New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-04-13
PAUPERS SEEK COMFORT
Will Beg if AImshouse Offers
Stingy Provision.
MORE MONEY IS NEEDED
Members of Staten Island Farm
Colony Daily Perform Their
Allotted Tasks.

A ride across the Staten Island ferry,
long and somewhat bumpy trip on trolley
car and ten-minute walk on you are
quick walkeD along a delightful country
road. brings you 10 another reason why the
Department OF Public Charities needs a
big appropriation for 1913. Set back little
way from the main road stands group OF
large gray buildings, which constitute the
greater part Of the Staten Island Farm
Colony. Just now field of rye, brilliantly
green. makes an ideal foreground.
OF the 80 acres belonging to the farm.
seventy eight are under cultivation. Truck
gardening Is the principal use to which the
land is put Not only does the farm raise
it's own vegetables, but it makes large
shipments Of perishable vegetables TO
Blackwelrs Island during the summer
At some distance from tho main group Of
buildings. on the top of hill, are three
large and comfortable looking cottages. In
these some OF the old couples dependent
upon the city's charity live.
Joseph d. Flick, the present superntend-
ent of the farm colony, has been in charse
about three years. and before undertak KING
this work he had gained much valuable en-
perience as assistant superintendent Of the
Blackwells Island home.
Needs Of the Colony.
In talking of the peculiar needs OF the
farm colony Mr.. Flick said:
TIL. almshousc on Blackwelrs Island is
coming TO be more and more hospital Tor
chrome invalids. Situated on an Island. a.
1t is, its growth beyond certain mint ~
impossible. and this place Will eVentualY
-. lFFa1l a4.YIC c. af NnN
have room enough TO grow, We are near
the source Of food supply. Yet not too lar
away for friends and relatFts 10 Visit Us
On BlaCkWclS Island there Is nothing
for the inmates to DO. This IL all right Tor
those who are unable to 90 anything, Dut
& farm is the suitable place Tor aOie-DodIed
or partially dble-LOdI.d persons. The Work
is so varied that something can be iound
for everybody. For instance. to-day some
Of the men are at work building a staDIe'
some are digging ditch ior steam me
and others are loading soil. All thls Is
heavy work, and only the a0le-bodied take
part in It. But a lot more are employed
picking stones out Of the field. ms Is
easy, because they can work as slowly as
they wish. Others are sitting down In
shed and breaking stones. TINS 10 very
easy Some of the workers don bIcak
more than three stones in half day. Ihcrc
IS. OF course, a great deal of indoor Work TO
be done. Some - the inmates are employer
in making beds, helping IN the kltcAeh'
blacksmith shop, carpenter shOp or Staole'
tude.
Doctor Examines Them.
Every newcomer is asked whether he
knows any particular trade. Then the doc
tor examines him and decides whether II
is safe for him TO work. Some who are
not able TO do steady work make them
selves useful carrying water TO me Others.
One inmate who is not blessed WIN an
abundance Of intellect devOtes himself en-
tirely to picking up scraps Of paper ana
trash. from the grounds when he IL not
occupied with his self-apponted task OF
serving as general reception coHiI"t''c
for the farm colony.
one OF our most urgent needs is an ex-
tension of the cottage system. We shouu
have greater provision made Tor TAXING
care of old couples who nave become poQI
through no fault or moral defect OF thcH
own. 1t is hard for such people 10 "e
considered only as units IN a great mass
when many Of those constituting the mass
have reached their state through ShIt
Iessness drink or taking drugs.
We ought to have enough money 10 MAKE
this institution a comprehensive "hoIe'
= hirty or forty years ago institutions were
built with no special thought as To the
greatest convenience Of the inmates or the
maximum OF economy III admihlsu al'UI'
Now there are men VINO are experts III ~
sti,utionaI construction. They know JUST
how IN pIan buildings TO meet the special
needs of institutional work. InSlrdu vi
adding bit here and there, eacn year aI
random, we should be dOle 10 80 d'i."u ""v
plan the thing as a comprehensive ana
harmonious whole.
Surroundings Must Attract
You know even an almshouse ought TO DO
made attractive enough for the inmates 10
want to stay in II, because II IT isn't they
will 20 back TO the city and become neg
CARS. Persons who belong in an aimshouse
are persons who are going to 1--we AZ the
expense Of society, anyhow, ana IL Is 10
SOciety's advantage to see that they GET
that living in IL regulated way rather man
in the form of outdoor relief outdoor re-
lief is subject u abuse more than any other
form OF charity can possibly be. You see
If We don't give them "A reasonable amount
of comfort mere they viii beg, ana some
might even take to theft rs means OF
livelihood.
Asked as TO the willingness OF the In
mates tc help with the work of the place
Mr. Flick said: Il don't have much trouble
that way Most of them are ready 10 90
something OF course the executive has
TO use tact and. sometimes. little per-
suasion"
LONG HOURS IN LAUNDRIES