USA > Iowa > Buchanan County > History of Buchanan County, Iowa, with illustrations and biographical sketches > Part 25
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But the opening ceremonies and festivities were over. Independence had a railroad; and the columns of the town papers were enriched by a bona fide time-table. We linger a moment in sympathy with those editors. With what ecstatic self-gratulation was the carefully pre- pared schedule placed in the hands of the compositors ! Only two events in their previous history could approach this acme of exaltation: the first pair of boots, and the first ballot. Who shall tell which of the triumvirate should bear away the palm ?
STATIONS AND AGENTS.
Winthrop-The cars reached this place but a few days before they arrived at Independence. There have been seven station agents at this point. Their names and the order of their terms of service are as follows: R. B. Crippin, S. W. Rich, Samuel Leslie, Frank Ward, W. T. Kendall, M. J. Flanigan, and G. M. Nix. The present incumbent is W. T. Kendall, re-appointed.
Independence- The first agent at this point was W. B. Boss, who remained only six or eight months; the second, Z. Stout, now of the lumber yard near the sta- tion, one year; the third, J. W. Markle, about nine months; and the fourth, C. M. Durham, who still holds
the post, a veteran in the service, having occupied the position over eighteen years.
Jesup-The cars reached this point shortly after arriv- ing at Independence. Four agents have served the company (or, rather, companies) here, as follows: J. R. Jones, W. Mosier, H. H. Smith, and W. C. Smith, the present agent.
BURLINGTON, CEDAR RAPIDS AND NORTHERN RAILROAD.
This road was constructed through this county during the summer of 1873. It has done much toward devel- oping the resources of the county, but its historical inter- est, as well as its material value, is, of course, somewhat eclipsed by its cross-wise neighbor.
Rowley-The station at this place was opened for business June 17, 1873. There have been three agents here, as follows: R. R. Harding, J. E. Wyant, and the third, and last to date, A. Allen.
Independence-The cars reached here about the first of July, 1873. Five agents have served the company at this point: Mr. Harding, Mr. Tuthill, J. Hough (or Hoff), J. A. Vincent, and G. W. Hallock, who "holds the fort " at present.
Hazleton-The road was completed to this point in September, 1873. J. E. Bennett was the first agent, retaining charge till May, 1880, when the present incum- bent, W. G. Hogue, took charge.
CHAPTER XIII.
PROVISION FOR THE POOR.
THE trustees of the several townships are by law em- powered to furnish all necessary relief for the poor within their jurisdictions, at the expense of the county. In the case of families, this is done at their homes. Applica- tions for assistance can be made either by the families themselves or by neighbors who are aware of their neces- sities. When the application is made the case is exam- ined by the trustees, and whatever is needed is supplied. In winter it is very commonly fuel, and at all seasons it may be flour, or meat, or house rent, or clothing, or medical attendance. No family, except in rare instances, and for short periods (as in case of sickness), ever re- quires its entire support from the county; and, of course, it is the aim of the trustees to stimulate the self-respect of the poor, and encourage them to industry by furnish- ing them employment, whenever that is practicable. It is thought that, in some of these ways, about fifty fami- lies in Washington township were aided by the county last winter; and that in no other township were there more than half as many aided, while in some there were very few.
This was the only method of aiding the county poor until 1861, when the "poor farm" was purchased, mainly to afford the means of relieving those who are homeless, as well as in want. The farm consists of one hundred and ninety-four acres, in the eastern part of Washington
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HISTORY OF BUCHANAN COUNTY, IOWA.
township (25, 89, 9), one hundred and twenty acres bought of the Hathaway estate and the rest of Mr. Van- etten, for about four thousand dollars. Of this land, one hundred and sixty acres are prairie, and the rest woodland. The farm had on it, when purchased by the county, a substantial stone dwelling house and such out- houses as were common at that time. Since the purchase a two-story frame addition has been joined to the dwell- ing, and a large and commodious barn has been built.
