The Ohio Democrat. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1840-1900, 1842-03-24
Messrs, Alherton, King 4 Brainard.
ADDRESS.


TO TEE VOTERS OF TUsCARAWAs COUNTY
In compliance with The request of a meeting Of c-
zens from all parts of the county, we as committee
have made application to the County Auditor for satis-
tics his office Affords in relation os the expenses now
incurred in Ihe county 2t support oil paupers, and 'he
most ADVISABLE mode Of proceeding with due regard
TO economy in the projected enterprZe- OF erecting
poor house of sufficient capacity TO accommodate that
class of our population. We give you, herewith, his
repIy. and without further remark as to the matter it
contains we respectfully refer you to it, for all the n'
formation requisite to the GnanCia part Of the project.
You will find by examination OF the law lcollated
statutes page 638 that the county commissioners may
purchase land and erect poor house, and that the ex-
pense is to be deayed by tax levied for that purpose
The commissioners ofour county arc avoraby inclined
TO the measure but with becoming soIlcude TO consult
the wishes of their constituents, and to be assured OF
their appreciation in the matter; the proprety tf incur-
ring the expense without something like certainty that
they do not substitute their opinions for public sem
timent if therefore, plan be adopted, which will de-
note the sentiment Of the county on this subject, our
commissioners will be ready it is understood, to act up
on it. You will see by careful inspection Of Judge
EveThards letter. that the plan proposed does moi con-
template an immediate raising of the money, nor mme>
date erection of The proposed poor house, but on the
contrary by gradually raising the means, and thereby
their gradual expenditure; that economy will be best
served and the burden at no time heavy. We urge 10
you that if completed the establishment of re-
treat for all the paupers ofhe county will diminish your
annual expenditures, their account and at the same
time secure them comforts which our present system
cannot afford. With a superintendent accustomed TO
their wants, and physician regularly attentive TO their
complaints they, though deprived of the command of
this worlds goods be rendered comparatively happy.
Who are our pauperSl Are they not mostly ageb peo"
pie who have passed the time of life in which men
usually engaged in providing for future wans1 mostly
incapacated by diseased And are they not generally
,boin doua Of thar n,anhnOd unr
the promising and enterPrsngl Females who have been
deprived of the stay and support of life by the act of
Providence? Or ifamong them some are found whose
habits of dissipation have got the better OF their Judg'
ment and who from that have lost their energies
lei it be remembered that heretofore large portion of
community have to say the least not sufficiently dis
couraged the use of the means of their degradation;
and that whatever may have been the of paupe-
rsm the palpers must be supported By the pubc-none
of US is sure of avoiding that humbled condition. Re-
verses attend all our business operations and what is
the lot of many TO day-whether poor and helpless
with the faculties of the mind yet perfect or if insanity
be super.added to The distress of poverty the same lot
may beal any one of before another year shall come
round Let us them now reflect fairly upon the matter,
and consent that of the means with which we now
blessed we will apply small proportion for the pur|
chase of land and the erection of convenient buildings;
perhaps for the use of ourselves or OF our fathers or
children when the day shall arrive that we or they can
no longer provide for ourselves.
In The other Sates poor houses are almost universal
" established and in npighboHng counties, Stark,
Coumbana; Harrison and Jefferson, in all these lnstan
ces so far as we have heard known the two great OBJ
iecls comfortable support of the Poor and economy
so perfectly exhibited that the citizens of those counte,
could not be persuaded to exchange them for the old
system, which now is practiced upon in Tuscarawna
county. "
this subject ts proposed that, St the April election,
each voter in favor Of the project write the words,
'poor house, on his ballet and each voter opposed to
it, write on his ballot the words no poor house" and
that with the returns the county seut the judges of
election certify the state of the vote.
D. M ATHERTON,
s. BRAINARD, Committee.
....t.. THOMAS KING.