Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1922-12-21
THE STATE POOR FARMS
THEIR CONDITIONS, ETC,
by ". H. Maginis)

poor farms in order that the attend
ance would be large enough to meet
the district school requirements and
keep the school open. This is one of
the startling facts brought to light
in the investigation of conditions in
West Virginia by the child welfare
commission. And it is one of the facts
upon which the commission is basing
its argument in favor of the CONSOLE
dation of the county poor farms in
the state into six consolidated poor
farms, one for each congressional
district. But that is not the only
reason.
For the last nine months the COM
mission has been making study of
the poor farms of the state and it has
found that the county homes are be-
ing maintained in the large majority
of cases for an "appallingly small
number of inmates" in the language
of Miss Hettie Hazlett, executive sec
rotary of the commission. This
MEANS" Miss Hazlett said in recent
letter to county authorities through
out the state, "a large investment for
the county in land, houses, barns,
equipment, etc, to say nothing OF the
per capita cost which varies from
$50 to $500.
1.-THE commission" she said. is
considering a plan by which these
poor farms may be consolidated, hav-
ing only one for each congressional
district. Under this plan the presi-
dents of the county courts OF the
counties constituting the congress
sional district and the State Board OF
Control would form board of man
ayers for the district home.
"The attached chart" she con-
tinued, twill show you the situation
at the present time worked out on
the congressional district basis, show
ing the rooms, inmates, approximate
value based on the number of acres,
the value per acre and the value OF
the household equipment. Notice the
number of inmates in relation to the
number of rooms, the actual number
of rooms exceeding the number OF
inmates. Under the plan suggested
It would mean that directed by To-
cal board of managers there would be
six homes in the state which would
adequate and in an efficient, economi-
cal manner under sanitary conditions,
care for our helpless, aged or indig-
ent"
By personal investigation of Ger
tain poor farms, Miss Hazlett col
looted a great deal of data that con-
WINGED the child welfare commission
that radical changes must we made IN
the administration of the laws ana
institutions created or established Tor
the benefit of the poor, before TINS
oro,,n of unfortunates can be proper
ly cared for.
Conditions existing in some OF the
county farms are indicated in MISS
Hazlett's report of the poor farm.
One farm was described as follows:
The farm was supposed to contain
30 acres. but there was only small
area and the land was worth cultivat-
inb. On this farm are two buildings
L.
the one reserved for the inmates WIN
room for IA or 16 persons. The pres
ant number of inmates more than ~,
the condition of each Of whom IS de-
scribed in the report. The condition
&c zach is described in brief as fol-
lows:
No /. old age and tuberculosis; No.
2 feeble minded; Nos. 4, 5 and O.
three children, all having golfers; No.
7. sickly baby; No. 8, old age ana
feeble minded; No. 9, mo mind at
alp; No. 10, old age; No. IL, old age
and paralysis; No. II, old age ana
feeble minded; No. 10, inmate for Il
wears. nervous complaint, mentally
deranged, complained bitterly OF nef
nerves and conditions, as she appiled
salve to boys leg.
This boy, who is No. IA, IS nine
wears old and is in the imbecillc class
with flies crawling over his face ana
not registering enough sensation on
his brain to make him brush them on
Sores on his feet and legs, some
healed with hard scabs and others
open.
No. Is, is an old woman IN the same
room with Nos. 10 and IA. she IS
hopelessly feeble minded, with pam
etc eyes and silly grin She KEEP
asking the investigator who she was
and if she had seen anybody the old
woman knew.
No. 16. an attractive girl OF twelve
weighs about go pounds and has bad
,.l a~d toncilc She and two