Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-04-24
Public Opinion on Iowa Subjects
as Reflected in the Iowa
Newspapers,
The News OF Iowa From Hun.
dreds of Different Towns
end Communities.
BOONE CoUNTY'S POOR HOUSE
TRoone Republican.

BOONE COUNTY'S POOR HOUSE
IBoone Republican,
This is rich county and the taxes
are by no means exorbitant, yet to loon
at the main building at the poor farm
one would suppose 1t to be in a power
ty-stricken community There is a
standard of decency that we can MOI
Ignore, yet the limit is nearly reached
when the old and the helpless are con-
| fined to building that is not even
proof against the elements. The rain
floods the sleeping apartments of the
women and after a snow 1t is neces-
sary to shovel off the stairs before the
Inmates can go down to the rooms be-
How. We wish that every woman IN
Boone county would have an opportu-
nifty to try and cook dinner for thirty
persons in that little old kitchen with
| its two half windows and a floor that
once did service in corn crib. There
would be such an awakening of public
sentiment that a new building would
be ordered at once. Ask Supervisor
Burke or Manager Herman about the
conditions-you will hear such a story
that you will not believe until you visit
the farm and see that the worst could
not be told. 1t is. not good policy to
provide such comforts that it will place
premium on poverty, but the de-
mands of decency and humanity plead
for a home for the inf1rm and helpless
that will be proof against the elements
and be at least comfortable at all times
of the year. Every man should use his
influence to secure. building that will
be in keeping with the progressiveness
and high standard of living in Boone
county.
STORY COUNTY FROG PONDS.
Nevada Journal.]
There are many old settlers and
readers Of the Journal who will remem-
Der that STORY county frog ponds.
was once used as a common by-word to
discourage settlers in this county, and
it caused a prejudice against the low
ground of this section, enhancing the
value of high and rolling land. A few
trips over the county will prove that
the frog ponds" of old Story compose
by far the most fertile soil to be found
and the recent boom in real estate has
sons and demonstrated the comparative
value between high and low ground as
crop producers.
All this is accomplished by tile drain
age and a fair sample of this work is
now in progress in section 49,, New AL
bany township, by Wilbur Shaw, of CO.
10. The land he is draining is part OF
what was. at one time, the big Pond
comprising some 100 or 200 acres ir
that section. 1t forms the headwaters
of Little Skunk but with only an aver
flow outlet. Mr. Shaw is putting in 9
12-inch tile across the old Stunt
| eighty, making an outlet ditch at some
places Is to IA feet deep. and changing
the course of the water into Clear
creek, to the south. When completed
the ditch will have connection to the
Smith and Noe farms and M. c. Allen
of this place will use it as an outlet tc
drain his 200 acres in sections IL an6
13.
More than twenty years ago George
Rogers bought what are now the Shaw
and Smith farms and was then heard t.
remark that the old settler would live
to see corn growing in that pond. I,
was then standing joke of the com
munity, often related while duck hunt.
ers rowed their boats thru the rushes
built rush houses and placed their de-
coys afloat-
The Journal is pleased to note tina,
the we'll drained low land is commands
ing the highest price on the market to-
day. The farmer has learned that the
low ground produces the best crops III
wet or dry years and the deep loan OF
Story county cannot be excelled.