The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-10-12

No"i VI fresh Dulter was also placed
where 1t would not be overlooked. The
inmates get butter once a day-at sup
per Large buckets of rich, creamy
mix were also on exhibition. and Mr..
Belts said that this was the kind of
milk given to the inmates to drink,
without being skinned or separated.
A bucket of buttermilk was brought
out and sampled. Mr.. Belts showed
the party the stores Of onions, apples
and potatoes. The potatoes and apples
We're not of very good appearance
Quite large quantity of fruit and
vegetables have been canned for win
ter use.
The poor farm herd of swine and
dairy cattle seemed to be doing very
Well. The buildings of all kinds were
painted and seemed in good repair.
There is big crop of corn ready for
the harvest. and the land has been
made to yield extensively of garden
truck and hay.
Everything indicated that in the de
partment of farm and household eco
Monies the Belts administration is a
success. 1t is making a good financial
and business showing.
Question of Food Supply.
1t was apparently the general opinion
of the inmates that the food is good
enough and ample.
I'VE get three meals a day, all We
want, and pretty we'll cooked. We
can't expect much, and we ought to be
satisfied" This is the sentiment ex-
pressed by four or five different in
mates to whom the State Journal re-
porter talked.
One inmate said: Sometimes the
bread runs short. or sometimes they
spoil something in the cooking, but |
suppose those are things they can't
help
Another inmate said: THE butter
t. W
only about enough for ten people"
Another inmate limited that the stores
of canned fruits and vegetables would
not be used for the inmates of the In
stitution.
1.-The milk which we get is not very
good" said one. 1T is not milk with
the cream in it. 1t has been either
SKINNED or separated, 1 don't know
which,"
There was also some disposition to
object to pork twice a day.
Most of the inmates to whom 1t was
mentioned laughed at Rupin's charge
that he had been forced to live on raw
turnips for days at a time. Superin-
tendent Belts said that there isn't
turnip on the place, and there were
certainty none shown to the party or
official muck-rakers.
What the Inmates Eat.
The home grown supplies OF
potatoes. apples, onions sour kraut,
pickles, etc, which are on hand will
not last long in the family of 40 or
so people, such as they have at the
farm.
Then more supplies must be bought
The method of buying supplies for the
poor farm was not investigated. Some
system of buying should be used
which will insure the delivery to the
institution of good, cream food. The
fxy CHI NJ q
for economy at the expense of starry
ing two score helpless paupers.
superintendent Belts said that the
supplies for his own table are taken
from the same supplies that are used
for the inmates. 1t is understood,
however that Mr.. Belts family table
is supplied with a more varied and
expensive menu than the table for the
inmates. This is generally the case at
public institutions. 1t is said to be
true at the state reform school and
insane asylums. Mr.. Belts is not to
be blamed for wanting more and bet
ter things to eat than are given to
the inmates. No one who was given
choice in the matter would elect to
live on a bill of fare something like
this. which is what the inmates get.
Breakfast: Potatoes, oatmeal,
bread, syrup, pork. coffee.
Dinner: Potatoes, bread, syrup,
pork, coffee. and some other
vegetable, such as rice, beans, kraut
or onions.
Supper: Potatoes, bread. butter,
sauce, milk.
Inmates of the state insane asylums
and other state institutions get but
terine for their bread at all meals.
There is no reason why the poor farm
inmates should not be supplied with
butterine. The county can certainly
afford that much of a luxury"
l.
lowance for the poor farm inmates. 1t
isn't much wonder that pork twice a
day gets somewhat monotonous.
Apples are very cheap this year. and
there is no reason why the poor farm
inmates should not have plenty of
them. Those on hand are of a very
inferior quality.
Belts Treatment of Inmates.
In regard to the treatment of the
inmates by Superintendent Belts
there seemed to be more disposition
on the part of the inmates to sidestep
and dodge.
Some of them declared that Belts
was just as kind and patient as his
pred ecessor Taylor. One expressed
knocking the block off, of some of
the unreasonable inmates of the in
stitution.
Several inmates told of instances
where two of the inmates had had
and pummeled each other.
One inmate named Dahlgreen ex-
hibited a black eye which he said was
given to him by Rupin, the complain
ing paralytic.
"Rupin told me to stop smoking"
said Dahlgreen. 81 wouldn't do it.
and he slipped up behind me, and
pounded me. 1 was afraid of that
man. He was bad man, and 1 think
there was something wrong with him.
He slept in the same room with me,
and 1 was afraid he would get up in
the night and do something des-
perate"
One inmate confirmed Rupin's story
that Superintendent Belts had
handled him very roughly. This in
mate said that Belts threw Rupin
down on a bench and choked him into