The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1900-01-18
THE COUNTY FARM.
Mahaska's Home for Incurable
Insane and INDECENT.


Springer and Albert Hambleton &C
companied by VIM. Mattison, the re-
firing member of the board who has
served the county faithfully and well
for the past six years, and a repre-
sentative of the HERALD, drove to
the county farm Thursday and spent
the greater part of the day on the
place with Hiram Gosnell, the super
intendent of the farm.
The visit was made without notice
to the superintendent who was met
on his wayito sthe city and the time
on the farm was devoted to the in
spection of the place.
Everything was found in the best
possible condition and too much
praise cannot be given the superin-
,tendent, iMr. Gosnell, and his most
estimable wife for the satisfactory
manner in which the farm is con-
Quoted. Indeed a most excellent
showing is made and the people of the
county have the board of supervisors
to thank for this state of affairs. A
few years ago the farm was an ex-
pense to the county of between two
and three thousand dollars. Bust
ness method and the grasping of the
opportunities at hand have wrought
a great change. Reforms in all
directions were instituted, leakages
were stopped and today the farm is
practically self supporting and there
is money in the county poor fund. A
thing that was never heard of in the
old day when the fund was continu-
ally over drawn. In the meantime
from the savings that have been
made in the fund there has been a
modern asylum building erected for
the care of the inmates at cost of
several thousand dollars but there
will result there-from a saving of
many times 1.-THE amount expended.
The new building is one of the best
investments that the county has ever
made and the wisdom of the county
board, without reference to person
or party, is to be commended with
out measure.
One of the greatest economies
made possible by the new building is
in the care of the inmates. Every
thing is easier, more sanitary, and
better in all ways than under the
former regime where limiting con-
ditions had to be confronted on all
sides. The entire building is heated
by steam which fact means a saving
of dollars in the fuel bill. There is a
water system from a deep well and
hot and cold water are supplied to
all parties of the building at great
er pressure that is had from the
water system here in Oskaloosa.
There are bath tubs closets and law
atories for men and women and the
utmost cleanliness is insisted upon
at all times. The food for the in
mates! is substantial and we'll pre-
pared and the care and attention
that is given to this part of the place
is of the best and there is no room
for complaint.
There are now 80 inmates of the
house. Eleven are women and q
are men. Of this number the larger
part are feeble in mind and some are
helpless, requiring constant care and
watchfulness.
The farm might be said to be a
separate part of the place and it is
managed in much the same manner
as an ordinary farm is run. Mr..
Gosnell has been very successful in
the management Of the place and he
is obtaining the best of results from
his labor. The farm comprizes 800
acres and it is made to raise all and
more than it consumed on the farm
by the inmates of the house. For in
stance, last season there was raised
more than enough feed in the way of
hay, corn, oats and rye for the feed
of thei. stock Of the place. There
were also 500 bushels of potatoes,
beans and other vegetables and
fruits raised for the consumption in
the house. There are now on the farm
200 sheep, over 100 hogs, 6 work
horses and two colts, two years old
for which over 500 each has been
offered to Mr.. Gosnelll and 43 cattle
including steers, heifers, claves and
recent increase. Itrequires the pro-
duct of ten cows to furnish the milk
and butter that is consumed on the
place. There are chickens and tur-
keys that aside from the use made
of them on the place give an item of
income for the farm. There is a
young orchard of two acres that will
be productive in short time and
will add to the general support of
the farm.
The out buildings of the farm are.in
the best possible shape and constant
improvements are being made as
time and funds are afforded and as
necessity demands. One of the good
things about the place is seen in the
feeding house and shelter for the
hogs. The barn, large and roomy
structure, was painted last season
with white lead.
The greatest possible amount OF
labor for farm work is obtained
from the inmates. All seem perfect
ly willing and even eager to work
and do something aside from staying
in their quarters. So great was the
amount of labor obtained from the
males last year that at the busiest