Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-11-19
~etoWu Almshouse.
The GeOf-

In
STAR Of last Saturday in.resaru scsno1I-
t oqs, ss me gentleman himself almos. facts
snd Information in regard TO the matter, ana
feei inceed that your able CORES pondent did
not 60 Tar enough into the subject. To this end
asA fer sufficient space, in your widely read
Journal, 70 print this letter which write upon
information received from the yery best
authority and most of which ,ossess from my
own personal knowledge. Eaby years back
I nsn 30. 81 SsorgetoSn, = birth an Engsa-
Iufpose OF ereetinL poor house for the bene-
Ut OF the nntor caDates OF that placa, The
means 1 60 ieit were applied to the purpose
ueskhateo farm Oh the outskirts OF the
oNn vas selected, noted for its healthfulness
Oh location; in its center stood large hill upon
tht summit OF which spacious brick structure
was erected; the corporation OF Georgetown
making an appropriation which Was added to
The bequest above described, thus forming the
required sum necessary To complete the struc-
ture And what was the purpose TO which this
building was to be, and has been applied? 1t
was the grand fuldllment of the command OF
the Master TO feed the hungry, to clothe
the naked, TO water the thirsty, and &c
care Tor the sick and unfortunate poor.
This institution has ever since its commence
merit been conducted in the most economical
manner possible; ITS purpose was only for the
maintenance of the poor, not to be used as a
UOrkhCuse, though sometimes offenders against
the municipal laws were sent there for short
time 10 help to cultivate the garden farm con-
nect6d Wits the institution, the proceeds from
which always fed the inmates, paid tue garden
er's wages, and cleared for the benefit of the
house the sum OF from four TO i've hundred dol
lars annually, leaving an expense of from three
to four thousand dollars, which the town all.
Willingly bore until the estah,,, shmant of he
teITitoFisi govern and from that date un-
u ...e removal of the institutions inmates to
the Washington almshOuse, the latter named
tore 1t. In latter days Mr.. POmery had been
al pointed superintendent. who ably managed
and conducted the institution. But the present
~ hal
by desire 10 ecoEomiZ re, caused all but about
niTe OF the Georgetown inmates to be removed
from the Georgetown Institution and II ansferrsd
10 the Washington woI khOuse, located in one of
the most Unheslthful spots in the District, viz:
on the ADacestis river, where chills ana fever
stalk, about striking down Old and young alike.
HeIe respectable poor people arc mixed pro-
miscuousiy with coDvicts. with burglars,
rogues and thieves, and all other wrstches
ma med in the vocabulary OF vice. This, Mr..
Editor, is shameful, and the old citizens Of
Georgetown are indignant, and one exclaimed
Anew days ago, sit makes my blood boil within
me when L think OF the gross injustice done
me respectable poor of my native town."
Gan person manned, or halt, or blind be
blame d because he is poor? Because q person
IL such, is that any reason why he should be
mixed with and compelled to hold fellowship
with outcasts and felons? This is evident 70 all
to be the case; one respectable woman who had
been cared for at the Georgetown poor house
on account of her poverty, caused by inability
70 support herselt, upon being transterre 10
the Washington workhOuse left that institution
ard came to Georgetown to apply for readmit-
lance To her former place in the before men
toned institution. The trustee said TO her
"M adam, why did you not stay in the Washing
tOl institution" She replied: "Because / con-
slider myself respectable white woman, il am
poor; aud, sir, 1t would be like leaving the bad
pace 10 come TO Heaven if you will admit Inen
ibis speaks for itself; no comment is necessary
ne trustees have been abolished, and now as
things stand no enc is appointed to whom ap-
plicAnts can apply. All such must go to the
commissioners. The government has a lSroe
farm surrounding or near to the upper reser-
FClr, which they can use for nursery purpOSs 20
ard the land ia far better than that at the
Georgetown wOTkhoUse. being gTaveiIy. One
OH palsied cripple would not go 10 Washington,
he sad he bad lived in the Georgetown house
over 10 years, and he would die in the streets
before going, and he is now eking out a miser-
abe existence. Two others also said the same;
SICK ana FAINT they refused to 60,
ana we're taken care of by some kind person.
Another orphan, upon being found in a diving
condition, was conveyed by an officer of the
Georgetown Institution TO that place, where he
recovered. Take such persons throu Oh a long
Ilue OF about hye miles to the Washington iusti-
tut on and they Will carry corpse before the
vehicle reaches its destination. i even doubt
much II the Commissioners have not exceeded
their authority in the matter. but | have no
complaint 70 make, and as a general thing no
one has any 10 make, against them. for II ia CON
ceded they have faithfully performed their do
tesi but AIN led to believe they acted under a
mistake, or were too hastv, and am confident
they viii do what is right in the matter after
lesFiSng the facts as have presented them.
IN aboilshing this institution the authorities are
DOt DONG justice, which is the aim of every
branch OF our government, however small, 10
mete out; they are ill-treating Christ's moor
and are misapplyiDg the beguest of a resident
eesto"e ed In good faith. SoVTHRRNER.
The NV TsR.pr Curpcu-O, C,