The poor farm is under the control of the county su- pervisors, who appoint of their own number a poor farm committee, who hire a steward to take charge of the farm and a matron to manage the domestic establishment and look after the comfort of the inmates. The committee meets every month at the farm-house, and reports annu- ally to the supervisors. The steward purchases every- thing needed, and disposes of all farm produce, reporting at stated times to the committee. The joint salary of steward and matron at present is five hundred dollars, to- gether with the entire living of themselves and family, and all needed help. Some of the inmates occasionally assist about the house and garden. The house has ac- commodations for twenty inmates, but the largest num- ber thus far is seventeen, and the average number is nine or ten. At present (June, 1881) there are but seven inmates, four men and three women, none of them re- lated to each other. The present steward and matron are Mr. and Mrs. William Hamilton, who are now on their second year. Previous to Mr. Hamilton's time there had been but three stewards, viz: Gideon Ginther (who served twelve years), A. G. Beatty, and John Lock- head.
The following is the "annual report of the poor farm committee, January 1, 1881, to the board of super- visors :"
GENTLEMEN: Your committee on poor farm would respectfully sub- mit the within report :
Number of paupers January 1, 1880.
IT
Added during the year ..
Died
I
Number at date. 1I
(Four adult males; three adult females; three minor males; one minor female).
Average number of paupers during the year . IO
Number in steward's family. 5
Total cost of maintaining farm $1,964 35
Deduct for permanent improvements 197 62
$1,766 73
Average annual cost, per pauper, for entire maintenance, in-
cluding products of farm .. $ III II
The same, excluding farm products. 43 80
Your committee take pleasure in reporting having hired William Hamilton, and May Hamilton, his wife, as steward and matron for one year from the date hereof ; and also in testifying to their faithful and efficient conduct in their respective positions during the year last past, Mr. Hamilton exceeding our expectations.
G. M. MILLER, EDWARD BLACK, &Poor Farm Committee. A. H. GROVER,
SCHEDULE OF POOR FARM PROPERTY.
Farm and buildings ($30 per acre) ·$5.820 00
Stock 778 00
Produce on hand. 913 00
Sales during year . 679 97
CHAPTER XIV.
THE HOSPITAL FOR THE INSANE.
DURING the winter of 1867 and 1868, the Honorable W. G. Donnan introduced in the State legislature a bill for the erection of a hospital for the insane, to be located in or near the city of Independence.
The hospital at Mt. Pleasant was already overcrowded and many insane persons in the State were deprived of the benefits of hospital treatment. The bill passed the senate without a dissenting voice, and easily passed the house, together with the first appropriation of one hun- dred and twenty-five thousand dollars. The bill created a "board of commissioners for the erection of buildings for an insane hospital," and appointed as the members of said board, Maturin G. Fisher, of Clayton county; E. G. Morgan, of Webster county, and Albert Clarke, of Bu- chanan county. Mr. Clarke died before the expiration of the first year, and the Honorable George W. Bemis was appointed by the governor to fill the vacancy, and took his seat in the board January 21, 1869.
The bill passed by the legislature required the donation to the State of three hundred and twenty acres of land within two and one-half miles of the city. Several tracts were offered and the money for the purchase was raised by subscription among the citizens of Independence. The lot of ground selected by the commissioners is situ- ated about a mile west of Wapsipinicon river and the city of Independence, and about the same distance from the Dubuque & Sioux City (branch of Illinois Central) railroad. It is about one quarter of a mile wide at the east end; widens northward to the width of half a mile in the middle, and narrows again to a quarter of a mile on the west quarter section. The tract is on an elevation, rising by a gradual ascent from the banks of the river to a height of from fifty to one hundred feet, and the hos- pital building is on about the highest point of the prairie for some miles around. It is certainly well- placed to be seen of men. The tract was unbroken prairie, without a tree or shrub (to use the words of one of the commissioners, who seemed to think that a recom- mendation), and furnished, on digging, an abundant sup- ply of soft water free from any foreign substance. It was also discovered that the tract contained a bed of good brick clay, which proved of great value to the State.
