The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-09-30
Poor Commissioner Hale SAYS
Demands Are Large.
Flood Left Many People Poorly
Provided for Winter.
SHUN THE POOR FARM.
Needy DO Not Want to Go
There.
Still Room for Fifty More at
the Farm.

POOR Commissioner Hale expects
greater demands on the county for help
during the coming winter than ever
before. The flood effects were felt by
the poor commissioner Immediately
after the calamity but the poor people
recovered sufficiently to care for them
selves during the summer.
Those who had little and lost all they
had have been able to get along during
the summer but have not been able to
accumulate anything for winter Many
have not suitable clothing for severe
weather and many live in houses that
are not in good repair. Some have been
living in tents since the flood
Commissioner Hale said this morn
ing: There will be many poor people
who will be compelled to ask aid from
the county this winter that have never
done so before. There will be the usual
number of persons that seek aid from
the county but the additional numbers
will come from those who lost every
thing they had in the flood
Many people that / know of have
managed to care for themselves during
the summer but they have not been
able to lay up anything for the winter.
Many who lost all their clothing, house
hold goods, gardens, chickens, etc, have
not earned enough this summer to put
themselves on a good footing for win
ter. These people will regain what they
lost but the time has been too short for
them to make themselves Independent.
poor man with family has found it
a hard struggle, when left without any
thing, but I know of many who have
done all that they could do.
.sOne case, for Instance, is that of a
woman who owned ten acres of land
and a little home north of Soldier
creek. She made a comfortable living
but the flood swept away all her
chickens, stock, ruined her garden,
damaged her house, destroyed the fur
niture ruined the bed clothing and ev-
erything in the house and she was LETT
with nothing. Her husband was drown
ed in the flood This woman viii again
be able to make comfortable llVlnS
on the ten acres as soon as she has a
chance but she could not raise any gar
den since the flood and her place Will
not be cleaned up, the buildings Will
not be repaired and she Will not De
able to do anything there before spring.
She is among the worthy and will nave
to ask for aid.
THE county has been able to help a
good many worthy people. We have ac-
commoda tons at the county farm Tor
many more There are about fifty peo-
pie there now and there is room for fifty
more, with a little crowding- We may
efind it necessary to send good many
to the farm for the winter. In many
cases it is the very best that can De
done for the people.
I'VE have family at the farm now.
They were left destitute by the nood.
The father is working in town at $l.5O
and $175 a day. He is saving all except
what it costs him to live The county Is
Ioking after his family while he makes
a SUFFICIENT sum of money to make d
new start There may be many more
cases like this during the winter
While Mr. Hale WAS talking an OLD,
almost blind and very weak old man
came in to get some provisions. He re-
ceived them. Mr. Hale said: DON'T
you think you and your wife had better
go to the farm this winter? You viii
be better off there than trying to
struggle in town."
Il know it would be more comfort
able" replied the old man, land We
would be looked after but wife and
Just can't think of going to the poor
farm
When the old man had gone Mr.. Hale
said: There is an example. That
couple is quite old. both over 20 years,
I guess They are so feeble [ don't see
how they can get along even when the
county furnishes them food. They
know that their wants could be met and
that they would be more comfortable at
the farm but they don't want 10 go
there "