The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1857-01-16

County Poor House.
correspondent gave in our columns q
lev days ago some facts in relation TO the
condition OF things at the County Poor
House. That there is not ample and humane
provision Tor all the unfortunate people who
have been sent there, but that, on the other
hand, there is great lack Of things peces.
sary TO their comfort and health, would seem,
from ms account, to be true. As we have
had the same accounts from other sources.
and have on several occasions been reouest.
ed to call public attention to the mat,sr IRA
believe that the facts are substantially as he
relates.
Inc difheulty seems to lie in too great an
anxiety on part of the authorities to manage
the County House as economically MS posi-
Die' that it may draw from the pockets Of the
people the least possible amount of money
Tor Its maintenance. ECONOMY in, public Of.
iairs y a good and meritorious thing. We
respect the public officer who lightcns the
burden OF public service to the utmost rea.
sonaole extent. But the people are not desi-
rous that any approach to pennriousness
should distinguish the administration Of nuh.
lie servants with regard to the relief az N.
unfortunate and suffering. They do not de-
sire that such expenditures should he lavish
ana unnecessary, but they do wish that they
shouia De nnques'ionably ample. There is
no puoiic expense which they pay more will
nheN. we are sorry, therefore, to see owl
aences OF what appears to us an unneces.,-
= parslnony IN the conduct Of our County
foor House. And We do not believe that the
people Will be gratifed on Tearing them.
A contract seems to have been made with
Atam'iy who keep the house, to board, clothe,
ana care for all the paupcrs at the rate az
si'oo per week for each person, and TO have
IN addition the free use of the farm md ~
al pauper labor which he could emnlar
Inc product OF the farm has We, been but
i'''ie. The value Of pauper labor has been
'"''snihcans' The cost of living has been
constantly and rapidly rising. Conseooentlv
.nes nave been obliged to provide for the
1000 and clothing Of the unfortunates under
'heir charge, the leas. possible amount tho,
could be made TO answer. The countv
9aage, we suppose, wanted to MAKE Tho In
gum cover ali i agreed to. Hence the mad.
equacy OF the provision. and the suac,;n,s
o' 'he sick and needy whom the County has
undertaken to maintain.
nu' from whatever cause the present state
VI 'nings has resulted, il must not be ner.
m''seu longer TO continue. -Four rooms i,
N'ich TO accommodate thirty persons an
disabled either by sickness, old aye. infancy
VI iaiocy, is too little space. How can ,ha
''eA' cooped up in such foul air, be expected
ever 70 recover, that they may cnoy life ~
-. a.,' % fid Tbs county of their supporty
anu 'hey must have more bedding and more
clo'ning, as well as more space and Trash ,;r
Du' solitary suit Of linen for the s;ck .,
even single change, unless freopen,lv and
pe"p''y washed, IS thing not merely
wrong, but really shocking. Think os ~.
ioa'hsoineness which must result from 80.
iae Tor eight days carmen, next n ia
person extensively burned. from
""'Sh there u u constant discharge. Ri, !,
= unnecessary to enlarge upon the sub;ec, -
prove 10 the mind O. any one the imnronr;e.
y OF packing into -four small rooms ,h;,,u
persons, all enfeebied with disease Or aso,n.
i'ade' and Of the impossibiity Of supnor,;n.
'hem aecen'ly, Or 10 any excusable manner
at $3.50 per week.
:, ! " mol blame anybody, though there
pi''me ising al somebody's door. That !.
unnecessary, perhaps, now. We ontv al
me : 'eHn's Judge i.ol.p;;,., anu fuii, T. rec.
MY TINS state Of things. Ii they a,a 49,,
speedily rectiGed, then VIC .hal, a;.cr.. IL.
freely the degree 81 blame, ana tho no,san
o. persons 70 whom ii attaches.
hEokrk AND kAssAs CIR, RAnRoAn W.
notice IN The Kansas City Et.terpvi., ,bc min
utes OF meeting held al RichGeIa CLAW r.
Missouri, TO take into eonsideratlon n. s,,h-
ject OF the keokuk and Kansas e,,v Pail
road. The enterprise was warmly anplana.
ed, and promises Of liberal subserjrt;on.
were made.
CT-in the city Of New York there are
i-,ou0 more males than females. 4 few
L..