Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-07-31
County Peat.House.


To the Editor Of the Ledger:
In that portion of the report
of the Grand Jury which relates to
the management Of the Pest-house,
th@te are one or two statements which,
from the manner in which they are pre-.
scented to the public, require some notice.
The expenditure of the quarter for all
purposes is jumbled together and pre-.
scented as the amount OF current ex
penses, while the gentlemen of the
Grand Jury, had they taken the trouble
to examine the bills presented with my
report, might have seen that the S5o7
included the cost Of permanent improve
meats as well as current expenses, a
stable and dead-house being built during
last quarter which should not be tackled
on the provision bill, as it will not be
necessary to build either Tor a great
many quarters to come. a little reiee'
ton will show any thoughtful per
son that to obtain competent nurses
to attend smallpox patients a better
salary must be given than for attend
ance on diseases which are not lei SC
infectious; and although the expenses
look high for the care OF lour patients
vet it should be recollected that had
there been twice the number of patients
the same nurses could have attended
them at the same expense. A commit
tee Of the County Court has been owe
the whole premises, Investigated ever.
act of mine, seen for themselves wherl
everything purchased was applied, ant
deductiug the quantity of supplies re
naming, they think and say there haI
been no extravaganza or waste. Surel,
those who take the trouble to inform
themselves of how matters really are
should be as much entitled to belief a
those who base their statements on sigh
of bills alone. Yours, etc,
W. Il. HOEGEL, Supt.
The report alluded to is as follows:
TO THE HONORABLE COUNTY COURT o.
SHELBY COUNTY.
Your Committee to whom was r%eferre0
the bills bought for the Pest-house 10
examination, beg leave to report tina
we have performed that duty by pei
sonal inspection Of the bills, the gre
ceries on hand and by inquiry as to tn
number of inmates and employees in sal
institution, We are satisfied that th
purchaee made by Esq. Hoegel for tn
Pest.house have not been extravagan
and that the goods bought have bee
applied Ito the uses for which they wer
purchased.
According to the best information W
could get there has been upon an averag
seven to feed, for the quarter endin
July l, 1876. There has been bought a
together three barrels of -four, three ba
rails of meal and 232 pounds of bacol
as shown by bills rendered. These ar
the principal items.
I We find now on hand about one an
one-balf barrels Of meal, n barrel
-four, thirty pounds of clear sides bacor
also about fifty pounds of coffee, on
barrel OF salt, one and ons-half gallon
of whisky, FIVE brooms ard other sma
] items, such as sosp, tea, etc.
We think the goods have been econou
> icslly applied, and found everything
e good order aud condition. The garde
I and truck patoh" has been well cult
waited and promises a bountiful suppl
s of everything in the liue of corn, pot
7 toes, etc.
There are also nine hogs in a grown
condition.
(. The premises are clean aud well ker
and we could see no cause Of complain
either in the manner in which the Pes
house is conducted or in the cost Of ~
e ming it, all of which is respectfully su
a. mitled, john I. ELLIOTT,
G. r. AGNEw,
Committee.