Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-01-19
VISITED CITY FARM.
Mayor and Aldermen Inspected
Institution, Saturday.
Everything About the Farm in Salts
factory Condition.
Superintendent and Matron Ccngratu
lated by the Officials.

The board of aldermen were the
! guests of Mayor Titcomb on a drive
to the City farm, Saturday afternoon
and with him made an inspection OF
| the premises with most gratifying re-
suits.
The inspection was made at the in
stigation of the mayor, he having ex-
tended an invitation for the board to
accompany him on the mission. 1t was
about 3 o'clock in the afternoon when
they set out for the farm in a team
gotten UP by the mayor himself, his
own horses drawing a big four-seated
pung large enough for all to ride in.
On arrival at the farm the members
were shown over the premises by Over
seer of the Poor Coburn and acquainted
themselves with the affairs there in
considerable detail. To say they were
not pleased with the manner in which
things were moving would be contrary
to the expressions of every member of
the board in both words and actions.
The most noticeable feature was the
cleanliness of the buildings through
out and this featu was the object of
again expressing himself as being most
highly gratified with the clean appear
ance of the buildings in every nook
and corner, particularly in the aims
house.
This building being of immense pro-
portions with so many rooms to care
for, besides all the other work that
an almshouse, with a large list of in
mates. entails. requires great amount
of personal attention and work on the
part of the matron. This office is filled
by Mrs. c.. C. Griffith, the superintend-
ent's wife. and to her great amount
of credit is due for the neat appear
anoe of everything, as shown by the
numerous congratulations extended by
the members Of the board, on Satur.
days visit. She has in this work two
young lady assistants.
There are % inmates in the aims
house at the present time, which is the
average number per month of last year.
though at the time of last years an
nual report there were SO inmates. OF
of the present number of inmates seven
are over so years of age The youngest
is IL years of age. During the present
year there have been but two deaths.
The almshouse is in a very prosper
Gus condition under the direction of
Overseer Colburn, assisted by Superin-
tendent Griffith. and the provisions in
nearly every department equal or sur
pass the stock of most any previous
year in the farms history.
In the dairy there are eight nice
cows, Holsteins and Jerseys, four of
faI, I'LL, ~. r.
of these the city owns and one the
city has for it's keeping. There are
also one yearling heifer and three
calves. The product of the dairy dur
ing the last month reported, which wa,
December, was an excellent record.
During this month the eight cows made
1877 pounds of butter besides furnish
ing what milk and cream was neces-
sary to supply the almshouse Nearly
all of this butter was marketed, since
there were $50 pounds put down, last
summer, when butter was bringing
low price in the markets, this being
very good for present consumption.
The milk. SKINNED and butter-milk,
is used to good advantage in feeding
hogs, which, with corn and meal, con-
stitute their daily feed. The hogs are
kept in the basement of the barn. OF
these there are two breeding sows.
eight shotes, five of which will be
dressed. this month and next, and six
1-weeks-old pigs. The six pigs and
three of the shotes will be summered
over and dressed. next fall, The needs
of the almshouse and the city,s poor
elsewhere require the full perka pro-
duction. this being nearly enough to
supply the institution, though a very
little extra has toyoe ptirc}1ase1s att ffr7
tervals. In this respect the farm IS
materially gaining and not. nearly so
much pork has to be purchased as in
former years.
Among some of the products of the
farm are hay, oats, beans, potatoes and
cattle beets. all of which there is
good supply on hand at the present
time. Of hay there is enough to last
the season out. What oats are needed
for the year, to be ground UP with cot
ton seed for cattle. are on hand. OF
yellow-eyed beans there are at present
about seven bushels, which will be
enough to last about two months. Had
it not been for an off year on bean rails
| ing there would have been nearly
enough on hand now to last the year
out. There are about 90 or 20 bushels
of potatoes on hand. which are excel
| lent in quality. These will be sufficient
to last the year out. The farm has
purchased no potatoes for two years.