The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-10-27
Praise for
the Conduct Of the
Home Farm.
ANNUAL VISIT YESTERDAY.
City Officials Eulogize the
Work Of the Overseers
Of the. Poor,


carried through yesterday, under most
favorable circumstances.
All departments of the institution
were found in first-class condition. The
changes made In the last year were
approved, a good dinner was served,
and, on the whole, members of the IN
specting party consider they have good
reasons to congratulate themselves and
the city at large on being possessed Oh
so perfect an institution.
Those who made up the party were
Mayor Rufus B. Dodge, Jr., Aldermen
Henry Brannon. John r. Back, Napo-
leon P. Huot, Sanford G. Kendall
Charles A. Vaughan and Philip j.
O'Connell; Councilmen John e. Lancas-
ter, George c. Hunt, Lewis j. Terrlll,
John H. Connolly, John R. OLeary'
John Rlvard, James Hunt, Julian +.
Bigelow, Fred d. Johnson, Wesley Mer-
rift Nelson H. Davis, Edwin ?. Curtis,
Alonzo A. White, Charles H. Ellsworth,
Denis C.. Leonard, Frank A. Atherton,
Edward M Woodward and freeman
Brown of the board of overseers, Rev.
D. w. Hoyt, chaplain at the Home
farm; Chief of Police James M. Drea-
S. Hamilton Coe, clerk of the common
council; Assistant City Clerk w. Henry
Towne, and John P. Munroe.
The party left city hall at 10 O'Clock.
On arriving at the Home farm an in
formal reception was held, during
which members of the party were pre-
scented to Mr.. and Mrs. Thomas T..
Schouler, the new superintendent and
matron of the institution. Farm wdg-
ons were fitted with seats for the occa-
sion, and the next move was a drive
about the farm.
The piggery, in all its different forms
and phases was thoroughly inspected,
and the manner of caring for the 400
or more pigs infinitely explained The
new building connecting the horse and
COW barns was looked over and sp-
proved. The structure furnishes ac-
commodation for harness and carriage
rooms, with excellent facilities for
cleaning bath rooms for stable en-
ployees and spacious store room. I'm
derneath is plenty of room for storage
of farming implements and vehicles.
which heretofore have been left out of
doors.
Next came an inspection of the farm
house proper 1t was the first visit of
many of the party to the institution
and frequent remarks of praise were
heard for the perfect condition in which
every department of the institution is
maintained.
several changes were suggested in the
way OF Improvement, prominent among
which is the demolition Of the old
building known as the smoke" house.
where the old men congregate to smoke
ana play a social game of cards. The
oulldlng is old and an eye-sore as com
pared with the up-to-date appearance
or other parts of the institution. Mr..
Sehouler suggested fitting up a Ioung-
| ing room where the men can smoke and
chat, in the basement of the new ward
building. The expense would be com
paratively light, as about all that
would be necessary would be to place
a partition and arrange the plumbing
LOT a toilet room. The basement is
well lighted and heated, and numerous
windows give excellent opportunities
for ventilation.
Another necessity which in the mind
OF the superintendent demands irnme-
date attention, is a different laundry
system. At present the bedding from
the hospital ward has to be washed in
the laundry where other work is done.
and, as the laundry is situated near the
kitchen, the arrangement is not alto
gether desirable. The hospital ward is
| filed most of the time, and, as several
of the patients are partially or entire
ly helpless, the conditions can be readi-
~ appreciated. Another thing suggested
in the hospital ward is the necessity of
better ventilation.
The institution has in the neighbor-
hood OF 800 inmates at present, includ-
ing hire labor. Conversations with
| several OF these who make the insti-
tuition their home, result in expressions
of general contentment, and highest
commentator OF. the new superintend-
ent, who, as one man put it, is a perfect
gentleman.
Dinner was served at 1 o'clock and,
to those who have had an opportunity
OF attending the annual inspection, no
words of praise are necessary. 1t is
| sufficient to say that this feature was
| quite Up to the usual standard of ex-
| cellence, and resulted in the forced
loosening of many Wristbands. Pre-
vicus to dinner, Rev. d. w. Hoyt in
voked the divine blessing. Following
| dinner cigars were passed, and e. P.
| Curtis, chairman of the board of over
seers, made short address of welcome
| introducing A. A. White as toastmas-
| ter
Mr.. White explained briefly that the
object of the overseers is to conduct
the institution in such manner as to
make it as comfortable as possible for
poor people who are obliged to seek
tits shelter. In introducing Mayor Dodge
he referred to him as a man who has
been a farmer, but came to the city
and has been elected its highest ex-
ecutive.
The mayor referred to the rapid
growth of Worcester and the pride TAX
en- by all it's citizens in the beautiful
city, but with this enormous growth
have come corresponding problems and
burdens Of expense in nearly all depart
meRts which have doubled within the
last 10 years. The increase in expense
has been greater in proportion than
| the increase in valuation. While the
demand of people individually and col
| lectively increases, the real necessities
should receive consideration first. He
| thought people of the city had rather
find defect and inadequate aeeommoda-
/ ton anywhere rather than in the care
of the poor.
Mayor Dodge said that every one
would like to see the streets smooth
and in good condition. but if this i'm
provement must be made at the ex-
pense of the poor department he was
of the opinion that a majority of peo-
| pie would prefer to see the human suf-
ferers taken care of.
He compared the condition surround
| ing the care of the poor a few years
ago with that of the present time, and
remarked Worcester as in the front
rank of those cities which have taken
kind and humane interest in its poor.
The mayor paid an eloquent tribute to
the memory of the late superintendent
as a man who, among all the officers
of great city, was unanimously en-
dorsed for his rare good judgment in
business matters and kindness to in
mates of the institution, which had
made a lasting impression on his
memory While invested with alb
solute authority he pursued a course
/ of kindly treatment Which should be
secured at any cost. Whatever the