Having obtained the land, the next step was to pro- cure plans and specifications for the buildings necessary for said institution. In order to qualify themselves with the knowledge necessary for discharging intelligently the trust committed to them, the commissioners visited sever- al hospitals, reputed to be most complete in their ap- pointments, and consulted eminent physicians who had made the care and cure of insanity their specialty. They decided on what is known as the corridor form of hospital as offering the greatest advantages in convenience, abundance of light, separation of wards, etc. The com- missioners engaged Colonel S. V. Shipman, of Madison, Wisconsin, to prepare plans and specifications, and he presented a plan nearly identical with that of the old Kirkbride hospital, of Philadelphia. The plans were
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HISTORY OF BUCHANAN COUNTY, IOWA.
accepted, but were so far modified and improved by the superintendent of construction, Mr. George Josselyn, en- dorsed by Dr. Ranney, superintendent of the hospital, at Mount Pleasant, as to become almost new plans.
It will not be amiss here to state the opinion of the commissioners, as expressed in their first report, that they "esteemed it fortunate that they were able to secure the services of a superintendent so experienced and so competent," has been more than justified by subsequent events. Mr. Josselyn had been employed in a responsi- ble position during the whole construction of Mount Pleasant hospital, and was afterwards steward of that insti- tution for several years. In addition to these qualifications he has been found to possess sound practical sense, and an integrity so rare that it may be doubted whether the history of the erection of public buildings, in this coun- try, will show a similar work so economically done, and so absolutely free from any suspicion of jobbery.
Among the changes in the plans, made by, or at the suggestion of, Mr. Josselyn, were: 1st. The substitution of mansard roof for ordinary pitch roof, on the main centre and on the transverse section; thus affording ac- commodation for about two hundred more patients. 2nd. The removal of cupolas from the roofs of the trans- verse section, and the addition of projecting towers to the longitudinal sections. These towers are partly rectangular and partly semi-octagonal, and increase the ornamental appearance of the building, while affording means of ventilation. 3d. The addition, entire, of the rear centre building, containing, among other things, the laundry, kitchen, etc. 4th. Increase in the fire-proof qualities of the structure by the substitution of iron stairways for wooden; of masonry for wood in ventilating flues, and in other ways. 5th. Improvement in the means of ventilating. In the original plan the domitories were to be provided with ventilating registers, leading (as now) from the bottom of the rooms, but connected by ducts with ventilating towers not provided with any means of producing the upward draft, which experience has proved to be necessary for this purpose.
Mr. Josselyn's original plan was to connect all the ventilating ducts with shafts heated by steam radiators of the kind used in heating the building, and this plan has since been adopted in the newer wings. The principle was at once adopted, but in a different manner-as will be stated in its proper order.
GENERAL PLAN.
The plan contemplated a central building four stories high and two wings three stories high; one extending north and the other south, and exhibiting an eastern front of seven hundred and twenty-six feet. The two wings were to consist each of three transverse and three longitudinal sections, so arranged that the front, as a whole, constantly receded from the front line of the main centre, in all about one hundred feet from the line of the front center. The main centre building is sixty by one hundred feet, four stories high and with Mansard roof. The wings are of the following dimensions : First section-longitudinal, forty-five by ninety-two feet; a
transverse section thirty-six by eighty-seven and one-half feet ; longitudinal section twenty-six by fifty-six feet ; transverse section thirty-five by seventy-two feet. The main centre was originally intended to contain the kitchen, laundry, etc., in the basement, but the plan was changed by the addition of a rear centre building, the front section of which is forty-two by sixty feet. The upper story (equivalent in height to second and third) contains the chapel. The rear section of this building is forty-four by forty-nine feet, and contains in the base- ment the kitchen and laundry. The upper stories con- tain a dining-room, sitting-rooms for patients, general storage rooms and sleeping-rooms for female employes.
The hospital as a whole is intended to be fire-proof. The walls of the basement story are built of granite from the prairie boulders found in the vicinity. The upper walls are of brick, with a facing of Farley and Anamosa limestone. The roofs are of slate and the cornices of galvanized iron. The framework of the Mansard roofs in the portions lately constructed, is of iron and brick arches. In the attics under the roofs the arches are leveled up and paved with brick. On the ceiling of the basement, and the first and second floors, wire cloth has been used instead of lath.
