Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1855-08-02
For the Intelligeueer.
PaupsIs and their Support.

i
mind to The careful Consideration of the subject.
l have thought it, therefore, proper to add some
thing to what have said. Tile friends OF the pur.
chase of large farm say, s'our present system is
extraysgant but THAT it is aiributableto the made
quacy of the present establishment" do not
think our present large expenditures for the poor
arise necessarily out of our present system-but
out ofthe mode or 1Day which our present system
or a,us are administered. Out of the Ss,425 ex-
pended last year, only little over $4,000 was ex-
pended at the Poor House. The remaining $4,000
was, as understand 1t, expended blythe indiyid-
ual disbursement of the individual members Of the
Board of oyetseers, contributing to different per-
sons who were not at the Poor House, but out of
| it, and mostly at their own homes. This think
the most prominent source of the extrayagant ex-
penditure, though doubt not but that the judi
cious hand of reform might find something 10 do,
by looking narrowly into the present expenses at
the Poor House as also by carefully examining and
considering the present mode or way of subsisting
the paupers and paying supposed expenses at that
place. Attention to what have suggested, par-
ticularly in the matter of the disbursements made
by the members of the Board, individually, will
show that the extravaganza spoken of, does not
arise so much from the inadsquacy of the present
establishment as from other causes. Aud more
that the lnadequaey of the present establishment
does not arise from any present want of land, but
of some plain buildings. What is meant by the
words stpresent establishment" suppose, in the
main, the present Poor House, on the poor house
land on Woods Run. insist that, though it is a
| r 1ofo ali
gelher iudicious selection, yet is plenty of
room there for all buildings which be necessary,
aud more land which can be titled than the poor
can cultivate, by gardening or Otherwise. 1t is
said the Overseers have sold the best part of their
present tract. If so, 1 suppose they sold it be-
cause it was not necessary in the juGicious and
economical management of the poor funds Of the
county TO retain it.
But to show that the fault is not 50 much in our
present system or Laws, will mention that in
ls4s, and in previous yeas, the cost of subsistng
the poor was 1896 and less, while in 1852 it
St, i49, and in 1855 Ss,425; aud yet the laws or
system was the same then as now. If we would
rightly understand the subject, must carefully
distinguish in such cases between the Mrrs or sys-
ten aud their execution or administration.
II we must have rural establishments for the
paupers, why not use the one we have now. and if
more Aouse-rOom is wanted, provide it there? and
if it is desirable for the oveseers to try their hand
at farming and taking care of the poor by ga COM
petent steward" why not try it on our present
Poor House property? If a steward can be advau-
tageously employed on large farm, it is certain
he can be employed with advantage on the present
property. When thus speak of employing stew
ard, suppose him TO have the care ofthe poor as
we'll as of the farm.
Let me remark the great body of our pau
pers are not cutivators of the soil, and can not
believe that it will be found either humane or
economical to attempt to make them such.
hope the supposed simplicity of rural life may not
misIead US. Cultivatiug old mother Earth in
beautiful gardens, amidst groltoes and cascades,
or wandering nshady groves, along the banks of
meandering streams, and over lowering meadows,
surrounded by satyrs, fairies and other sylvan del
tes listening to the,piping of shepherds on their
rural instruments made of oateu slraws, will do
very well to talk about. and is no doubt pleasant
and withal very healthful, but am not so sure,
that old lame, disabled and crippled paupers, seat.
ed on cold sods, and possibly with bare buttocks.
will think so well of it, whether as matter of
Thrift, or of comfort.
We nre ever prone to comfcund things which
ure distinct, and to fancy analogies where there
are none. Allnsion has been made to institu-
tons at Metary, in France. and RedhiIl, near
London. These institutions, on the authority Of
those alIuding to them, are establishments, not
for the poor, but for thereform Of juvenile oFend-
ers. Institutions for the reform young offenders
and places for the poor, are not more alike than
paupers are to farm laborerS. But these rural es.
adjustments, for young offenders, with their four
and FIVE hundred inmates, have only some 20 or
so acres of ground. If 20 or 50 acres ate suffi-
eient for 400 or 500 stout young offenders, would
think few acres would be sufficient for Poor
House Establishment for Ohio county.
But Fayette County is referred to, and we are
told that the paupers of that County, aud which
has poor house on farmin the county, (of the
size of which we are not toIdl are subsisted at a
cost of 4s3 cents each per week. will not say
tits not so, for paupers in this County in 1880,
and before and after, subsisted at fifty dol
lars per year Bull will respectfully say. that il
pnupers are there subSisted at asa cents each per
week, we are paying here great deal too much
Turning is prOdigiOusly profitable there, stetO
ards there are exceedingly cheap. skilful ana
taitbul.
ourpaupers cost at the poor house, as per con,
tract-rI do not know what they cost elsewhere
one dollar and fifty cents tsl,5O) per week, for
board alone. What is the cost If clothing, do
not know, but suppose is not less than s25 pei
year for each one, Making our paupers at the
poor house cost each, over 50 per week-or slO4
per year.
1t is thus manifest to my mind, that five will
but carefully consider. what we ale made to pay
here, for the support of pauper, we may find
out why they ave supported much cheaper in Fay,
elite, without attributing any thing wonderful to
the Fayette farm. The question very NATURAL.
occurs at this time what ought pauper to cos
with US. l will not answer it. leave the peo
pie to answer for themselves.
| But I will .nnnira hovv nncb a comnoon labor