The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1915-07-15

COUNTY
FARM is
A MODEL
Mr.. AND MRs. STEVENS. IN
CHARGE, HAVE PLACED INsTi-
TUITION IN THE VERY FRONT
RANK.
THE FARM IS SELF SUSTAINING

On Thursday the writer, in COM
pany with the members of the board
of county commissioners and some
other visitors. made an inspection of
the county poor farm and were most
agreeably entertained by Mr.. and Mrs.
R. c. Stevens. who have it In charge.
Everything about the place is neat,
orderly and clean and bespeaks the
progressive. economical and business
like management of the superintend-
ents. Under their supervision it has
taken a position IN the forefront of
such institutions in the state SO far
as the success Of its administration
is concerned.
The buildings are capacious, sani-
tary and well arranged. and the sur
roundings wholesome and attractive.
There are no ramshackle, tumble
down structures about the premises
that not infrequenny give the envir-
ons Of such places an appearance OF
poverty and desolatien. On the con-
trary everything ia kept in good con-
dition. and. as far as possible. under
the circumstances, an air of cheer
fulness prevails. The effect of this
system of neatness and good order
is not only apparent in material mat
ters. but reflects itself in the lives
of the unfortunate inmates, who are
helped@in body. mind and disposition
by it. By reason Of it they take an.
interest in affairs that would other
wise be lacking.
A tour of the main building with
its dormitories. hospital, operating
room. dispensary, corridors. living
rooms. pariors, sleeping apartments.
dining hall. kitchen. pantry and base
ment will everywhere reveal the most
scruDulous cleanliness and careful.
ness TO detail. The same system OF
overnight and supervision applies
with equal force to the out buildings.
Everybody connected with the estab-
lishment that is able to work has q
duty TO perform and they discharge II
cheerfully. BY study Of human ma
ture Mr. and Mrs. Stevens have reach
ed an understanding OF the men and
women about them that have enabled
them TO evolve a method of control
that LIS extremely helpful to them in
their management Of the institution.
Their discipline is not severe, but is
authoratiye and kindly. All obey the
rules and instructions without mur-
mering and would fight. IL necessary,
in the defense of those who issue
them.
There are at present, little more
than forty public wards at the county
farm. which is about an average for
this season OF the year. During the
winter months the number is great
er; sometimes running mp as high as
fifty-fve or sixty.
The county poor farm proper con-
sists Of something like forty-seven
acres Of irrigated and cultivated land.
In addition to this some additional
property il requisitioned for agricul-
tural purposes under lease. There is
this season on the home ranch some
twelve or fifteen acres Of corn, TWEEN
ty acres Of alfalfa, eight acres Of
wheat and three and half acres de-
voted to gardening and truck growing
There Is q large orchard, in which
corn is growing between the trees
under q system OF Intensive cultiva-
tion, and an abundance OF small fruit
and berries Of all kindE for the use
Of the inmates. A large number Of
hogs are kept anc they share with the
cows In the consumption Of the alfalfa
crop. Of which there Is annually 81
considerable surplus for the market.
The hogs raised at the farm produce
all Of the pork and lard required f6r|