New-York tribune., 1903-04-19

John. ny boy. have you heard the news?" and
aged inmate OF the mems ward in the aims
house on Blackweli's Island gave one OF his fellow
inmates a playful slap the shoulder.
When the other had professed his ignorance the
first joyfully exclaimed:
IT'S great. The Commissioner has decided to
take US away from here. John We're going over
Staten Island. But here's the best of it. Listen
We're going have old wives with again
CO yov understand? He's going let keep
house in small way. Isn't that great, Jimmy
II I only had cup Of my wife's this minute
Ia give And then as he realized he could give
nothing. words failed the speaker.
To say that there IS JOY among the inmates of
the alrnshouse Is putting il mildly Some, like the
old referred II. have an. idea that wholesale
removal to Staten Island is TO take place at once.
While this state of affairs maintains Black
wells Island its counterpart is to be found in the
air Of expectancy everywhere manifest about the
NeE-York City Farm Colony. at Port Richmond
Staten Island All IS wonder and speculation 70
Just when and Just how Commissioner Folks Will set
about working the idea Of cottage colony"
that is TO eventually take all paupers off Black
wells Island. bring happiness 10 number Of dc
serving old couples. and The city several
thousand dollars annually.
Although the Staten Island institution is now
and has been for some tire known the New
York City Farm Colony. strictly speaking it is not q
farm colony vet-1hat IS not such colony as
Commissioner Folks plans make Of it within the
rext few years Before Staten Island became part
Of New-York the Nep.-York CITY Farm Colony was
the Richmond County poor farm. and If al the
stories told Of il then true il was sorry
place. Now. under The combined efforts IF Com
missioner Folks and superintendent Joseph B,
Pearce. il. it has become of the best ordered
CT tie city institutions The institution is Gle Of
the Oldest kind IN this State. if not in the
country. AS far back 1929 the property which Is
on high ground. almost in the centre Of Staten
Island was bought by the county for Use ? poor
farm Since that time II has been in continuous
for this purpose
Until il became a NeW-York City institution
however little money was expended for repairs.
and as result practically ali Of the buildings are
IN dilapidated condition. As one enters the
grounds almost the first building To he
.een is a plain whtewashed structure sald
20 be I23 years old. This building. which
ss m the nroperty when it vas turned over
~ the county was for years the home of the
superintendent. The OLD cypress shingles on the
roof indicate its age. and if proof of its antiquity
we're still lacking II would lie supplied by the
roughly squared timbers inside the structure. In
the rear Of the old building some smaller out
buildings all OF them used now as storehouses
Nearly as old these Buildings is the large men 5
building 4 quaint ramshachle old structure, oulit
partly Of wood and partly of brick. standing back
a,onp the trees The woInens buildings just
across little patch of garden. are the most mod
ern on the farm. The barn is in bad state o. re-
sjr b,,t the scpcrintendcnt's house is cosey little
cottage These buildings make up the institution
G.. II exists at present, anG into these ls9 inmates
are crowded
There could ae no better place for the estah-
rshr,ent Of Commissioner Folkss cottage colony
The Staten Island farm offers plenty OF room
There are nearly Ize acres in the property sur
1eyors are now at work determining Just no"
mary II is many years since the property mas
bee., conveyed and old boundaries have vanished
The cId surveys read. so many rods from TINS or
thar tree TO some other tree and both trees are
now dead and gone
The cottage colony plan has the approval OF the
church workers Of the city, and oreTs nave pee"
received from several denominations to b0iio COZ
tages 10 be occupied ny poor but deserving
couplcs Of that particular faith. While this ar
rangernent might serve 10 hinder the WORK OF uls
dena-+-nent Commissioner Folks Will cooperate
with the various church charities in so far as IS
possible The plan for the development OF ule
colony includes the erection Of about fourteen COM
nnodious wooden cottages, each large enough 10
accommodate eighteen couples The idea is to give
each couple small rooms. 10 allow 1hem ule
pse of stoves for light housekeeping
''Of course there will be steward SAID de-
partrrent official whose duty it VIII oe 70 go
through the cottages at stated Intervals curing
the day and there will be other assistants 20 ioA
after the needs OF the old couples. Whne ,ne
general ARRANGEMENT Of each cottage Will be me
same AL cottages be built exactly ahKe IN
outward appearance. and everything viii De zone u
make them as honnelke possible
II comes mighty hard" said superintendent
pearce the Other day. 'to be obliged 10 say 20 a
poor but deserving couple who are mere lhfousl4 &
no fault Of their own, ! am sorry 8lrs.
-" and he indicated first the women $ ana th-"
the mems building
TO my mind continued Superintendent feaIce,
..thfs cottage colony idea Of the Comt1Iss'ohe'
IS the right thing. 1t will give US chahce 10
b.ln deserving couples. In the first place 'he
verv name .Nev-York City Farm Colony. has a
much ,,loasanter sound than the poor farfh' vi
even the .aImshouse.' The scheme offers soHie
little emplovuent for deserving but unfortunate
p.rsons who come 1t offers soIne'hIiS u
take I'D their attention. something 10 DusF
selves about. with Il little work 10 occupy .'eiI
selves With the years these unfortunate peopie pu
IN her4 would be passed much more pleasai'IS
+ha- b,- string around with little TO do save 10
heunoan the rnIsfortunes that nave placed liei
here" v-,,
Among the present inmates OF the Ne" q,
CITY Farm Colony Commissioner Foikss piah =
being received with almost much en'husias,A
as s,rong the inmates Of the almshouse on f'ihc
,.,,,. 1sIs,d The men working in the heids aho
,ha old women knitting inside can hafoig "a
the actual brea King OF ground for the hrs1 oi 'i
new cottages. ..,x
-yyhy II I could only get another or those
.as.s lane used TO make. I'd make this ~ooopio
look sick" said old fellow the othef uas' 90
he hurled his in log Of wood
Ruth 90 you Guppose there is anything III ms
-arort e.' asked one old woman OF enother' HaS'
,ro,,l61.r IL seem like old times TO have "iihaih
bor-a IN dinner again and We two SIT u""h