The engine house is built entirely of boulder granite, cut in rectangular form but of irregular shape and size, and is an ornamental building. It is fifty-five by one hundred feet in size and has an attic which contains some sleeping-rooms and furnishes storage room for some valuable machinery. It is situated directly back of the rear centre building, and is connected with it by the fan room. It contains the engine and boiler for supply- ing steanı for heating the entire building, and also for doing the greater part of the cooking in the kitchen. The boilers, at present, are four in number. Three are thirteen feet by fifty-four inches, and one about the same length and forty-eight inches in diameter. There is also a pump for forcing water into the supply tanks through- out the building. Back of the engine-house is the chimney, or rather ventilating shaft. It is one hundred and thirty feet high, including the base which is of granite, twenty-two feet and six inches in diameter. The shaft is octagonal or star shaped, fourteen feet in diame- ter, and is of brick, of which two hundred and fifty thousand were used in its construction. Within is the true chimney, of iron, and this heats the air in the shaft, causing a strong current through the air passages which lead into it from different parts of the building. The ventilation of the most distant parts of the south wing is by means of perpendicular shafts heated by steam radia- tors.
THE HEATING
of the entire building is accomplished by the use of steam radiaters, all of which are placed in the basement and enclosed in a brick passage way. This latter is sup- plied with fresh air through a duct connected with the "fan tower." It is intended to have large fans to force the air over the radiators. The hot-air registers in the extreme ends of the building, where the patients are kept closely confined, are placed in each sleeping room; but,
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HISTORY OF BUCHANAN COUNTY, IOWA.
in most parts of the building, they are in the central pas- sages, and the heated air passes into the sleeping-rooms through the transoms over the doors. The oldest air, which in winter is also the coldest, is drawn out through the ventilating registers at the base of each sleeping- room by small ducts connected with the large flues leading into the heated ventilating shafts, before men- tioned. The main duct constantly increases in size as it passes every additional smaller duct, until near the great chimney it is large enough for several men to walk in. The offices of the medical superintendent and stew- ard have fireplaces.
THE LIGHTING
of the building is now done with gas, which is manufac- tured from naptha, in a building erected for the purpose on the premises. The building and apparatus were completed in 1879, and during the winter gas was manu- factured from coal, but the results were unsatisfactory and the apparatus was changed so as to manufacture the gas from oil products. The result has been entirely sat- isfactory.
WATER SUPPLY.
An abundant supply of water is of the greatest impor- tance in an institution of this kind. A full supply is at the rate of about thirty gallons a day for each patient. This includes the amount used for drinking culinary pur- poses, baths, cleaning of building, and for laundry and heating apparatus.
During the summer of 1880, when water was abun- dant, and the weather very warm, about one thousand barrels a day were used, being about two barrels to each patient.
The principal source of supply is a well, ten feet in diameter, from which water is brought by a siphon, a distance of about three thousand feet. During parts of the year this well would furnish more than is needed; while, during the dry season, the supply is insufficient. In order to utilize all the water, a storage cistern was built in 1880, with a diameter of eighty feet, and depth of about fourteen feet, and capable of holding about fourteen thousand barrels. Into this will be pumped daily all the water which the well will yield after supply- ing the building.
There is a cylindrical cistern, seventy-four feet long by twelve feet in diameter, and holding about two thousand barrels; also another, holding about three hundred bar- rels. These receive water from the roof of the buildings.
The water is distributed throughout the building by gravity from two iron tanks in the attic of the main centre building, which are filled by the pump in the en- gine house. These tanks are twelve and sixteen feet in diameter, respectively, and hold about sixteen thousand gallons. Water is supplied to each bath-room and water- closet.
GENERAL ARRANGEMENT, CONVENIENCES, ETC.
Each ward is on a single floor, and comprises one longitudinal and one transverse section. The promenade, or general hall, in each ward, is lighted at the end and a "bay" at right angles with the end of the transverse
sections. All dormitories and the dining-rooms have large windows. There is a dining-room in each ward, one above another. The cooked food is carried from the kitchen by a railroad through the basement to the dumb waiters, which connect with each dining room. Speaking tubes and bell wires lead from each dining- room to the foot of the dumb waiters; also bells from the superintendent's room to different parts of the build- ing. Each ward is provided with a dust flue and with a soiled-clothes-slide, leading to receptacles in the cellar.
