The Oskaloosa herald., 1903-10-15
POOR FARM CONTRACT
Action of the Board is Commended
by Grand Jury.

Vague references have been made
in the democratic press to an alleged
poor farm deal and, such insinuations
although no specific statement has
been made in relation to the transac
ton. The best answer TO the cry OF
deal is a statement of the facts in re
lation to the right of way across the
poor farm. To seek access to the Boil
ton-Hoover coal mine it was neces
sary to run a switch from the regular
Burlington e. Western between the
poor farm and Tracy, crossing among
other lands a portion of the poor farm
When this line was staked out over
the poor farm ]. A. Dewitt, the county
attorney, notified the board that the
firm of Burrell &c Dewitt had been act
ing as attorneys for the railroad com
pany in relation to their right of way
through the county, and that as the
county was interested in the matter
OF the right of way across the poor
farm that he did not desire to appear
for the county, and that the firm OF
Burrell G. Dewitt would not appear fol
the railroad company in the negotia
lions for the railroad company. There
upon the board employed Attorney
Jno. c. Williams to appear for and
advise them in the negotiations with
the railroad company, and Attorney j
B. Bolton represented the railway
company. The negotiations were con
Guided at the June, 1902, meeting Of
the board of supervisors and a con
tract entered into between the county
and the Railway Co., and this con
tract is of record in the auditors Of
fee and has been since that date. 1t
is important to remember that the
line across the poor farm is not a
regular railway line but simply coal
switch and as soon as the coal at that
point is mined out the land will re-
vert to the county. AS a result Of
having this switch across their poor
farm the board of supervisors will be
able to sell the coal in under the poor
farm to the great advantage of the
county, and within the next few years
as a result of having this railroad
switch across the poor farm Mahaska
county will receive larger return
in money for the coal underlying the
poor farm than has been expended in
the purchase and maintenance of the
poor farm to this time.
1t is not out of place in this connec
ton to call the attention Of the people
of the county to the report of the
grand jury on the poor farm which
has been filed with the district court
The splendid condition in which ev
erything is found by them is highly
creditable to the management of the
board Of supervisors as well as the
overseer
We give herewith the contract YER
batim, also the late grand jury report
and ask all readers to give the same
a careful reading:
The Contract.
The Board Of Supervisors in regu
lar session in and for Mahaska, al
their regular June meeting on this
the 7th day Of June, 1902,
Be 1t Resolved, That the B. & w
Railway Company have asked for
right Of way 60 feet in width over
and across the east (E.) one-aalf (1z)
of the southeast quarter Is. e. A) Of
section No. "a, township No. 75,range
No. IL, as the said railway is now
staked, surveyed and located over
and across the county poor farm, be
ing a strip Of land bounded on the
east (E.) by line 30 feet east cd
at right angles from the center line
Of said line, as now surveyed, stakec
and located, and strip of land west
and westerly at right angles on the
west line 80 feet wide from the said
center line as now surveyed, staked
and located for railway purposes, and
to be used for railway purposes over
and across said above described land,
1t is hereby resolved, That said