quarrying and dressing, the distance from which they would have to be taken to the building sites being less than an eighth of a mile. The timber land marked upon the property will give an ample supply of posts and rails for fences without lessening their protection to the stream running through.

Sand, Gravel and Lime.

All these materials can be obtained on the premises as well as all the chestnut timber needed for scaffolding.

Fertility of the Soil.

With the exception of the few acres of woods absolutely necessary for park purposes, and less than sixty acres lying along the stream and necessary for its protection, the whole property consists of the richest and most fertile arable land that can be found in the State; it is now in a high state of cultivation, well limed and well manured. Without further expense it is in a condition to produce abundant crops of corn, wheat, rye, potatoes, oats, as well as all kinds of garden vegetables. One of the properties, containing almost one hundred and fifty acres, has now upon it large crops of sweet corn, tomatoes, celery, beets, beans, radishes, cabbages, cucumbers, horse-radish, turnips, egg-plant, onions, sweet and white potatoes. Without a further expenditure for fertilizing material all the truck and vegetables, as well as all the apples and small fruit needed and used in an institution of the kind contemplated, can be grown upon the property with the work of the inmates; and sufficient manure to keep the property in good condition can be obtained from the cattle kept upon the premises. The lime necessary to be used on this character of land can be obtained from the stone on the premises, which can be burnt in the ordinary kiln erected on these properties, at the expense of merely the coal used in burning it, the labor being of such a character as can be readily supplied by the inmates. The Commission are respectfully asked, when comparing prices with property in less fertile condition, to make due allowance for the cost of bringing the land into as great a state of cultivation. The value of farm land, not only in Berks county, but in every section of the State, is gauged almost entirely by its productivity and the fact of its requiring a larger or smaller quantity of fertilizer. This property, a careful examination will show to be much superior to any property offered at low figures, and is capable of being kept in fine condition at but a fraction of the cost of land which has been worked out, or is naturally of a leaner quality.

Expense of Pumping Water.

The water being able to be piped into the buildings by gravity will save the State not only the large expense of erecting pumps and pump

ing stations, but also the constant expense of having them properly run and kept in repair; such an expense instead of being trifling would, in a short time, pay a considerable portion of the cost of the site, and should be taken into account in comparison to any other properties which cannot supply water to the buildings by gravity.

Expense of Lighting by Electricity.

The water power on the premises will be sufficient to light the buildings with electricity, if not all the time a greater portion of the time. The grist-mill is now rigged with first-class machinery which can furnish power to run the electric lights whenever the mill is not grinding, since the capacity of the mill the six barrels of improved patent rolled process flour per hour, much more than is necessary for the consumption of the inmates of this institution, there is no doubt but that all the time there will be sufficient water power to run the electric light plant. This will save a very considerable expense and a constant one to the institution, which in itself would be a greater way to make up the difference of the first cost of the site.

Expense of Grinding.

The grist-mill now located on the premises is a fine one, having in it the most improved machinery for making flour and for grinding any sort of grain. It can be run by a single person and will save an institution having as many inmates as this one is expected to have, as well as feeding as many head of cattle as will be kept on the farm for furnishing milk and butter to the inmates, a very considerable sum of money each year.

Expense of Buildings.

In comparing the price of this property with others offered the Commission should have due regard to the extent, number and value of the buildings now erected upon these premises, which not only are abso lute for the proper cultivation and management of this large extent of land for the housing of the horses and cattle which must be necessarily kept upon the premises constantly, as well as the proper storing of the hay, straw, grain and other produce raised upon it. The barns, as will be found by reference to the annexed schedule, are sufficient to shelter one hundred and fifty heads of horses and cattle, more than will be kept by the institution. In addition to this there are at least four dwelling houses in good condition for the families of those who work the farm or superintend any portion of the work about the institution and who will not find it desirable to live in the main building where the inmates are kept. The value of all these buildings, including the mill, should be taken into account when a comparison of prices is made.

Expense of Planting Orchards, Fruits and Fencing.

The Commission are also asked to take into account the expense of planting orchards, fruit trees and the like, as well as the time which must necessarily elapse before they come into good bearing condition. The property will require no further expenditure than that of keeping the trees trimmed. As far as fences are concerned there is an abundance of timber upon the property which can be had at the mere cost of manufacturing it into posts and rails, most of which work can be done by the inmates.

The Wertz Tract has erected upon it the following buildings:

A two-story stone dwelling house 28x30 feet, containing seven rooms. A frame barn with stone basement 30x40 feet.

A frame pig stable 16x35 feet.

A frame wagon shed 20x20 feet.

A two-story frame house 16x20 feet.

A three-story grist-mill 33x50 feet, supplied with the most modern machinery.

The Hain Tract has erected on it the following buildings:

A two-story stone house 30x65 feet with a frame kitchen attached thereto, containing thirteen rooms.

A frame pig stable with stone base 16x51 feet.

