in the meantime had lost his position, probably more on account of the court-house question than any other issue, was frequently called upon to make statements and give explanations bearing upon that part of his official record relating to the court-house construction and the issuing of bonds There never was any ground for supposing that Judge Napier acted in any but an honorable and straightforward way with reference to the matter, but, nevertheless, his record was closely scrutinized, and although he made a correct showing he had to give way to a successor during the following fall. Judge Napier's successor went on with the building but was unable to complete it from the proceeds of the bonds which had been named. Fault was also found with his management, and the people in favor of the measure, were at loss to know what to do. To ask for another issue of bonds would not do; so at length it was suggested that the proceeds from the sale of swamp lands be used for that purpose. The suggestion met with general favor, but before that fund could be used it would be necessary to have some special legislation authorizing such use of the fund. During the winter of 1859 and 60 the Legislature "was seen" and the following act passed:

"AN ACT authorizing the County Judge of Polk county to appropriate a certain portion of the proceeds of the swamp lands for the completion of the court-house of said county.

"SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Iowa, That the County Judge of Polk county is hereby authorized to appropriate, for the purpose of completing the court-house of said county, such of the proceeds of the sales of the swamp lands of said county as may be necessary for such completion. Provided, that nothing in this act shall be so construed as to authorize said County Judge to sell or otherwise dispose of or encumber any of said swamp lands belonging to said county without first submitting the question to the electors of said county and it shall have received the approval of a majority of the electors at a special or general election held for that purpose.

"SEC. 2. All acts or parts of acts conflicting with this act are hereby repealed.

"SEC. 3. This act shall take effect from and after its publication in the Iowa State Journal and Iowa State Register, without expense to the State.

"JOHN EDWARDS,

"I hereby certify that the foregoing is a true copy of the original roll on file in my office.

"ELIJAH SELLS,
"Secretary of State.

An election was held in order to decide whether the county should avail itself of the provision of the act. The question was decided in the affirmative and by using the proceeds of the swamp land fund, the building was com

pleted and ready for use early in the year 1863. The court-house, however, was not completed until after there was a change both in the county management and in the contractor. The old County Judge system was superceeded by the Township Supervisor system, which went into effect on the first Monday of January, 1861. One of the first acts of the Board of Supervisors was to secure control of the work on the new court-house. Considerable difficulty was experienced by the Board to accomplish these ends, as Cooper had a good contract and was disposed to hold on to it. After repeated efforts to compromise the matter, Mr. Cooper resigned his contract and the Supervisors finished the work. During the time that the courthouse was being erected the county offices were located partly in Sherman's Block and partly in Exchange Block.

Notwithstanding the long time consumed, the expense, about $75,000, a very large sum in those days, and the disputings and difficulties attending the work, the county is to be congratulated upon the result, as the building still stands in a good state of repair, and, while not particularly an ornament to the public square, is, nevertheless, of sufficient size and well enough arranged to meet all the demands which are likely to arise for many years to come; whereas, had the county erected a cheap building it would soon have become unsuitable and another court-house would have become necessary long since.

COUNTY JAIL.

In February, 1849, the County Commissioners entered into a contract with George Shell and James Guerrant, to build a jail. The structure was to be 24x15 feet, double walls of hewn timber, with a space between the walls of six inches, which was to be filled with stone. The building was to be two stories high, and the upper story to be fitted up for a jailor's residence. It was located on lot 7, of block 15, was to cost $750, and be done by December 1st, 1849. In November, 1849, one of the contractors having in the mean time died, R. W. Sypher was awarded the contract of finishing the building.

The jail was completed soon after by Mr. Sypher, and was used for that purpose for many years. It finally becoming too small, unsafe and in other respects unsuitable for a county jail, it was determined to construct a prison in the basement of the court-house, which had in the mean time been completed. The apartments in the basement of the court-house were accordingly fitted up for that purpose, and cells were put in whereby a very commodious and reliable prison was procured. This jail has been constantly in use ever since and has furnished accommodations not only for the prisoners of Polk county, but, at times, for those of many of the surrounding counties.

