Juniata sentinel. [volume] (Mifflintown, Pa.) 1846-1873, 1866-01-10

The Legislature of 1865, passed an act

IS follows:
s.To provide for the erection Of q Poorhouse,
IN the townships of Milford, Turbett, Spruce
Hill, Tuscarora, Lack and Beale, and the
ooroughs of Perrysville and Patterson, in the
county of Juniata."
This act was not made knewn in the
newspapers Of the County, previous to toe
October Election, in a manner to bring
it directly to the notice Of the people. On
Election day, very many for the first time
found that such a law had passed. Very
few in any of the townships voted ON the
subject, thus showing that the public were
ignorant that so important a question was
being passed upon. Some districts, one
OF two, are made to accept the provision
of the bill, from the fact that less than a
dozen of votes were cast in favor of the
Bill. No public notice Of the Election
was given by the Sheriff or by the Com
missiouers in the set. No one appeared
to know, but those in the secret. Its
friends may claim that the opportunity to
vote was afforded and if the people failed
to vote on it, generally, they are bound by
the verdict Of the few who did vote
This is law, we admit, but to make 1t JUS
tice it required public notice to the people
that such a question will be submitted for
their approval or rejection. But the act
bas been accepted IN form. ct least the
Commissioners are carrying out tho law
Now the object 81 a Poorhouse, is the
comfort aud support of the poor IN a way
the most economic. to the tax payers
All understand the old system. If the
overseers did their duty, the poor were
made comfortable and at a reasonable ex-
peuse. The poor tax is light, in every
township, except two or three, and IN no
one more than ! per cent.
Let US examine the Few system and
see if it will not largely increase our tax
es. with no reward to a x-payers, but the
glory of having a Poorhouse, which |
fear will prove to be like the kink in a
pigs tail, neither ornamental or useful.
The Commissioners have already pur-
chased a farm at cost of Sl3,0OO,OO.
Say cost of arm.......-.. si3,ooo,VV
Erection OF Poorhouse, ........ 2O,OOU,OO
Erection of Barn....-........ 4.0UO,OO
Necessary ontbui.dinss.-..... l,5OO,OO
Furniture for Poorhouse...... 5,OO0,O 90
Stocking farm, horses, cattle nc Z,ooo,oo
Fencing the arm.....".. l,ooo'oo
SIT, 500, 90
These figures may appear large but
experience teaches that any public I'M
provement costs double it would in private
hands. yet we will predict that it will cost
over $50 100000 to buy the farm and
make necessary improvements. You ask
what for, l answer to keep and lodge, com
fortably, from 60 to 100 poor, beside the
keepers and their families. 1t will be a
large family and will require extensive
accommodations. Building material and
mechanical labor are double cow to what
they were three years ago. The
ac, authorizes a Board of Directors, who
get a salary Observation-Disclosures. sloV,oo
They appoint Il steward at a sal
ary of at lest $4,000. No
competent man will even
gary. for that t, 90
Support of his family, say-.... .ooo,oV
The Board also appoint an assis-
tant, or as many as they need,
cav one 10000
His boarding loo,Vo
Physician to Poorhouse, salary. ooo'oo
$780, 90
Here is the lowest possible ann ual es-
innate. All these officers are necessary
apd no competent man will serve for a
less salary. Will any good physician at
tend from so to 100 people at a distance
of six miles, at a contract price, for less
crn0 m Thew mon promise fheir