“Our reader have been apprised of the fact that the increasing destitution among the poor of our country had forced the Commissioners to erect an additional building for the better care of the needy who have, from sheer necessity, been compelled to see a refuge in the county poor house. Our reported visited the Infirmary day before yesterday to note the progress of the work, and to glean such items pertaining to the institution as would be of interest to the friends of the Times.”
“The building is to be a two story brick, 53 by 20 feet, and will consist of four rooms, two on the first floor and two on the second. The walls are up to the second story. The inside work is progressing favorably, and the structure will soon be ready for occupancy. It is built in the rear of the old Infirmary building West about ten or twelve feet. The North room on the first floor is wholly disconnected from the South room, being divided by a brick wall, and will be occupied by female inmates alone. A cell will be place in a corner of the room for the safe keeping of insane patients before removal to Asylums. The South room will be for male inmates and also contain a cell for insane males. The upper rooms, which will be reached by a stairway from the men’s room, will be occupied by male inmates.”
“Iron bedsteads, or hospital bunks as they are called, will be used in this building on account of their durability, as well as for the reason that they are easily cleaned and are not vermin breeding.”
“The Infirmary, proper, has had some attention paid to it by the present management. The broken ceilings have been repaired, and a cleanliness throughout the entire building is one of the marked contrasts over other days. The poor ventilation, which was the subject of criticism by the press, has been remedied by saying openings in the chamber doors, and so arranging the windows in the halls and bedrooms that they can be lowered to admit fresh air. These improvements are so marked that, to one acquainted with the institution, they can be detected by the more cheerful faces of the inmates.”
“One year ago there were but about thirty-four inmates at the Infirmary, but now there are almost double that number. During the cold biting winds of January laster there were but 59 inmates, while during the past summer the average number has been 76, and at present there are 70 although winter is nearly two months away. There were 75 this week, but one family of five were taken by Mr. Phillips, Commissioner elect, who is to be paid by the county $3.00 per week for the care of them.”
“Of the 70 inmates, 30 are males and 40 are females. Fifteen are children, six of whom are infants at the breast. Here our reporter saw, for the first time, the child of the dwarf, both mother and babe being inmates of the institution.”
“But it is not alone the 70 inmates of the Infirmary who are cared for by the Board of Directors, but a large outside aid is rendered. We are informed by the Superintendent and Directory that they feed and give lodging at the Infirmary to, ‘to an average of one “tramp” per day.’ Able bodied men away from home looking for, what is not to be found, steady employment.”
“In addition to this, the Directory contribute to the support of 83 persons outside of the Infirmary, and 31 in the Children’s Home, beside aiding, by almost daily contributions of clothing, groceries and provisions, needy persons who are unable to fully supply themselves with the absolute necessities of life. Much of this kind aid is extended to those who have suffered through the destruction of the valley corn crop, the harvesting of which they looked to provide them with something to tide them and their families over the colder season.”
“While the increase of poverty is going on, and as the necessities of the poor are multiplying the number of the distressed, the Directory find it more difficult and expensive to meet the demands upon its charity. Five hundred dollars were expended on the farm for the cultivation of the growing crop, but the flood in the valley swept over it, rotting the potatoes, destroying the corn and rendering the hay worthless. The farm had hay to sell last year, cribbed 800 bushels of corn, besides having potatoes, mess pork, fruit and other products of the farm to lessen the expenses of the institution. All these articles must be purchased now. The spring frosts killed the fruit, and the water completed the work of destruction.”
“Right here we hope the Directory will see the necessity of taking such steps as are necessary to cheapen the articles they must purchase this winter. Bids should be advertised for furnishing hay, oats, corn and such other supplies as may be needed. As ever indication points to a still further increase of dependent poor, this course, if adopted, will reflect still further credit on the Directory by the material reduction it would make in the running expenses of the Infirmary.”
“The directors have purchased a large range to better facilitate the cooking for their large family, and are digging a cistern using pauper labor, this incurring but a small expense thereby.
“The stock of the farm consists of 21 of the fattest hoggs in the country, about 20 stock hogs, 18 sheep, 16 heads of cattle, and four horses. The Directory buy their beeves on foot and butcher them on the farm, making a handsome saving in this direction.”
“On the whole, while everything seems to have combined to make the farm non-productive, the Board of Directors has tried to offset it by frugal management, while, as our readers have seen, it has not lost sight of the comfort of those under its charge.”1
