce required
by the institution might be raised at the
home, with the help of the inmates there
Of. thus reducing the expense to mini
Neither of these requirements is realized
at the home at Thermalito. Malaria is
prevalent to such an extent as to make the
home undesirable and unsuitable place
OF residence. and the soil is of such ma
ture that it is not adapted for the raising
of those things most needed at the home,
and can be made so only by a larger eX-
pendtture of money than would be justified
under the circumstances. Were the home
located on a farm with fertile and pro-
ductive soil, with the labor Of the inmates
who are willing able and anxious to work,
devoted to the raising of vegetables, fruits,
berries, hay, grain, chickens, cattle, hogs.
etc. most If not all, Of such things needed
could be raised on the premises thus reduc.
ing the cost of maintenance from one-haf
to two-thirds Of its present cost and e under a,e
such conditions ii is even probable that SUI
fcient surplus produce could be raised to
make home practically self-supportlng,
or If not wholly self-sustaining requiring
but little assistance from the Grand Lodge
Such a location can be obtained at such
price that it will be true economy to aban-
don the present location and TO secure
new one adapted to our needs
The majority recommends that no more
lands be purchased at the present site;
that no more money be used in making
improvements on the present holdings;
that the purchased lands be put on the
market and the proceeds be placed in a
"home fund" with which to purchase a
new site; that the trustees enter into
negotiations with the donors of the prop
erty whereby the property may be sold,
it not, to rent the property to the best ad-
vantage after a new home shall have been
secured; that a small annual per capita
tax be collected from the jurisdiction to
be added to the home fund to purchase a
site when the fund shall amount TO $4,000
and when another $40 900 shall be raised
either by surplus after purchase of site
or otherwise to erect a new home on the
new home the sanitary conditions be i'm
proved and shade trees be planted and
that the orchard be fertilized to make it
more sdlable.
The minority of the committee has
different opinion as to the soil and ex
presses the opinion that 'it responds lib
orally to dressing Of manure ma % and a alb lib
that the trustees made a good business
stroke in purchasing certain lands near
the home and suggests that they be dis
posed of at the earliest opportunity. He
does not agree with the majority as to
malaria, for he says:
Some of the members. high up in author
ity have stated that 1t criminal to
keep the home at such malarious place
Thermalito. 1t hardly seems that a person
with cool judgment and an investigating
turn of mind would make such rash
statement. We have to ADMIT that there is
more or less malaria in every county of this
State. and in certain climates and under
certain conditions 1t develops sooner and
more severely than in others. From the high
elevation of the home, on the bluff, eighty
feet above the river, it would hardly seem
that malaria could maintain its existence
amid the gentle breezes that watt the
fragrance from the orchards Of the lemon
orange and olive.
In conclusion the minority says
After receiving the munincent gift that
the home has from the colony, and the kind
citizens of Oroville, the amount that has
been spent by the order in fitting up the
buildings and improving the premises, and
making things attractive convenient and
homelike. we say fully holding ourselves
for the responsibility of this report 1t
would be the height of folly and unbusness-
like methods to attempt its removal at pres
ent
We cannot urge too strongly upon the
grand lodge the duty of electing trustees
and the trustees a superintendent, that viii
apply strictly business methods. and fully
in sympathy with the home and its loca-
ton. Every movement, purchase and i'm
provement should look we'll to the future.
These reports will cause a lengthy and
exciting debate during the grand session.
for the representatives of the 80 600 Odd
Fellows in the State are about evenly di-
vided on the subject of the home, which
has already cost the order $37 526.
Ocean Water Tub Baths.
1ol Seventh St. corner Mission. Salt water,