The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1839-09-28
The Poor House.

the project of building a County Poor
House, got up by few individuals in Dan
vile, to throw the expense of the poor OF
Mahoning upon the county generally. We
then expressed belief that it would entail |
upon the county large annual expense, in
dependent of the original cost of the farm
and buildings. We have since been con-
frmed in this belief, by reading reports of |
the Directors of the Poor House of Bucks
county for the years 1885, 1886, and 1887,
furnished us by friend. 1t is now about
20 years since the first establishment of |
poor house in that county. They have
farm Of 3 or 400 acres, upon which has !
been erected buildings. Notwithstanding
the original cost Of the property has been
paid; yet the yearly expenses of the estab-
lishment are continually increasing, as ap-
pears from the following statements which
we gather from the reports before US.
For the year 1885, it cost the county to
sustain the poor house establishment, inde-
pendent of the income from the farm, about
$4,000.
In 1896. $500
In 1887, 6OO0
averaging about $40 per year for every
pauper remaining in the poor house on
the first day of January, of each year, inde-
dependent OF the interest upon the original
cost Of the farm and buildings, When we
take into consideration the fact, that in the
winter season, the number of paupers in the
house is much greater than in the summer,
the actual average cost will be increased
to more than $50, which Is more than an
average cost of the paupers Of Columbia
County under the present arrangements
There are items of expenses in the poor
house accounts of Bucks County which
help to swell up the enormous expenses
of the establishment. and to which we should
be alike subject. We refer to the salaries
of the officers of the institution. and the ex-
pense of transporting paupers to the poor
house. The average salary paid to officers
and their assistants, is about 1000 dollars,
besides about 400 dollars paid TO constables
aud justices for their services in carrying
paupers from the different townships TO the
institution, as no pauper is received unless
brought by constable, upon the order of a
justice of the peace; making the round sum
of nearly $500 for salaries and fees
which is almost entirely dispensed with un-
der the present system. Tnis, like the
other expenses of the institution, is equally
divided among the taxables of the county;
a township having no pauper pays an equal
proportion according 10 her assessment, as
the one having twenty. From other coun-
ties where Poor Houses are established, we
hear statements which show that they are
more expensive than the present mode,
, but not having official reports, we cannot
/ give certain statements from any other coun'
ly than the above. But this is sufficient to
show the impolicy OF our county entering
into an experiment which, to say the least
will not decrease, if it does not increase
their poor tax. Can it bs that we are bet
ter managers than the people of Bucks
county ,or that we shall have officers who will
he more economical than theirs! They
, have had the experience Of twenty years
and yet their expenses increase every year
We are to enter into it at a time when thu
e county is already burthened with taxes il
+ consequences of bnilding bridges, and OIhe
i expenses, and when, by SO doing, we near
+ ly double them, for years to come, and Gas
e ten upon the county a debt that will remaiI
o a mortgage upon every mans farm, the in
o terest of which must be paid annually
IA The poor are now sustained with. but
II small tax in most Of the townships; SO sma
d that it is hardly felt, but we venture to say
$ that, should the poor house law go into op
J. Grafton, their tax would be nearly threbed
/, Are the people prepared for this ! If no
e. let every man attend the polls and cast hi
-. ..s,s ,.,;nst tha Ia,v Eyeru ayeVfion Wi