POOR-HOUSE AND FARM.

It has been heretofore mentioned that the first application for county aid in the support of paupers was made in 1847. In early days few persons were very rich, and it is likewise true that there were very few poor. The history of Polk county in this respect does not differ from that of other coun

As the country settled up, farms were improved, elegant farm houses erected, and the various natural resources of the country developed, the more industrious, economical and fortunate became richer, and those who had less enterprise, business sagacity, or were unfortunate grew poorer.

Thus it was that after the year 1847, when the first aid was afforded, the number of paupers increased rapidly, and in a number of years from that time the number of paupers was so great and the expense of maintaining them so large, that the taxpayers began to clamor for some more economical method of relieving the deserving poor. Not only had the number of paupers increased rapidly, but exorbitant prices were frequently demanded for maintaining such, and, when accommodations could not be procured elsewhere, the authorities were compelled to pay the prices demanded. It is said that as much as six dollars per week have been paid for the maintenance of a single pauper. Under these circumstances the people began to inquire after some plan whereby the poor could be more economically cared for. In 1865 there seemed to be a general feeling in favor of purchasing a farm and erecting buildings suitable for an infirmary. The Board of Supervisors had been, previous to that time, frequently petitioned by various individuals, and the feasibility of the undertaking, doubtless, had frequently suggested itself to that honorable body.

At a session of the Board, early in 1865, the project of buying a farm and placing it in the care of an agent or steward was discussed, and, after viewing the matter from every available standpoint, the two standpoints of public economy and the advantage and comfort of the needy, being thought to be the more important, it was at length determined to purchase a farm. The Board, however, were not hasty but proceeded in the most careful and cautious manner. It was then

Resolved, that Supervisors Brooks, Jordan, Hall and Marts be appointed a committee to make a contract for the purchase of a poor-farm for Polk county, subject to the approval of the Board. That the clerk of the Board of Supervisors be directed to give a proclamation at the next special election, the question whether this county will purchase a poorfarm for said county, and the appropriation of the sum of six thousand dollars therefor out of the swamp land fund.

Which resolution was adopted by the following vote, to wit: Yeas, Messrs Brooks, Mitchell, Fouts, Fleming, Gurnea, Grimstead, Hall, Oyler, Kenworthy, Marts, McClain, Thornton, Hargis, Doran, and Spofford; nays, none. So the resolution was adopted.

The election took place according to the tenor of the resolution, and resulted in a vote of 1,546 votes, of which 1,396 votes were in favor of the proposition and 148 votes against the proposition.

On the 16th day of May, 1856, the committee appointed to purchase poor farm reported that they had bought a farm about five miles north of Des Moines, containing one hundred and twenty acres for the sum of $4,000, subject to the approval of the Board. The matter was discussed at some length, when the report was adopted by the following vote: YeasBrooks, Fouts, Fleming, Gurnea, Öyler, Kenworthy, Hargis, Spofford and the Chairman. Nays-Grimstead, Hall, Marts, Thornton and Doran. The contract made by the committee was thereupon declared to be approved, and Messrs. J. C. Jordan and S. F. Spofford were appointed a committee to buy stock and implements and employ a county agent; the sum of two thousand dollars was at the same time appropriated for said purpose.

On the 22d of May the committee reported that they had visited the poor farm recently purchased, and that they had found it a more desirable farm than they had at first supposed. They further reported that they had

taken with them a Mr. Chadwick and wife, who liked the place very well and with whom they had contracted to take charge and superinted the farm, for the sum of seven hundred and fifty dollars per year.

The various physicians of the county were then publicly invited to submit bids for medical attendance on the poor of the county and at the farm. The bids having been received and examined, the bid of Dr. Field having been considered the most reasonable, a contract was concluded with him.

