Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1912-01-11
COUNTY POOR FARM.
Report Of Superintendent Of the Poor
Show Many improvements

Messrs. J. T. Swigart +. Arnold
and Henry Dodge. superintendents of
Gratiot Co.'S unfortunates have pre-
scented the following report as a result
of improvements made az the county
farm during the years 1910 and 1911.
Henry Dodge, secretary, and dated
December IS, reads as follows:
In compliance of resolution made
by the Supervisors for the improve
ments made on the County Farm in
the years of 1910 and 1911, will say:
In the first place we took down the
old windmill and water tank and built
new brick pump holse 1924, eight
feet high, put in cement floor, in
stalled a four horsepower McVickor
gas engine with shafting and betting
for the same. Also put in new feed
grinder in we'll house Installed a
Flint and Walling pump with twenty
barrel capacity also put in pressure
air pump with water pipes connected
with house Placed three thousand
gallon pressure boiler, 5x20 feet, in
basement, put lead and steel pipes
everywhere needed in the house. Put
one new bath tub and lavatory in the
keepers ROOM Also equipped three
bath tubs with hot and cold water for
the same Put in six toilets; modelled
over the kitchen; put in a one-piece
sink in kitchen, connected with hot
and cold water; modelled over old
-;,I- e. -,f+ ,,,J La-J ,,r,4or - LIE o.
chen: put in a new cupboard across
one side OF kitchen with -four, sugar,
cracker bins, etc. Replastered, pa
pered, calcimined and vanished the
greater part Of the house. Gemented
two rooms Of the cellar; installed
fire protection in connection with the
above with three 5O-foot cotton ~
inch hose. Also changed several
doors in the house. Parttioned off a
small room for mems toilet in cham
Der or sleeping room. The whole fix
lures are connected with a sanitary
sewer system, connected with 12-foot
deep by S-foot in diameter antiseptic
tank or cesspool pit, 200 feet from the
house, with a tile drain from the
same, all put in in a good workman
like manner.
Put new roof OH the COW barn,
36x7O Put in about rs feet of new
stills, made a cement wall around the
entire building, with two cross walls.
Filled in basement with dirt, took out
old floor. Put in 36x56 cement floors,
90 modern steel stanchions for cat
tie, with two enclosed box stalls,
making an up-to-date COW barn. Took
out old COW stable on north end of
barn and making bay of the same,
double boarded the outside walls of
the COW stable with the old lumber,
piped and put a hydrant in the COW
barn for water In fact, an up-to-date
COW and stock barn complete.
We built a new cement water tank
in the barn yard and built new
building over it; moved hog pen six
feet to the north, practically building
the same over new, with cement floors
and underpinning corn crib, making
an up-to-date hog house and corn
crib.
Built 25 rods OF new board fence for
pens Moved the granary about three
rods to south and east in line with
the other buildings, on new piers.
Put in new sill, and sided up in places,
repaired roof Connected all barns
and buildings with water pipe con-
nections. Made a fine driveway into
the COW barn Graded the yard up
smooth and level in a good workman
like manner. Put in sixty rods four
inch tile for draining well pit and
yards
| would call your attention to the
improved sanitary condition of the
house and barns, etc, as we'll as the
improved conditions for care Of in
mates in house, and stock in barns.
As to the matter of expense for same
will say | notice you have not called
for same in your resolution and only
portion of this improvement has
been under my direction or control.
Will say | have no means of giving
you the same, only as it is taken from
the County Clerks books to which
you have the same access as myself.
HENRY J. DODGE,
Secretary.