St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1864-02-25
REPORT OF THE NORTfl.VyEsTERN
SANITARY COMMISSION,

REPORT OF THE NORTHWESTERN
s,.z SANITARY Is COMMISSION.
We have received the Report Of this
patriotic and charitable organization
for the last four months Of tho year
1863 which brings the published Re-
ports Of the Commission up to January
1864. The report is'vety full, aud
gives az the inf1rma>iodth That eau be de-
sired. Its money ~cccipts for these
tour months were sS4,1T4920, which
includes The net Profits Of the North
Western Fair; itw'cxpeuditures for the
same; tinIe"werc s47,s9l.S5, Of which
$50, 5li:fG'was for supplies to the hos.
pltals. During this same time the
Commission has received 5,097 boxes
from the variuus Aid Societies, aud
has shipped 1928 boxes to Vickshury
Hcle"a, Memphis, Cairo, Louisville,
Libby Prison, Richmond, Leavenworth
Kansas, Nashville, Western Virginia,
Camp Butler, Springfield, Chattanooga
aud Paducab, KY The whole number
of boxes shipped by the Commission,
up to January, 1864, is 28,6lS. All
the items Of these receipts and expcu-
diturcs are given in detail, together
with q list Of the articles purchased,
and the source from whence every box
and every dollar has been received
The Soldiers Homo at Cairo is under
thccarc of the Nofth:Wcstcm Com
mission, which during these fouv
months has entertained rs 1897 soldiers,
and furnished them 81, $50 meals.
The Northwestern Commission in
vite the most rigid scrutiny into Their
method Of business, their receipts and
expenditures, ard inform the public
that their books and rooms arc always
open to investigation. They are con-
-6dtrt chat the economy, system and f.
deity Of their transactions .sill not sui
fer by comparison with those of any
of our best business establishments. y
Report is to be published >hereaftcr ev,
cry two months. =: il
The people of St. Cloud, althous III
they have donewep, shave not discharge
ed their whole duty toward contribu-
ting to the comfort Of the sick and
wounded soldiers. There seems to be
an almost general apathy, and in some
cases We fear &sihciination, in this
matter, and it is threst' aside for tho
accomplishing Of purposes more person
al. Many have relatives in the army:
all have friends, and it would seem the
first dictate of nature and humanity to
labor Fur ehvi, wvlfar1. -. - = -
1t is not expected that we shall do
much in forw arding contributions to
the Chicago Commission, as the dis
lance IS too great. But there is no ne
cessity for this; there are a number
Of military posts nearer home, whose
sick need clothing and food which gov
crnment does not furnish. They are
here. guarding our homes, aud simple
justice would demand that -te,. who
specially feel the benefit 'of their Ser
vices, should extend suclr-comforts as lie
in our power to those of them who are
Frustrated on sick bed. Itwou)l be
a disgrace to have requests for hospital
stores 60 again past St. Cloud, as they
have on former occasions. We do not
believe our people generally are wilfully
negligent OF their duty in this matter,
but by lack Of energy they lay thom-
selves open to cersure. There should
be unanlmity Of action in work of
this character, aud thus the sufferings
Of many u poor soldier might be allc-
Waited. .. sir
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