Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1868-05-13
The Care and Support of the Poor.

At their Annual March Meeting in 1867,
the town Of Montpelier instructed the select
men to investigate the subject and see if
some better method of supporting the poor,
both in respect to humanity and economy
could not be devised vt the meeting of
this town in March last, the selectmen sub
mittel a report on this subject, and recon-
mended the principle of associated action.
The report was favorabIy received, and
committee, consisting of James T. Thurston,
Homer W Heaton. and E. p Jewett, was
appointed, with authority to unite with two
OF more adjoining towns in the formation of
a = Poor Farm association" if found TO be
practicable. on terms which viii be equita-
BILE
In pursuance of this object, representatives
from the towns of Barre, Berlin, East Mont
pelier, Calais, and MiddIesex were invited 10
meet the Committee of Montpelier on Satur-
dav. 9th inst. There were present at
this meeting. c. q. Reed, and L. T. Kinney,
from Barre j. B. Scovill, Leonard Ellis, and
T. Y. Ellis from Berlin; Squire Bailey, L. b.
Stevens and Addison Peck, from East Mont
Calais Jacob Putnam A. L. Warren, and
p. F. Carpenter from Middlescx. Mr..
Thurston called the meeting To order and
briefly stated the object for which it was
called He then proceeded to give the facts
and figures derived from the Poor Farm
Associations, now in successful operation in
this State The first OF these mentioned Is
IN Chittenden County, comprising four towns,
viz Jericho Essex, Shelburn and Willston.
Their farm contains 202 acres Of good land,
which with buildings and necessary furni-
ture cost s. 300. In 1868 the expenses in
cured in the support Of the poor Of these
four towns was S962,00 including six per
cent interest on the sum invested in the
purchase Of their property. For 1867 there
was left a balance, after supporting their
poor, Of S4G5 90 this however, does not in
clude the interest on their capital. In La
noble County, there is another Of these
associations, comprising the towns of Stowe,
MorristOwn, and johnson. The expenses
incurred for the support Of the poor in these
towns for several years has been, in the ag-
gregate, $500 to $4,000 per annum. But
perhaps, the most satisfactory result is
shown by the :. Sheldon Poor Farm Asso-
citation" This has been longest in operation
and is the largest, comprising the towns o.
Highgate, St Adams, Swanton, Sheldon
Fairfield, Franklin, and Enosburgh-cigh
in all. The population of these towns, al
appears by the census of 1860, was ther
1S,7l0-and is to-day, probably, not les
than 10000. The grand list of the sam
towns for 1867 was S50,379 O0-the averac
expenses for the support of the poor of thes
towns for five years ending January, 1868
was 1854 per annum, being only l-2 pc
cent. the grand list of the associate
towns This sum includes six per cent in
terest on the capital invested in their farm G
$50 acres, which with buildings and persona
property, is now valued at SIS, 900
The population in 1860, of the six town
represented at the meeting on Saturday
Barre. Berlin. East Montpelier, Calais
MiddIesex and Montpelier.) was 1856, wit
grand list in 1867. of S4O,O76. The e,
pense of supporting the poor of these 81
towns for 1867, shown by the official re
ports made to the respective towns at Marc
meeting, was 50 $50 TO- or about one dolla
each for the entire population, and averagin
"A per cent. on the grand list nearly fou
times greater than it cost by the systel
adopted in Franklin County. But the re
duced cost is not the only, nor indeed tn
greatest, benefit to be derived from an assc
citation of the kind contemplated. 1t sure
ly needs argument to satisfy one tha
the unfortunate poor are much better care
for, morally and physically,-those that al
sick and those IN health-in this way tina
by our present system. Wholesome an
clean accommodations are furnished for til
feeble and sick, and work on the farm and
the house for all who are able to labor an