New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1857-01-22
THE cHARrTY HOSPITAL.


THE CHARITY HOSPITAL. ~
M - s-- ~ scss'2
We wish to call the attentionof our citizens here
ind at distance, to few facts regarding this bene
sent and to New Orleans Indispensable institution
Any person acquainted with this city, and at all In
crested in its welfare, must look upon the Charity
Hospital as one of the wisest plans ever formed for
the alienation of human Distress and would certainly
be startled to learn that any difficulty has arisen or
might arise ia finding the means forts support The
yearly aggregate Of mortality in this city IS very
large, and magnation could but feebly foresfadow
the Untold scenes Of misery that would thrust be-
fore eyes In the absence of their proper asylum
misery augmented tenfold from lack Of medical aid
and necessary care and attention. With this fact in
view, we have NO real fear that ample measwiIl not
in some manner be provided for the continuance of
this humane establishment upon its hitherto liberal
and elective scale Bat it appears from the report of
the Beard of Directors, which we have before us,
that the main seurcessa Of its revenue have recently
been ID great measure cut off. H. ygyi }, E,ssI
1 The tax upon foreign inltnig reflts-a class who
derive its main hene converted into fund for
the support Of this asylum in 1854 it amounted to
the sum Of $1l 900; il 1855 $4l 600; and during
the past year II decreased to $2s,424 25 There is
reason to suppose that this reduction may continue,
but not perhaps in the same rtio but in any case it
cannot beupgain anything more than an unmportant
tributary of revenue.
The taxes upon balls and concerts, amounting to a
considerable sum yearly have for a long time been
hrge item in defraying the expenses Of the Charity
Hospital but this part of its income cannot be relied
upon for it is matter over which the city authori-
ties have fun control nd recent ordinance pro
hibits those termed isorderly y great portion OF
I lit, we apprehend, lis ,cut Of. sss3 "
An act of the State Legislature has also deprived
the institution ot the fines imposed by our courts
which had hitherto been appropriated to II, and
nobody here need be told that this has taken away
very important support. sss:i :. ~
The annual statement of its financial affairs during
the year 1856 stands thus .i X, 80, -Isfs "a
Balence hand from 1865 is u rs ~ as
1ro,sl ss..s... ~. sssl,75r IS
Expradei the sig s sss -S
Leaving balance In the Treasury tsl2s -, is
Outstanding debis'agsinst tae institution II 500 %
This exhibit is not very attering for its present
inancia condition fof it win be seen that even with
tile aid of those suns of which it has been deprived
its expenditures largely exceed its income, and where
His the large balance on hand with which 70 commence
the year Besides, We learn from that
in addition tothe ordinary expenses of the year
large Dutlay be required for Che repair Of the sew
efaI buildings and these repairs are Of character
that renders them indispensable, one item being leky
roofs, which ara not exactly the thing for sick people
From the inni grant tax from the tax on balls and
concerts, from pay patients, gate money and occa;
sional Donations the Institution has hitherto derived
its principal support but it not probable that these
resources and all the etl,ersit has, will go much fur
ther than TO pay present obligations and aefray
half its expenses Of the next year. We infer this
from an examination of tue tabesin the report. IT
istfHe thatthese expenses smaller than USUAL
We remarked above that the yearly bills of mortality
in this city very great but the main cause Of this
is the Immense foreign immigration that pouFs into
and whe the decreaseef that dininishes
one source Of revenue il also imnshes the expenses
OF the institution Bat then, calculation
these expenses must far exceed its means, and thus
the question is brought directly before the public
what to be done to maintain Of The
humanity aud benevolence of our city and State upor
its former excellent footing? =.
l. Last year the State appropriated the sum q
$4,000 but this is included in the total OF its income
which it, has been seen fell short of its expenses ior
than eleven thousand dollars. We trust aud firn
1 believe THAT the Legislature will attend to the matte
during the present session. and adopt some measrr
Il to insnre this Indispensable institution against a
Lchancetf future embarrassment. We arc aware tina
much b ight be expected from private generosity,
appealedto, but this wend not always, il ever, sF
ply the deficit, as the great want isazplan and tn
means of placing it.upen firm and permanent basil