Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1853-04-22
INAUGURAL ADDRESS,
DELIVERED AT THE COURT HOUSE, KENosHA,
APRIL Is, 1853.
CITIZENS OF KENosHA:
OF MAYOR SHOLES

CITIZENS OF KENosHA;
At the commencement of our last fiscal year,
laid before the people ana the council as full an
nartments of its government, as could be made up
from the public records, derived from other
sources l deem it proper to present a similar ex-
hibit now and trust that you may every year
be met with particular and truthful state
ment Of all matters, under the cognizancs or dir
ecton of the city authorities which affect your in
terests or welfare. knowledge of the past, as
regards the legislation and conduct of your city
officials, may Indicate the sources through which
some of the benefits enjoyed have been secured,
and from which injuries suffered, if any, have
crued; and may point out the course which
should be pursued in the future to accomplish
the good and avoid the evil. It is, therefore,
essential that this knowledge be had and while
the matere therefor should be fully and faithfully
presented on the one hand it is equally important
there should be an honess intelligent and discri-
minating exercise of judgment on the otber, with
determination to make practical all ideas of re-
trenchment and reform which may suggest them
selves, or be suggested, regards the future ma
nagement of your corporate affairs. The first duty
shall discharge; the second deyolyes upon you.
SUPPORT OF POOR.
The aggregate expenditure of the past fiscal
year for the support of resident and nonresident
paupers, as carefully made up from my own and
the clerks records, was 81 ,443 IL. The expen-
diture for this department, the year preceding,
amounted to upwards of 81 ,000-showing differ
ence of over $500 in favor of the last year. This
difference of cost is to be attributed not to any de-
crease in the number of paupors supplied, but to
an important change tn the system of pauper sup
port. Under the direction of the late Council, a
City poor house was established, and persons re-
quiring and receiving public support, removed to
and concentrated there, as far as practicable. 1t
was not, however, until late period Of the year
that this uros AZ I tha odr
tages of the change, in pecuniary aspect, would
be more striking A fair opinion in regard to the
subject may be derived from particular reference
70 the statistics. All expenses incident to the sup
port of about twenty persons in the poor house
from It's establishment to the first Of the present
month"; period of but three weeks less than half
year, were 1898 81; while for the support of an
equal number, during the corresponding portion of
the preceding year, upon the old or isolated plan
according 10 the record, the cost was about $500.
Showing difference of so per cent. in favor of the
economy of the concentrating system. And not
merely in regard to its economy is the system adj
vantageous but also in the entire security from suf-
ferng afforded to the pauper class who, heretofore
particularly during the winter season. scattered and
living for the most part ia worst 4 most remote
tenements were more less the subjects of neglect
and want hunger and cold, against which, under the
circumstances, no adequate public provision could
be made. The results of the change, as thus far
exhibited, are gratifying in every aspect; showing
clearly the advantages of the new system over the
old. And here it may be pertinent to suggest that
the example of the city of Kenesha might very pro-
fitablg be adopted by the County of Kenosha.
What the former has accomplished rs a local BEN
eht, on narrow SCALE may be accomplished by
the latter, a moro general benefit, on broader
and better scale, If the limited application of this
principle of pauper support is found to be good,
would not n more general application such as may
be made by the County in the establishment of
County Poor House, with a small farm attached,
be found better! Indeed whatever system the city
or any town by itself may adopt, must be one for
the support of the poor, while that which the Coun-
ty is called upon to establish, would be to en-
able the poor support Themselves One-third of the
sum which he county has paid since its organjza-
ton, for nonresident paupers, and thc city and
towns have expended for resident paupers during
the same period, would unqucstionably have been
sufficient for the purchase OF farm and the cree
zion OF a poor house, where every pauper in the
county might find comfortable home, where eve
ry one able to work might support himself and
perhaps contribute to the support of others, and
where all might be placed under wholesome moral
influences and control. It must be that our coun-
~ authorities will soon see this subject in its pro-
per light, and be induced to take the course which
interest and duty plainly dictate. At the
nual session Of the county board last held a com
mlttee was appointed to gather and present sta
tstical and other information III regard to the pre-
rs to the eNpedIency OF a change. This report
will be made at the next annual session; and if
faithful and truthful view of the question is pre-
scented, We cannot doubt as to a favorable result
trust the suspicion will not be entertained that
the interests of the city are more particularly in
volved in this subject than those of any town or
the county, and that hence arises our anxiety for
a change. A suspicion of this kind would be
groundless. OF the 81 400 expended this year on
paupor account in the city, the of 5000 stands
charge against the county, for support of non
resident poor, and under cur present pauper sys-
TEN 1t is not probable the relative cost of resident
and nonresident paupers viii be decreased. The
amount paid by the county the year preceding on
this account to the city was 81 900, making for the
past two years an aggregate OF 81 900. That the
county IS interested, then, 70 rs great, if not
greater extent than the city, in the establishment
of a sclf-supporting pGuPer system, would seem TO
be too plain TO admit of question.
1 am gratifed in being able to state that the
number of nonresident and resident paupers has
lately undergone very considerable diminuton
and is now less than at any period during the past
two years. a few weeks since the numerical &C
count stood thus
In Poor-housc, men, 5women, IS children,
Outside, IL
Making in all 81.
The account now stands
In Poor-house, = mon, 3 women, : children,
Outside, 3
making in all only ), and showing a decrease of
more than one-half since the close of winter a
further dimiuution may soon he madc, when only
those, to the number of four or five, who are ne
cessarily dependent from old age sickness, and in
sanity, will be left as subjects of public care and
support. Present and prospective circumstances
Justify the belief, that so far as q want of employ
ment may heretofore have tended TO the produc
ton of pauperiSm IN our midst, this cause will
mcasurably cease 20 exist The public enterprises
soon TO be commenced, and the impetus TO private
enterprise within our limits which must be an i'm
mediate result, will not only furnish constant and
profitable employment for all the effective working
population now on hand, but make room for and
attract hither large additions to this class, Under
such condition of affairs, principal cause of ex-
treme poverty and dependence no longer existing
here. we may reasonably conclude that expenses
for the poor department the current year will be
reduced TO a comparatively small sum.
1t will be my endeavor to keep these expenses
within as narrow limit as a proper and humane
regard to the comfort and welfare of the pauper
class will admit of.
POLICE DEPARTMENT.
In regard to this branch of the public service |
have but few statistics to present remarks to Of
fer The number of arrests made for violations of
city ordinances during the year have been few