Los Angeles herald., 1907-05-05
SHR|NERS TO
VISIT MODEL
COUNTY FARM
Will See Best Poor
Institution
Great Changes Have Been Wrought
In Institution Since Don Chick
Has Been at Head of
Affairs

BY an order issued yesterday morn
ing by the county board Of supervis-
ors, the county poor farm will be
thrown open for inspection of the vis-
itors to be In Los Angeles during
Fiesta week and outsiders will have
chance to inspect the most model In
stitution of it's kind in the world.
Great change has been made at the
Door farm since Don Chick was ap-
pointed superintendent OF the place. In
cidentally the grand jury now In ses-
sion will look over the farm, probably
during the Fiesta week, but the Shrin-
ers and visitors are particularly in
vited to visit the place and everyone
is welcome.
1.-THE farm is In magnificent shape"
said Supervisor Eldridge yesterday.
Chick was Eldridge's choice for the
place and the appointment has created
such a change that Supervisor Ed
ridge, who Is one of the best known
Shriners in the southwest, will have
many of his people in line to visit the
farm.
The farm was built in 1888, the build
ings being put together in careless
fashion in view of the small necessity
for such an institution. From that
time on hardly grand jury has missed
reporting unfavorably on the place.
The buildings have been found to be
in bad shape, the inmates being poorly
treated, the farm in poor condition and
general ruin everywhere.
Grand Jury Complains
The last grand jury made such COM
plant that the supervisors visited the
farm and did what they could for the
place At that time the bond question
for building a new farm was under
consideration and when the bonds were
defeated second appeal was made by
the grand jury in the hope of securing
immediate relief from the conditions
then existing About that time came
the change in the offices and the super
visors started in on a new regime. A
change was made at the poor farm and
Don Chick selected as manager OF the
place.
Since then there has been no COM
plant. The buildings have been thor
ough overhauled, cleaned and repaired.
The chicken corrals. the dairy, the
truck garden and all the various de-
partments of the great institution are
being managed by the old people, who
seem to take great enjoyment in their
work Before they were surly and re-
fused to lift a hand. Now they are
supplying all the truck and vegetables
for the county institutions, all the milk
for the county hospital, and poultry
eggs and butter for county patients,
as well as for the local markets.
How this wonder has been wrought
by one man Is not known. Maybe 1t
was Chicks genial disposition, his
friendly feeling for the old peole that
caused them to get in and help him.
Chicks story is a sad one, one that
will appeal to the thousands Of Shrin
ers and visitors who will be here, many
of whom will know Chick.
Formerly Stage Manager
Chick for years was one of the best
known stage managers in the United
States. His work in that line brought
him in constant contact with hundreds
of people all over the country. His
knowledge of stage workings of the
mechanical engineering of great pro-
ductions caused him to be a necessity
to some of the big managers.
He travelled from one end Of the
United States to the other at his work.
Then his health failed and he came to
Los Angeles. While here he had di-
rection of the Mason stage for a time,
of the Orpheum stage for another
period and then complete control of the
Casino stage.
Chick joined his fortunes with the
Hotchkiss theater. The theater had
caused trouble to a dozen or more
managers, but Chick went cheerfully to
work to build up the place. He was
Just at the gate of success when one
night in attempting to board a Main
street car he was thrown beneath the
wheels and his left leg lacerated so