During the month of September, 1865, the Board, through a committee, purchased an additional tract of land adjoining that already purchased and consisting of one hundred and sixty acres, thereby securing a farm of two hundred and eighty acres, conveniently and pleasantly located and in every way well adapted to the benevolent purpose for which it was purchased. Fences were repaired, wells digged and a frame house of two stories, walled cellar, and containing seven rooms, was erected. The old house, previously the residence of Mr. Yost, of whom the one hundred and twenty acre tract had been purchased, was immediately fitted up for the reception of inmates and by winter twenty persons were comfortably housed. Improvements have been going on from time to time to the present, and now Polk county has as comfortable and well arranged infirmary as any county in the State. At the close of the year 1867, when the farm had been in operation for a period of a little more than two years, there were reported for the current year fifty-three paupers cared for; the townships then were lows: From Des Moines, 30; Lee, 12; Madison, 3; Jefferson, 1; Delaware, 1; Four Mile, 1; born on the farm, 1. The sum of two hundred and thirty-two dollars and fifty-three cents was spent for clothing. The products of the farm for the year were: 369 bushels of wheat, 2,250 bushels of corn, 640 bushels of oats, 500 bushels of potatoes, 150 bushels of turnips, 3 bushels of beans, 20 tons of hay, 30 hogs, averaging 200 pounds each, and 2 beeves of 600 pounds each. As to the stock and farming implements at that time, we quote from the report of the directors:

as fol-.

"There are at this time on the farm two horses, five cows, five yearlings, six calves and forty-six head of hogs; one combined mower and reaper, one two-horse wagon, one corn-planter, one horse-rake, one single and one double shovel-plow, one cultivator, two harrows, and a sufficient supply of small farming implements; also, about one year's supply of wood on hand.

66 IMPROVEMENTS.

"As directed by your Board, we have had the siding removed from the new house, and a portion of the siding from the old house, and the houses substantially filled in with brick. We have also, in pursuance of your or der, made a purchase of 160 acres of prairie land lying directly south of the original farm, at the price of $2,550.

"We have had this addition to the farm substantially fenced with firstclass pine lumber and posts of suitable size and quality We have had 128 acres of this new addition broken, at a cost which will appear in our statement of accounts. We have also had 35 acres of the old farm plowed, ready for the spring crop. About 75 acres have been cultivated this year, but with the addition of 128 acres more for another year, it will create the necessity of purchasing two more good horses, harness and wagon, and probably some additional farming tools.

"In connection with the subject of improvements, we would recommend

some specific provision to be made as to quarters for that class of paupers afflicted with infectious diseases.

"The habits and character of such have been such as to create a feeling of degredation on the part of the larger class of paupers, by being brought in contact with them. We would, therefore, call your especial attention to devise some plan to remedy this evil. To add infamy to pauperism is to embitter the cup of the unfortunate, and revolting to our sense of propriety in making provision for the poor."

There were expended during that year for various purposes, including improvements, the sum of $8,721.67.

According to the report of the Superintendent of the farm for the year 1879 it appears that there were in the infirmary at the beginning of the year 32 persons; during the year there were 52 received; 1 born; 4 died, and 38 discharged. It is also shown that the cost of insane patients and paupers at the farm for the past year was as follows:

The following extracts from the report of a committee appointed to examine into the condition of the farm, made at the beginning of the present year, will be of interest to the reader:

"And we would further report that we find, on examination, everything in each department in excellent condition, and everything about the farm house and insane building show attentive care and the best of manage

ment.

"And we would recommend to your honorable board that the present Steward, Mr. John McLean, and his faithful wife be retained as such for the best interest of the taxpayers of Polk county.

"And we feel that it is a pleasure to commend to you the efficient manner in which the Steward, Mr. Joseph McLean, and the Matron, Miss Lydia Glaze, have discharged their duties in the insane department.