The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-03-21

The present City Council, like the last, seems to
be involved in inextricabe difficulties in reference
to the selection of site for the Almshouse There
is no city in the UNION around which so many eli
gibe situations could be procured, as are obtain
able within few miles of Baltimore. The high
grounds in our immediate vicinity present hun
dreds of points, upon any one of which an insti-
tuition of the character contemplated could be
veniently located. Many farms have been already
offered for the purpose, and committees have been
charged with the duty of examining and report
ing upon their respective advantages, but this
business remains apparently in the same unsettled
condition il was in two years ago. 1t may be that
those having especial charge of the matter
sensitive about the welfare of the paupers so soli-
citous to guard the cty's interests that their pro-
crasnaon is attributable to these causes and if
this is So the sooner they transfer the whole sub
ject 10 other hands the better. 1t is equally advi-
sable to pursue this course if, as we suppose is
the case, their inability TO come to any decision is
owing TO the conflicting influences brought to bear
by those having property to dispose of. Any
three Commissioners, of whom the MAYOR should
be one, would, venture to say, report within
three weeks, that they had fixed upon a favorable
spot They would, doubtless perform this service
at tri1ing charge if not gratutously, a nd would
secure the land at a much less cost than will be
paid for it if the negotiation is carried on between
lobby agents and the Council. Besides this, the
latter is occupied with so many affairs that its
members cannot give to this question the careful
attention TO which it is entitled. If the posi-
ton of the Almshouse is changed now, its
new location should be chosen with view
to its permanency and to the prospective, rath-
than the immediate, wants of the city. In
less, therefore, it is selected with great
Judgment another removal may be necessary
twenty years hence, when expenditure of a
hundred thousand dollars might not remedy the
mistake of to-day That errors are likely to be
committed we have every reason 10 fear, for sew
eral sites have from time 10 time been advocated
in the Council which are manifestly the least APP
propriae that conld well be pitched upon The
Marine Hospital, for instance, has found favor in
the sight of several members, though it is hard TO
imagine place in the neighborhood of Baltimore
more utterly unfit for an Almshouse, unless
large and certain increase in the rate of mortality
among the paupers is considered a desideratum.
For quarantine hospital, it answers rs we'll as
any other that could be found, for it is necessary
that such an establishment should be situated not
only near TO the city, but Immediately upon the
water, so that patients can readily be transferred
to it from the infected vessels, and as the river
shores all present nearly the same aspects one
point is about suitable another for quarantine
purposes Blu 1t would be the height of folly and
of inhumanity TO erect an asylum for the accom-
AZ tba cir nd mfr of {Lo
city upon the low grounds and amid the stagnant
marshes that border on the Patapsco. Moreover,
the means of communication between Baltimore
and the Marine Hospital are not, and cannot be
made what they ought to be- The road by land
is too long and indirect to admit of being speedily
and comfortably travelled over, and the exposure
to which, in midsummer and mid-wnter alike,
persons would be subjected who should be con-
veyed thither by water, would, in many instances,
be attended with fatal results. The spirit of the
age demands that even criminals, and the most
worthless Migrants shall be treated with tender
consideration which in former ages was scarcely
accorded to-the most blameless unfortunates and
we ought not to deal less kindly with those
who are merely poor and miserable. But if
higher motives do not lead us TO endure some
Sacrifices in order to make the best provision in
our power for that portion CT the community
which we are bound to take care of, we may be
induced to do so by the reflection that it will cost
no more to build and support well-apponed
Almshouse than one which is i-arranged and
inconveniently located. The site, which is the
first thing to be, undetermined on, should therefore
be selected with due deliberation 1t should not
be so near the city that our suburbs might sur
round it fifty years hence, should it be so re-
mote as to preclude its being promptly and easily
reached Above ALL it is essential that pure air
and water should be found there 1t is said that
the City already possesses property combining all
these qualifications, among the hills along Jones'
Falls. But we do not propose to suggest any
spot as the most available for the purpose We
simply call attention TO the fact that desirable sit
uations can readily he obtained and urge the
necessity of speedy action. The present Aims
house is not crediable TO the City, and the qpar-
tiers in which, through absolute necessity, the in
sane paupers are confined more fit for the
accommodation of brutes than human beings
Whatever changes, then, are contemplated, either
in the way of re-arranging or removing the exist
ing structure, should be initiated at once, and
they should be superintendent with as much dsin-
terestedness rs zeal