The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1868-08-10

The County Poor Farm---sOmo OF the Bills
which the County Pays


En,ror ARGus.--I have read IN the Rock
Island Daih Union Of the 9th INST, an
tile headed as above. II the editor oil
Lat nsper made enquiry in the proper quar-
vs. as 10 the truth Of his statements, and
those of discontinued paupers, he would have
found the old adage true, that, zone story is
GOOD until another is told" 1t is Of course
easy to guess the source from which such
statements emanatei, aud who drew the
editors attenti Oh to the bills presented by
me to the bourd of supervisors for payment
and for what purpose it was done.
| The editor claims credit for his statement
being presented "not in fault finding spirit
and not wishing to intimate that the fact Of
the chairman of the poor committee and the
manager Of the poor farm being both demo
Gratis, had anything to do with those bills
| Perhaps So but the public can appreciate
it at its true value, when informed OF the
facts. For myself can only say that am
servant ofthe public, and in the discharge
of my duty know no political distinctions
or nationalties.
Before entering on the bills quoted by the
editor, | must premise that, when got
posse ,sion of the poor house and farm, it
was perfectly bare, no furniture, stove, cook
stove, press, chair or anything else left in
the stewards apartment, all being removed
| by the former steward; even plows and rakes
| had to procure for farm purposes. Every.
thing on the farm, hogs &c, that could be
converted into cash was sold, aud | had
| nothing whatever 10 sell or raise money with
| for the use of the house consequently hav.
| ing to procure everything, the bills are larger
than they otherwise would have been. In
the way of provisions had only about 2
barrels of picked pork.
As to the statement about the pauper
David Lewis, late an inmate, that has
already been refuted without my knowledge,
by disinterested citizen, who happened to
be present As to the other cases Of need.
less hardship, | totally deny them and chal.
lenge proof Perhaps there is not in the
county more arduous or difficult situation
for man to FILL than steward of a poor
house,-.n excepting the jail itself. Re.
fractory characters Of oil descriptions are
there, and no means Of coercion. Some Of
them if not all, imagine it is place for
ease and comfort and will do nothing; and
the most difficult part of it is that it is also
an asylum for the crazy, and the manager Of
such concern, when he does his best might
hope, at least, for the support of the public
journals, instead Of difficulties being thrown
in his way. The items in the bills quoted,
"cgrsets, hoop skirts, ribbons &c. are
easily accounted for, and were procured for
the use of the hired helpIn the house-the
amount deducted from their wages, and the
county got credit for it.. The carpets were
got by the express concurrence OF the com.
mittee, and are spread in the front room, in
which visitors to the poor house and super.
visors are received, and the other both be.
ing cheap ones) on the dining room. The
boots, pants &c, were got for the assistant
and teamster &c, who have been in like
manner charged with the amount and the
county got credit for it in their wages, there
being no cash in hand to pay them; and
this season have had to advance my own
money for harvesting. The hats charged
were for the psupers, about 20 cents each,
in value. AS to the whisky, all can say is
that it was from Wright x Morey, where
they got it, know not; but it was got by
direction of the Doctor and for medical pur.
poses. AS to the pistol, it was purchased on
the understanding that if the board would
not order payment for it, was to charge it
to my own account 1t was deemed neces.
sary for self defence, having been twice fired
on at night by the very man who is Mt pres
ent in Jail and who threatened to burn the
house and also to kill some of the inmates.
My predecessor was also armed for protec.
ton. The suit Of clothes was got by drec.
ton of the board for a man named Elder,
now in jail, and who promised to leave the
county on getting them. In getting gold
pen, only followed example, and it was
got for the use of supervisors and visitors,
to make such remarks as they might deem
necessary in the reception room. Such is
the history of this wonderful mares nest,
discovered by the sapient informer of the
editor of the Union.
Yours respectfully,
D. w. CARSON,
Poor Farm, Coal Valley, Aug. 7, 1868.