A stone barn 30x95 feet, with tin roof, capable of stabling a large number of horses and cows.

A stone building for wheat adjoining the barn 25x25 feet.

A frame straw house 20x25 feet.

A log house for sheep 26x62 feet.

A frame stable 30x62 feet and several other similar outer buildings. The Gaul Tract has erected upon it the following buildings:

A two-story dwelling, partly stone and partly frame, 39x30 feet.

A frame barn with stone base and gables 40x75 feet.

A frame house 20x25 feet, together with frame pig pen, wagon shed, etc.

The Hewitt Tract has erected upon it the following buildings:

A fine two-story and a-half dwelling house, a stone barn, stone workshop, stone smoke-house, large stone spring-house and frame corn-crib with out farm outfit.

Capacity of Barns.

The barns on the Hain Tract have stable room for forty cows and ten horses; those on the Hewitt Tract for twenty-two cows and sixteen horses; those on the Gaul Tract for twenty-four cows and ten horses; those on the Wertz Tract for four horses and ten cows.

Total capacity for ninety-six cows and forty horses. The capacity will be over this amount and not under.

2*-15-91.

Orchards.

There are four fine apple orchards upon this property in good bearing condition.

Fruits, Grapes, etc.

Each one of the tracts has upon it grape vines, pears, cherries and numerous kinds of small fruits.

Water.

This property is furnished with an abundance of pure, soft, mountain water. This water can be run through pipes from reservoirs constructed anywhere along the stream above the mill property and be carried by gravity to the highest point of any building constructed on it; by constructing a reservoir below the mill property, water can be run into the second floor of any building constructed on the level ground without in any way interfering with the working of the mill, and can be used to water any part of the farm, as well as for a fountain which may be located on the ground.

In addition to the water supply from the large stream running through the property, a glance at the map will show that the house and barn situated near the mill property are supplied with fine, cold, spring water from a little spring near by.

Another spring is located in the extreme southwestern part of the property, which, if dug out and walled up, would furnish fine water to any building that in the future might be erected in that locality."

On the Hewitt Tract, south of the railroad and within a very short distance from the Berks and Dauphin Turnpike, are located two very large springs of pure cold water, in which trout are kept. The water from these two springs uniting on the property makes a stream of considerable size and volume.

All the farm buildings located on the draft are also furnished with an adequate supply of water for all purposes. Should it at any time be desirable for the cold water in these lower springs to be used, either for cooling places or buildings in which meat and other perishable articles are kept, or for drinking water, it can be readily run, by means of an ordinary ram, to almost any place on the premises. The dams or reservoirs constructed along the main stream will furnish an abundance of ice for summer use. They have been used for this purpose.

Meadow and Pasture Land for Stock.

An examination of the map will show a fine strip of meadow land above the mill property as well as a very extensive meadow extending all the way along the creek from the mill to the railroad. This meadow has an abundance of fine, large shade trees interspersed through it. Water and shade in pasture and meadow land is absolutely necessary to a farm on which a large herd of cattle is kept in summer.

Drainage.

An examination of this property will show that the land slopes very gradually and in most parts evenly, from the base of the mountain which forms its southern boundary, to the railroad which forms in most parts its northern boundary. This insures the best drainage for all surplus water. The character of the soil and the geological formation which underlies the whole northern half of the property is limestone, with fissures and caverns which will carry off all kinds of house and product drainage that may be conveyed into any sink placed upon the ground; all ordinary waste water can be run into the streams which flow through the property.

Climate.

This property is situated in one of the most healthy places in the State, malaria and other diseases incident to low, marshy, low-lying, more badly drained country are unknown. The fact that the surrounding hills are dotted with well-known health resorts gives ample proof of this statement.

Drainage Continued.

The attention of the commission is called to the fact that the acreage of this property is so great that much of the waste matter which usually goes to loss, including the deposits of water closets and the like, by the advantageous lay of the land can be readily drained into such portions of the property as may be used for raising grain, thereby not only readily disposing of it, but disposing of it to advantage.

Scenery and View.

In the location of an institution of this kind great importance should be placed upon the fine surroundings and the beautiful scenery, and views that can be obtained from any elevated portion of the ground. We venture to say that no place can be selected which will furnish a more extensive, varied and beautiful view than the one offered. In addition, the whole property can be seen readily by any person passing by either over the railroad or over the turnpike, both of which run along the whole length of the premises.

Extent of Property.

The property offered consists of five hundred and forty acres and one. hundred and two perches; an accurate survey, we believe, will show more instead of less property. The shortness of time made it impossible to have it accurately surveyed and to furnish fuller descriptions. The property extends along the railroad for 6,435 feet, which is its greatest length. It has an average width of 4,950 feet.

The entire property is offered at the sum of $77,000, and options are held by the company for all but small pieces of about seventeen acres, which the owner has agreed to sell as soon as it is properly measured and the acreage calculated."