The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1849-05-04
COM MUNICATI0NS.
For the Free Trader,

oi last week the report of the committee
from the Grand Jury in relation to the poor
house which requires from me a passing
notice.
When first suggested to the commits
sloherS nf the county. some years since,
that justice to the poor and to the citizens
Of the county impe;i"usly called for the
purchase Of a farm and for the erection Of
suitable building; did it with view TO
economy and to make a comfortable abode
for the unfortunate poor. But was oppns-
ed to the purchase of those old and diidpi-
dated buildings. The purchase Of the farm
has had the desired elect in reducing the
enormous expenditure of the poor establish
mcnt, believe more than one half-that
too under a great increase Of population.
Persons Who are ableto support themselves
by labor seldom make application for ad-
mittance; and when they do so, soon leave
on finding that they are called on to work
upon the farm according 10 their strength
and ability. This IS now so generally nm
derstood through the county that the attend.
ding physician is no longer annoyed by the
application Of imposters for admission.
With regard to the state Of the buildings,
bedding, furniture, &C., am fully aw are
that it is, and ever has been, disgrace to
the county, aud thus it will remain while
the Keeping Of the poor is farned ont to the
lowest bidder without regard TO his fitness
and qualifications for discharginc the duties
of such trust. On this subject have FIRE.
quen,ly expressed my opinion to the com
missinners since the purchase of the farm
and have suggested the rrop'ie'y of their
, SET, citing proper pers9 and paying him a
There have bperJbut two dea,h,-a wo.
man and her infant child-in the house
since it came under my care last September
| They died in the winter, and / have no
doubt that it was from unwarrantable ex.
poseure to cold during the severe weather
from want Of sullicientb eddinp. They Ger,
tainly had no disease TO which their deaths
could reasonably be attributed. At abou
that time said, what ] deemed proper t,
our commissioners on the subject of bed
ding and also when the farm was purcha
,ed, said 20 the board that a suitable mum
her of lodging rooms ought to be ftct
up with single bedste ads, and all tire bed
ding and furniture for the raupers furnished
by the county and let; requiring the keeper
TO furnish that for his own family, and hold
ing him responsible for the prudent care
and keeping of all that belonged to the coun
ty. Until this is done, and person who i,
qualified TO discharge the duties Of such q
trust placed in the establishment, it will
continue TO be as it has beeil--a dscredit (,
the county.
With regard TO the committees remark
in relation to the medical department,
would merely say that know of no insane
in which have been called upon to wish
the sick in the poor house, without having
either attended TO il in person, or, when il
and unable TO go myself, sending a compe
tent person; which facts it is in my powe
to verify by uuimpeachable testimony. II
one instance ! was called upon to visit
person who was said TO be pauper, VIII,
lived at private house; aud OWING (,
some misdirecton OF the messenges, a hal
day was spent in securing the country ol
aud under the bluff between town and Buff
alo Rock without finding him. A few day
after an intelligent message came as TO hi
whereabouts and the case was attended "a
II this is what the overseer means by hi
statement TO the committee, that he wa
unable to procure assistance, il may be sc
down for what it is worth.
! believe no man of sense, Who will TAX,
the trouble to ascertain the number o
deaths that have occurred in that poo
house will complain of any one Of the ply
sicianS who have had charge Of it. But
he will visit it and see for himself in wha
manner the inmates are fed and lodged, h
will be surrrized that any one lives Their
through such winter as the last especial
ly if sickness overlook him even though h
had old EsculapIus himself to attend him.
: Common sense ought to teach every on
that it is vain to expect that the poor will b
properly cared for, unless man Of benevo
lcnce-one who possesses some small shar
of the milk of human kindness, and, more
over, one who knows how 10 live at leas
comtOrtably himscl, is placed in charge c
e the Gs'ab i,hmcnt. A. II. no WLAND.
Ottawa, Aprilo7 1919.