Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1867-10-26
DAVENPORT, IOWA. SATURDAY. OCTOBER 26 1867.

scorr CouarY Pooa HousE.--All these
twelve years and more that ne have resided
IN Davenport, we have neglected visiting
the County Poor House, = Ohinking, per
haps, that 20 might have 10 90 there sooner
than We waited. )--until yesterday after
noon, shsp. ssesrtaining that, cur friend
Watkins wss going there. Ne gladly availed
ourselves cf seat in his buggy and rode
opt.
T: is awful ~ be a cauper. How We Gil
struggle and delss and wear ourselves out
that we may not 60 TO the poor house-nay'
mcn aud women choose beg gary, theft, and
even hideous crimes that they may avoid
that sad destiny. No matter how honestly
q man comes to be pauper--no matter
whether he could have avoided it or rot ;
no matter how much We my talk abort it,
ono way or the other. still, in the estims-
ton Of every man, woman. and child. pau
perism is au estate that oil shun with most
uruverable horror.
Scott county has a very miserable pau
per system. To be convinced OF that fact
let any one go out and see the county Poor
House. Scot. county is one OF the wealth
lest counties in the Northwest, aud con-
tains one Of the poorest, shabbiest. and
most poverty stricken Poor House We ever
saw. 1t isa public institution TO be sure,
and public buildings are supposed to be
substantially built, arranged with due re-
gsrd to convenience, economy, and comfort.
Our concern out there on the prairie 10
sort Of pauper pen, neither convenience,
economy, comfort, nor yet dscsncy can
possibly come into its mana cement. Don't
take our wcrd for It, but 60 and see it your
selves. 1t is . rambling. sham m,ling,
unhaudy, cold, rickety affair, and it we
were appointed manager of tho pAuper Bu-
reau Of the county. with FULL power, our
first step wonld be to reduce the entire con-
ccrn 10 ashes, and on the ruins erect % ed
iice on humane princplea We would do
it on,the score Of public economy and de-
cency-leaving humanity out Of the qus,-
ton Penny wisdom and pound foolishness
10 Abiy portrayed n the County Poor House
and oil through the entire pauper system
Of the county, for that matter.
We found the excellent Steward. Daniel
Nutting, in charge. lie has been thsSs
eight ycavs, inrthe faithful perfos nance oI
his duty, aud whatever ws may say con-
cerning the Poor House or paupsr system.
must not b construed IS rejecting upon
bin, for we believe that what he has done
has been well done, and so far as cireum-
stances would permit. he has been faithful
public servant. The farm is about five
miles from town, and is an excellent piece
Of land. The average gross yield therefrom
Tor the past eight years has been abou,
$1,000 sum We undertake TO say would
support the entire list Of worthy paupers Of
the county, after paying running expenses.
Let us sec: There are generally abou,
thirty inmates at the Poor House. Six Of
these, on an average, may be ranked Is
insane and idiotio persons. Then thexe
is an average Of six or seven more tina,
mus. be ranked Is hospital patients those
who would not be there If thcy were not
sick then there is an average of come
five or six children there that might be
bound out to earn their own living; so we
figure it down to an average Of about
twelve CT thirteen super ann uA,ed imbeciles,
who can easiiy be maintained from the
proceeds Of the farm. Tie insane and
idiotic should have = separate department
80 should the hospital patients. and the
children who arc old enough should be
bound out.
To this end, us above Linied at, we would
destroy or remove the present rooke cries
that cumber the ground, AID erect . sub
s.antial County building with distinct wards
-one for the Steward, one with from twelve
TO twenty comfortable apartments for the
supersnnunted paupers; one with six OF
eight properly constructed apartments 10,
the idio,ic and insane, and snother-proper
y detached so as TO prevent contagion-for
the hospital patients. Some think that thi:
hospital should be located in the city-per
haps it shouldn't at all events it would
be MI excellent institution, even ut the
County Farm. Such an institution could
be conducted at . greatly decreased expense
for fuel, clothing and attendance, and would
reilcc. credit rather than disgrace upon the
county.
The COS. Of supporting the superannuat.
Cd poor Of tbs county is greatly ovcsbal
anced by the amount required to take care
anno united to abon. $6. .Oo0, and the sppropri
ations for. the insane and idiotu. insane fo'
1868 sncun.s 10 nearly $4,000" Wheth
! er It would not be better to support these
persons in their appropriate asylums, cut
side Of the county, is a question that al
mits OF considerable dcbase. The friends
VI SUCH . Pi1N cCuIu aHVAnCc sOufe StrOnE
arguments. One thing 10 certain, The imbs
cile poor, the sick. the insane, the idiotie
and the children, should not be oil mingtet
together - they now have 10 be st IN,
Poor House. We need no. lengthea ou
this article ia telling Why this should %
be-svesy one knows il 20 be wrong. Bu
what 70 do. There should be . rsdica
change from the start. Go about the worl
| in business-like manner. DO away viii
the shanties and start ont WITH On sppre
pirate building. 20 that matters can b sys
tematised, simplified, and hence carried OF
At decreased running expense. Charity de
mands il, humanity towards the unfertu
nate demands il. and economy calls alout
for . change. Il will cost considerable .
the start, but il is for generations upon gen
srations to come and not alens for the pres
emit hour that We make this appeal.
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TnIs RvexlNs.-Seott Ledge No. 81 I. 0
o. r., celebrate their 10th annivsnssy .
the German Theatre this sveoise TAes'
will b grand music for those who wish y
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