Staunton vindicator and general advertiser. (Staunton, Augusta County, Va.) 1858-1860, 1859-01-08


&C., new building which should
have been pail out OF county
levy, 1892 SOS. u
Excess Of levy over expenses s4o.7s
This statement, of course, only approximates the
true of the case for there accounts Of the
former year which have doubtless been brought
into the wear selected, and accounts of the latter
which will be paid out of the levy for the succeed
ing year, but they think it may be relied on a
fair exhibition Of the annual expenses.
There is net brought into this estimate the val
ne OF the third Of the crops raised the farm
which under the contract with the Steward belongs
to the Oyerseers of the Poor. The steward has not
been required to keep and has not kept an account
OF the crops raised. This item cannot, however,
amount to much, as from the character OF the farm
they believe an annual rent $3.50, would be high
The stew ard receives for the services OF himself
and wife salary of $3.50, and as tenant OF the
farm the 3lrds Of the crops raised, supporting 70
asG or
The labor derived from the paupers is very in
considerable hardly worth the trouble used IN get
ting them at it the greater portion OF the inmates
being old, crippled, idiotic or young, and conss-
Quently unit for labor.
From the statistics OF their foregoing statements
the Court will perceive, that
The listed paupers out OF the Poor-honse cost per
head $4,000
The paupers at the Poor-house for entire support
excluding salary and rent, cost per head 1873
The paupers at the Poor house including salary and
| rant cast per hezh "a
! From which the Court must come to she conclu-
sion that considering the size Of the county, the
poverty OF the farm itself, and the number OF per-
in want Of help that the Overseers OF the Poor
have administered the trust conhded TO them WIFI
| economy, and generally wisely, ana 10 haye spent
less the County might pc cnargea WEI San s1 7.
charity and humanity for its suffering and needy
poor.
The committee visited the Poor-house since their
appointment, and from thorough examination
were only confirmed in the opinion they had be
fore entertained, and as all unprecedented persons
they believe must entertain who enquire INFO the
administration of its officers, that there is no Just
! ground Of complaint at that point. The steward
and his wife are admirably adapted to their 49,
spective POSITIONS intelligent, sober, honest aad
Industrious, attending with parental care 10 the
wants and necessities OF the paupers keeping them
claen and comfortably clad; seeing that their cot
selves with propriety. And while your committee
give this general endorsement to the steward and
his wife, they desire to mention with very special
commentator the rife; her place, they fear when
vacated, will be hard to I'LL they have no doubt
4 from her watchfulness and her knowledge OF dis.
eases aad their remedies, TINT mop4y is saved al
most daily to the county; she is niatron, doctor
| nurse and friend all combined.
| Your committee recommend that the BOARD in
their next letting require the steward to keep and
report the annual products the farm Sc as that
they or the Court may inspect it whenever they
may desire.
examination
records that the annual levy for the support of the
poor for period of ten years past has ranged be-
tween SO cents and so cents per tithable that in
ls4S it was So cents, in 1854 (ony) it 90 cts.
and is SO cents-that the amount has Huctua-
ted in proportion to the increase dimi1ution Of
the tithables than from any other cause ex-
cept that for the years 1855 and 1856 the levy was
put down at so cents per 1.-THE making the 40 GRE
gate for 1855, $3.50, and for 1885, Sa0O0--and
| they are informed and believe that the lew for
these two years was reduced below the sum reaui--
site for the ecessites of the parish in consequence
Of the fact that there appeared to be large balance
due from the late Sheriff, NJ II. McCue, which
they believed when collected aud added to the lew
would be ample for the wants of the board but it
has turned out upon partial settlement and the al
lowance by the Board Of orders and credits which
the Sheriff was entitled to but had failed to pro-
duce at his settlements, that the apparent deficit
has been almost entirely reduced and discharged,
and the result OF course is that the Board of Over
seers are now somewhat in arrear to meet which
as well as to add something to putting the land in
better plight and do some necessary repairs to the
cottages, your committee recommend an increased
| levy at the next June County Court.
Your committee are satisfied that generally the
Board is composed of intelligent faithful and trust
worthy gentlemen actuated by no selfish purposes,
| but deyoting their time, when necessary, to the
duties OF their offices. They found several matters
in the administration of the affairs which require
| IN the opinion OF your committee, reiorm and
change-Tlrst, the Importance of requiring at least
annual settlements to be made by each member Of
the Board. neglect of this has resulted in the
books showing considerable balances againt several
OF them, balances which, however. they say they
can reduce by offsets and vouchers not yet produc
ed. Secondly OF requiring each member to keep a
! book OF his transactions, and your committee hay
ing recommended these and several less important
matters to the attention of the Board tney have
report that they have adopted and are carrying
into operation the recommendations"
Respectfully submitted,
q. M. COCHRAN,
E. HOGSHEAD.
| December 1858.
Which report was received and approved by the