The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-01-31

to solve: and then they considered
the question of hauling materials to
build with-the condition Of roads
over which heavy loads would be
taken, and the Judgment Of the COM
mfttee was that this was not feasible.
Their next step consisted OF ar
ranging for visits to the various poor
houses in the state with a view Of
learning which city had the most
modern construction and favorable
conditions for housing and caring for
the poor. They visited New Haven.
Meriden and Hartford, and found that
these cities did not have what you
would call modern equipment. They
all felt, however, that they should be
better provided for in case Of fire and
other features which prevail.
The committee then set about to
get data and statistics from q radius
of 100 to 200 miles, of cities of about
were surprised to learn the excessive
cost of some nearby cities compared
with the maintenance Of Lakeview
home
The committee studied the matter
from all sides and decided that the
present property would be the best
proposition that they could find when
ing the new almshouse. This was re-
ported to the common council in
October and their report was accept
ed.
$225,OOO Needed.
The committee were continued and
instructed by the council to secure
such plans as they could without cost
from local architects, for a suitable
building to provide for not only the
immediate demands but for the in
crease in numbers, because statistics
show that in this city in every 20
years the number Of inmates increase
100 per cent.
Through the local press the archi-
tects of Bridgeport were notified to
submit plans and specifications The
time was not as long as the committee
would like to have had but in the
time specified five sets of plans and
specifications were submitted to the
committee. These were signed by a
nom de plume and the committee are
unaware of who the architects are that
sent in their plans.
The estimated cost of constructing
the buildings were given by the 'archi-
tects, but the committee did not rest
here, so took steps to have them all
gone over by a man expert in the line
of figuring large buildings Of this
character and conversant with all de-
tails and present day construction. A
man of unqueStioned integrity and
standing was employed, and his figures
were gone over in detail by the COM
mittee and they learned that the cost
of the five plans as submitted Tor
buildings of the dimensions given,
would be very high.
The committee sreconsidered the
proposition and determined that the
city could not afford to invest this
sum of money, and by some curta1l-
ments have calculated that the sum
of $225,OOO will build a suitable aims
house for the city of Bridgeport. None
of the designs call for any outlay OF
money for fancy or needless arch1tec-
ture; they are for plain, solid, sub
stantial buildings, that should endure
for 100 years. The building will be
absolutely fireproof, sanitary and built
with the consideration for the strfctest
economy in the use of fuel and main
tenance. The location that the COM
mittee have selected will save great
deal of money in erecting the build
ing: First, in excavations; second, in
the using of sand<on the farm close to
the building; third, in using the stone
walls for foundation and by placing
a crusher and using crushed stone to
make drive ways.
The committee in calculating the
cost of the proposed building have
included in their estimate the cost of
building a suitable sewer of quite
some length. They have considered
the installing OF boilers and engines.
also all electrical equipment; all
plumbing, wash machinery, kitchen
utensils; the equipment for office pur-
poses, including furniture, safe, proper
ireceptacles for medicines, supplies, al
so the entire refitting and equipping of
the home in the way of beds and bed
ding, furniture, and complete furnish
ings have been included.
The committee have made every ef-
fort to get all of the facts and data
and then to proceed with the sole pur-
nose of having an institution Of this
character that will reflect credit on
what is destined to be the first city in
Connecticut.
The committee have suggested to
the architects visiting the almshouse,
studying the situation. waiting upon
the board of charities and getting