Jim Kershner’s This day in history

From our archives, 100 years ago

The Spokane County commissioners toured the County Poorfarm at Spangle and admitted that it was “inadequate” and a “fire trap.”

“If we ever had a fire, there would surely be loss of life,” said one commissioner.

They admitted that they needed a new building, but voters would not go for it. One commissioner said “a bond issue right now seems to be a nausea to the people.”

But the commissioners said that at least the poor farm provided the “inmates” with good warm clothes, including “good underwear, as good as anyone needs.” Besides, the commissioners didn’t want to make the poor farm “too attractive, or we won’t be able to keep people away from there.”

“You must consider the class of people we have to deal with,” said one commissioner. “As a rule, they have never had any better.”

The building also served as a last resort for indigent tuberculosis patients, most of whom arrived with no chance of recovery.

Also on this date

(From the Associated Press)

2011: A magnitude-9.0 earthquake and resulting tsunami struck Japan, a combined disaster that killed nearly 20,000 people. … 1861: The Constitution of the Confederate States of America was adopted.