Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1911-05-25
PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS,
CONCERNING ALMSHOUsEs
BYSTATE SECRETARY CROSS


Mr.. L. M. White,
Mexico, Mo.
Columbia, Mo-, May II, 1911.
My Dear Mitchell:
lam sorry the new infirmary build
ing for Audrain county is not to be
erected in the edge of town, at Mex.
leo. / know Of at least ten aims
houses which have been constructed
within the last ten years by Nilsson.
ri counties and l think there are
about as many more which have not
been reported to me. When the aims,
house is put near town-and over
one-fourth Of the Missouri codnty
aimshouses are located within a mile
OF ,town-we have very great benefits
resulting. The water and light and
sewerage system of the neighboring
town can be utilized, good grocery
and supply market is close at hand,
then it Is possible for the towns peo-
pie to visit the institution frequent
ly and cheer the usually dreary way
of the average old person who is SO
unfortunate as not to be self support
ing during his declining years In fac
there is great pleasure to the old
folks in these institutions to be able
to see the ordinary activities around
them which are noticeable in the
edge of our larger towns.
There is one principal which |
trust operates in Audrain as in a
great many other counties, namely,
that any worthy person who is hon
estly unable to support himself will
be cared Off by the county; whereas,
on the other hand the unworthy poor
will not be cared for under any cir
cumstances. There is a rule of some
counties to provide a good almshouse
and then force any applicant for re
lief to go to theinstitution II he ex-
poets to receive help instead of pen
sioning him outside. A very desir-
able method in the institution is to
apply the work-test to all individuals
who are at all able-bodied and who
may be suspected of imposture
At the old isolated almshouse the
rule has been to get man whose
first qualification was that of a
farmer to act as superintendent and
to try to make the institution self
supporting, however poorly the in
mates might be treated. The mod
ern idea Is to have as a superinten-
dent a man who is first a good
nurse and Of sympathetic disposi-
tlon and to put economic questions
in the background, Your new instl
tuition will probably never contain
any children between the ages of
two and fourteen years as they
should under no circumstances to be
kept In almshouses, There are spec
ial institutions for those mentally af
flicted and others should be placed
in family homes whenever they be-
come charges upon the county. There
will likewise be no dreary insane
population. In fact, the modern aims
house is largely an infirmary where
old men and women and others who
have become prematurely aged
through affliction may be kept dur
ing their declining years
Thsre are certain problems in the
building of this new institution which
doubtless your excellent county court
is now considering. The sexes
should be very distinctly separated
by the plan of construction and in
addition arrangement must be made
for the clear separation of whites
and negroes. 1t is unfair to neglect
the negroes although It is nature to
give first consideration to the whites
l have indicated that this new insti-
tuition will be largely an infirmary as
there will be through the years many
bed cases There should therefore
be a large hospital ward in the new
building. Besides this there should
be In both mems and women's de-
partments large sunny living rooms
where the old folks may sit about
fireplaces and stay out of their sleep
ing rooms. 1t is very good plan =
have the building IL it is oblong in
shape running north and south so as
to get the greatest amount of sun
light during the day
There are many practical problems
of architecture which could best be
spoken of in discussing plans. The
building should have an effective
scheme of ventilation so as to keep
the air circulating freely even though
all the windows and doors were clos
ed. Only a minimum Of woodworB
should be used in the ontslde trim
ming, so as to reduce the cost OF up
keep. The building should be plan
ned for the best ADVANTAGES in admin
istration and at the same time SC
constructed that additions may be
made without spelling the architec
tural effect. The material of con
struction is a problem in itself as j
is possible to erect practically fire
proof buildings of this kind at low
cost
Although l have lost my right 0
settlement in Audrain county AM
therefore am not likely to have t.
live in this infirmary in my declin
ing years, l trust sincerely tina
you will get more for the none.
than any other county in the state,
x...-, ,,nrxy ArY,Iu