The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1899-11-16
Clippings from Good Will
Record for October.

A glance at the cash columns proves
that October was a good month fiuan-
ciaily to the Home; contributions,
s928. 20. Enough was received so we
could reduce the amount of bills unpaid,
considerably though, OF course, the ex-
penses Of the Homes continued, aud
must be met. We have not curtailed
the work, and do not expect to; but, on
the other hand, we are aiding larger
number at present than ever before
We know that many friends Will be ask
ing, "What kind of month for the
Homes WAS October| Aud we are
glad to answer the question promptly,
aud emphatically. We are expecting
November will be better still, and II we
can do so, when the time comes, the title
of the next Record will say, November
was better"
Suppose We call the average number
of BOYS at the Farm round hundred.
There are always between ninety and a
hundred boys in the cottages. One hun
dred and twenty dollars per year for the
support, clothing, and education OF a
boy is small sum. Calling this the
actual cost. we have $l2 900 per year as
the expense of the bows alone. This,
one can readily see, is $1,000 per month +;
or $3.50 per week. This does not In
clude the Girls Homes, which have a
separate account, but are under the
same general management.
We have $4,000 of permanent funds.
Only the interest, Of course, can be used.
The statement of our permanent funds is
published several times each year so our
friends may know just how much we
have.
Why we're receipts not enough for the
work, last year? They were more than
enough for current expenses. The wa
ter problem was serious one. We de-
pended upon springs which were once
sufficient, but the demands on them had
become too great. Drinking water for
three of the cottages had to be carried in
pals. Often water for all purposes had
to be hauled in barrels. We had no
laundry; no baths; and no sufficient
water supply for either. A legacy came
into our possession which we might
have used for current expenses. II we
had done so, we would have had about
three thousand dollars in the treasury,
June 10th, instead of deficit of about
that amount. But we put about six
thousand dollars into a water system.
This includes the pumping station, about
three thousand feet of piping, laundry,
bath, water tower, etc. This is per-
manent improvement of great value.
The threshing season, this year, at the
Farm came the first week in October.
Mr.. Barnard objects to the boys being
ont of school for farm work, and every
effort is made not to allow the farm and
the school to conflict but when thresh-
ing time comes there Ia only one way to
do Several of the boys "stopped out"
and helped. The oat crop for 1899 is
eight hundred and forty two bushels.
Mr.. Curtis, of Skowhegan, made a
helpful gift to the Girls Homes in Octo-
her. This consisted of eighteen girls'
hats. and the trimming for them. Mr.
Curtis has done similar generous things
in the past.
For the benefit Of new subscribers,
who are not familiar with the history of
he Homes, we state again what Ia IA
miliar to all the old friends of Good Will
Farm, viz: That the Supervisor OF the
Farm, who is also the publisher of the
Good Will Record, does not use any of
the benevolent funds sent to the office
for the Homes, In the support of himself
or his own family. All funds sent for
the homes are used for that purpose.
The Supervisor draws no salary from
the Association.
1t should be noted that there were
never so many girls in the care OF the
Good Will Home Association as at
present.