The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1854-03-08


THE PooR Housr. Those who have ney.
er visited this asylum for the needy and afflicted can
form but faint conception of the number and
character OF persons who are compelled to resort
to u In time of need and of the treatment they re-
ceive from the Superintendent and his kind lady,
who have'all the paupers under their charge -
Quite unexpectedly to Mr.. MlcFiAKIs, we made
call upon him yesterday. and In company with
friend, were conducted through the various apart
ments of the establishment. The female portion,
under the care of Mrs MICHAELs, presented a neat.
quiet orderly appearance, and the inmates seemed
well and cleanly clad and otherwise provided for.
Those who had health and strength were busily
employed In attending to the sick and afflicted and
In washing, ironing mending and making apparel
While others more feeble seemed to be spending
their time in reading and meditation. We were
somewhat surprised to learn that there werethree
or Tour foundlings' in The institution, and that
they were attended to with great tenderness and
care, by the most humane and gentle of the female
paupers Then, too there were several little prat-
Ting brats" running about, laughing and singing,
and apparently as happy as if they had been in the
nnest mansion in the universe. Having been rear
ed where they are, they know of no different life,
and OF course find no fault with their present
abode
The male department, as we have said, is under
the charge ofMR. MIcHAELs, and is most admira-
bly, managed. Some of the men are able to work
few hours in the day, and they are then employed
in tending the grounds belonging to the institution,
but the greater number OF them are so afflicted
with disease, that they do little nothing. We
notice that most OF the male inmates-or at least
majority OF them-were foreigners by birth, and
that they presented the appearance of having been
Incorporate drinkers to which cause they owe their
present condition.
In order to afford employment to an old gentle
man in the institution, Mr.. Michaels has established
school for the pauper children and made him
their teacher. How he succeeds with his pupils
we uuQhIn tn al there yyaa Int 0pc scholar
IN the school-room when we were there
There are at this time ia the Poor House 1873 in
mates. thus classed White men S. white wo-
men A white boys 10; two of whom are idiots
white girls Is negro men 8 and negro women a.
We understand that the support of each of these
paupers costs about $50 per annum, including the
salaries of Mr.. and Mrs. MIcHAELs, Doctors bills
board, clothing and fires. etc.-which is about one
shilling per day for each pauper.
FIRE AssoCIATIoN-The annual meeting
of the Firemen and Stockholders of the Richmond
Fire Association was held at Lafayette Hall last
Monday night The meeting was organized by
calling Mr.. JOHN Fl. CLAIBORNE to the chair, and
appointing Mess RS. JOHN II. BosHER and VIM C.
ToMPKINs as Secretaries.
JAMES BosHER, ESQ.,, the President of the Asso
citation, presented the seventeenth annual report of
the Board of Directors, which, after being read, was
approved.
The meeting then proceeded to the election of of.
icers fer the ensuing year. as follows
President-JAMEs BosHER
pic6 PreSident-CHARLEs T. WORKMAN.
Principal Engiaeer-Robert NJ Burton.
Directors-William G.. Tompkins, John j. Viii.
son, David Currie John H. Claiborne Hugh A.
WATT Thomas A. Rust, John T. Sublett and vii.
liam c. Walthall.
During the past year. ending the LIST of March,
1854, there have been III fires. Amount of prop
erty destroyed, S4l8, 535. Amount of property es.
tinaated to have been saved by the irenen So 70O.
300. During the year the Company have paid
$500 losses-S7,470 of which occurred in the
previous year.
Their assets amount to..--$2 1924 COS As
liabilities Observation-Disclosures. pol, 140.75
.,.. 1888, 464.70
From which deduct losses not audited. 100000
Leaving surplus fund, after paying all
losses, Of --..----.---.--... 2s,e64.30
Their receipts for the year
amount to- Se2 2156l
Disbursements for the same
Deriod % ar %