The water-closets are of the most approved patterns, and provided with downward ventilation through special flues. The bath-rooms are floored with marble, and provided with every convenience for supply and waste. All waste pipes lead to a six-inch drain pipe of cast-iron, laid below the cellar bottom, and provided with the necessary stench traps. The rooms are plainly but com- fortably furnished. Most of the dormitories are provided with plain iron bedsteads with woven wire mattresses and straw beds. The dining tables are set attractively with stone-china ware, casters and all the conveniences usual in good families. No wall paper is used about the building, and all walls and ceilings are hard finished.
In short, every means has been used to insure the health and comfort of the inmates, and to economize in labor.
APPROPRIATIONS.
The amounts appropriated for the building and furnish- ing of the hospital up to the present time have been by the Twelfth assembly, $125,000; by the Thirteenth as- sembly, $165,000; by the Fourteenth assembly, $200,000; by the Fifteenth assembly, $93,900 ; by the Sixteenth as- sembly, $99,000; by the Seventeenth assembly, $48,000; by the Eighteenth assembly, about $33,000.
DIETARY.
The bill of fare is varied, by a regular system, every day in the week. Coffee is served every morning and tea at supper. Roast beef or corned beef, or beefsteak, are furnished once or twice daily, and fish on Fridays. White and Graham bread are always on the table, and butter at breakfast and tea. Potatoes are used daily, and cabbage, onions and beets often. All garden vege- tables are in abundance, in their season, and large quan- tities of tomatoes and green corn are kept for winter use, and pickles are put up. Dried fruits and green apples are used in abundance, and berries in season. Hot grid- dle cakes are furnished for breakfast twice a week dur- ing winters, and hot corn-cake throughout the rest of the year. Crackers are kept on hand for those who prefer them. On Thanksgiving day the whole household has turkey for dinner, and either turkey or chicken on two other days in the year. Fresh strawberries and rasp- berries are served to all the patients several times in summer, and melons in their season. The sick are provided with various delicacies when they are unable to partake of the regular diet.
In 1877, when the number of patients was three hun- dred and twenty-two, and of employes sixty, the one baker baked about twenty-six hundred loaves of bread per week, consuming about fourteen barrels of flour,
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HISTORY OF BUCHANAN COUNTY, IOWA.
Two cooks and five assistants prepared the food; two men conveyed the food when prepared to the wards, at- tended to the storage-rooms, and assisted in the kitchen; one butcher dressed and prepared all the meat, took the entire care of all the stock cattle, hogs and poultry, and made the soap used in the laundry; two girls, with the help of one male patient, did the washing for the entire household ; three girls, aided by female patients, did the ironing; one carpenter did the repairing, making coffins, etc. ; three chambermaids and waiters do the housework in the main building, wait on table and at- tend door; the gardener, with the help of patients, dur- ing the summer, cultivated fifteen acres of garden, be- sides attending to the flowers and yards; one man took care of the cows, fourteen in number, and was employed part of the day about the farm; three teamsters were employed, two at farm work in summer and hauling coal in the winter, while one drives the hospital wagon, takes care of the barn, harness, carriages, etc.
For that number of patients twenty-seven attendants, male and female, were employed in the wards, and a male and female watch. The attendants are under the immediate supervision of the male and female super- visors, who administer all medicines, and are responsible for the clothing of patients; and the male supervisor does the work of the apothecary. The seamstress does all the mending for male patients, makes new clothing, etc .; the engineer attends to the engine and the heating and cooking apparatus, and does all necessary repairing to steam and water pipes. Two firemen are under his immediate supervision.
According to the last biennial report of the superin- tendent, dated October 2, 1880, the number of patients in the hospital was four hundred and fifty, of whom two hundred and twenty-seven were men and two hundred and twenty-three women. The whole number admitted since the opening of the hospital had been one thousand four hundred and thirty-three. Of this number there had been discharged, improved, three hundred and fifty- eight ; recovered, two hundred and forty-nine; unim- proved, one hundred and ninety-six; died, one hundred and eighty.
The cost of care and board of patients has varied from sixteen dollars per month, in 1878, to ten dollars in 1879, at which price it remained at the time of the re- port. The whole number of employes was eighty-three. The number of patients in May, 1881, was five hundred and twenty, and of employes, including officers, one hundred.
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