Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1905-11-28
Letter From St. Joseph, Missouri.

ST. Joseph, Mo-, Nov. 6. zoos.
Dear Mr.. Haines, AS / am now th
guest of former Jeffersonlans. in thI
busy Metropolitan city of northwes
Missouri, that from a business stand
point ranks with many of her sister cite
of the great middle West, if not in popu
lation, perhaps I few notes might inter
est your readers.
Your correspondent is being handsome
ly entertained at the elegant homes o
Messrs. Jesse S. Myers org South 1911
G. Edward Myers ITO Edmond st, /. |
Myers zoos Seneca st. AT the last named
home the SPIRIT is welcome visito
each week, and its visits are hailed will
delight, as it brings the news from ole
| Jefferson. 1t affords me much pleasure
to note the prosperity that has attended
these gentleman in their adopted city
they have built up a substantial business
and are owners and proprietors Of one oil
the largest and best livery establishments
in the city, doing an immense business;
they are centrally located 10 the business
center on South st. 3o7 to sII. near the
splendid U. S. Government Building.
They have plant valued at $50, 900. the
ground site. 90 it, front and 100 #, deep
cost So 900, tits one of the most complete
outfits to be found anywhere. They
have splendid line of the latest and most
modern styles of turnouts of many va
rieties that are kept IN first class order,
and even with their large stock on hand,
it is often they receive orders beyond
their number of turnouts. They are
always in demand. The horses are
stabbed on the end floor. By this
arrangement absolute cleanliness is OBJ
servable in all departments. They have
As horses and have stalls for Is, all of
which are filled all the time. as they have
large number of regular boarders. In
their Mushroom they have great labor
and time saving invention, buggy hitter
the product of the inventive genius Of
Messrs. Jesse and Edward Myers, upon
which they have patent They have
installed number of them in the large
livery barns of Chicago, Cincinnati and
and Kansas City.
Besides being so delightfully."- entertain
ed by these gentlemen and their families
at their respective homes, we have been
enjoying many pleasant and delightful
drives over the great business section
and the magnificent resident streets,
where are to be seen hundreds of palatial
and magnificent residences in beautiful
and spacious grounds, that indicate the
taste and refument of St. Joseph people.
Many of the homos have the STYLES so
prevalent in the fine old homes OF Old
Virginia and this is not to be wondered
at when we consider that the link that
connects ST. Joseph and old Virginia is
very strong, as one meets Vlrginians
by the score here.
One afternoon in a fine surrey drawn
by pair of beautiful bays accompanied
by Mr.. Jesse Myers and family, we saw
much of interest in a drive of some (
miles over Ashland Boulevard, then
down what is known or Lovers Lane"
with its overhanging shade made famous
by Eugene Field IN poetic rhyme. Mr..
Field xroc o oa-,+lar,ar &c ro~o ..1a.:.
talent and his productions are often noted
and recited by school childrrn through
out the United States on Field Day.
There is large sceool in this CITY called
the Field School," In early life he
was connected with the st. Joseph Her.
aid,
Then pass St. Joseph Hospital for the
insane with its immense buildings at the
end of Frederick Boulevard where over
1900 patients are tenderly cared for.
There are fifteen to twenty acres of floor
space, clean carpeted, noiseless, waxed
smooth and shiny. The grounds and
park are perfectly beautiful and the
DR. c, R. Woodson has
learned by long experience that flowers
and sunshine are things enjoyed by and
most helpful to patients. An expert
landscape gardener is employed and the
yard and flower bed are beautiful to see.
Everything has home-like appearance.
but little restraint is kept over the patients
and its open door policy is considered
best. 200 persons are employed. 80 of
them being night watchers, so stationed
as to wait on patients and dispense with
doors and bar $. This was the first hos
pital in the country to adopt open door
policy now becoming so popular over
the country. The patients, male and
female, that have trades. are allowed to
work at them when they feel disposed.
and now the institution has almost be-
come self-sustaining. the cost Of caring
for them being reduced by their labor.
The gardens furnish all the vegetables
and herd of 40 COWS furnishes the milk
and 200 hogs are fattened on the refuse
from kitchen. In the course Of a DAYS
meals 200 gallons Of berries are picked
and eaten. 1900 lbs. Of -four, 1000 lbs. Of
beet, so bushels potatoes. two horse load
Of roasting ears, bbls apples, sack Of
-four meal tor gravy, butter blll ST.. 600
per year and the bakery must turn out
5000 rolls daily. This is what is required
to keep the patients at this great institu-
ton from hunger. The bildings and
grounds are lighted throughout by cleo
trio lights and heated in winter by steam. |
from 5 boilers of $50 horse power each