The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1865-02-04


having charge of the sick, that twenty eigh
! days comprises the month, thus making or
the eight patients in one year, the sum o.
$7488. Thus it will be seen that the expenses
of the Hospital may be reduced by proper
economy on this single item alone, third Of
the entire amount.
Your Committee would suggest to your
Hon. Body, in this connection, the policy OF
demanding of discharged persons, an obliga-
ton to refund the County for such expenses
as may be incurred by them during their stay
in the Hospital always provided that they
could reasonably do so at any subsequent
period This may appear harsh'to those not
acquainted with the system upon which an
hospital is kept up in mining country 1T
woufd d, in the opinion of your Committee, .
a check to the many fragrant abuses by idle,
lazy and crafty characters who pray upon the
sympathy or credulity of an over taxed COM
munity Two instances of this kind have of
late come to the knowledge of your Commit
tee. Not long since an individual claimed
admission into the Hospital, on some special
plea, and remained there two months, when
he was discharged. The District Attorney
discovering that this person had valuable
property made demand upon him for the
upon which he promised to refund next day
but that evening he disposed of his property
and left for parts unknown. The next case
was that of an individual who obtained ad-
mittance to the Hospital on the 9th Novem-
Der last. Your Committee learning that he
had property to the amount Of $4,000, COM
PEELED him to give an obligation to the coun-
ty in the sum of $l56, upon which he waxed
very indignant, and abused every body with
in reach of his voice. The strictest vigilance
should be used by the officer authorized to
admit patients to the Hospital.
Your Committee would further suggest the
almost absolute necessity of taking some
steps to relieve those really deserving of i'm
mediate assistance, and only by the estab-
lishment of some such charitable institution
as an alms-house, can it be accomplished.
The want of a suitable building for Poor
House and Hospital in a country rapidly in
creasing in population, is imperatively re-
CURED. The countless quartz lodes already
discovered in this county, and the accidents
incident to the working of this class of mines
is well understood, and should be borne in
mind by those having the direction of affairs
The unhappy state of county finances, it is
true, may defer the construction of such
buildings for the present. Schools, Churches,
and Hospitals, are the barometers of the adj
vancement, intelligence and civilization of a
people,. third of the amount squandered
upon the skeleton of an hospital during the
last year, would purchase or build a respect
able edi6ce and refuge for the disabled, sick
and destitute of this county.
Your Committee, through the indefatigable
exertions of Messrs. Wickersham and Slocum.
Investigating Committee, have found that the
Hospital of this ceunty has cost the people,
for a little more than a year. the enormous
sum of $3l, III, and yetthe county is not the
owner of one solitary plank for hospital pur-
poses, or one single blanket to cover the ma
ked and the destitute.
Your Committee would further report that |
there are now in the Hospital, two men af- |
dicted with that dreadful disease, epilepsy !;
hey are entirely friendless, and without pc
;uniary means, and are kept at the expense
If the county. The expense of keeping them
will, at the present rate of Hospital patients,
mount to 1920 year. An aims house is
he proper place for such patients. Common
humanity demands that they should be pro-
ided for, or some means be employed to send
hem to some place, where they can be kept
nd cared for at a much less cost than here,
md where they may receive such medical at
enhance as may restore them to health.
Your Committee are somewhat surprised,
hat the Legislature made no provision for
he establishment Of an Insane Asylum in the
Territory, consequently the County Hospital
# Boise county, must be the receptacle for
hose unhappy human beings; as well also as
or that other class of unfortunates, who are
loomed from the cradle to the grave,-the
dot and the imbecile
It would be out of place here to detail the
provisions of such Legislative acts, as would
lace this class of living beings beyond the
each of abuse or want, but hope that here
fter some steps will be taken IN that direc-
ion.
Your Committee would also report that, for
he month of January, eighteen applicants
ave demanded admittance into heHospital,
our OF whom were refused, yet, in fact, were
S much entitled to admission as many who
ave been, and are now county charge; but
10 proper place being provided for, in their
ase we were forced TO deny them a refuge in
be County Hospital; but your Committee
ook every pains to find employment for them,
nd are glad to report that the major portion
+ them are to work, thereby saving to the
ounty the sum of $3.50 per month, or at
he rate of $2l840 per year. Torelieve the
anne amount of suffering at the lowest pos
IDLE cost, has been the motto of your Com
nittee.
In conclusion, your Committee are happy