The daily gazette., 1880-03-05
rRIDAY. MARCH s. 1880.

The REMOVAL OF THE COUNTY
Aims HoUsE,-For twenty years or
more there have, at intervals, been eff
forts made to induce the removal of
the County Aims House from its pres
ent very excellent site. Various rea-
sons have been urged but of late the
chief one is that it a position that is
needed for building purposes, and is
in too close proximity to the mansions
of wealthy people. When the Repub-
licans came into power on the war is
sues by the use of the bayonet and
test oaths, they undertook the removal
of the Aims House to the country. The
GAZETTE used all the persuasive pow
er it had over the misguided members
of the Board of Trustees, but with no
avail. They bought farm for s22,
900, situated six miles from the city.
But did not dare to go any further,
and lay the County under tax levy
sufficient to build new houses, and so
the farm stood, costing the County in
interests and for repairs about 81, 900
every year, until the Democrats come
into power again. Then again pro-
position was considered to prepare the
farm for the reception of the paupers.
But, after counting the cost OF the
maintainanee of the house at so great
a distance from the city it was aban-
doned, as too costly and inconvenient.
The question of working the paupers
was fairly discussed, and it was found
that it had failed after many years of
trial; that the ample grounds around the
present buildings could never be seed
ed or kept in order by pauper labor
The inmates are mostly from the city
and not accustomed to that kind of la
Dor as are the inmates of the Aims
Houses Of Kent and Sussex Counties.
Then the cost of getting out in the
country for everything needed, and the
attendance of physicians, seemed to
settle the matter finally. But it took
several years to arrive at decided
conclusion. Then repeated efforts
were made to dispose of the farm with
out success. 1t was soon discovered
that this could not be done at all with
out loss of some six or eight thou
sand dollars in the difference of the
price. However, the yearly expense
of the farm and its taxes over and
above the rents from it induced its
sale, which was effected at what was
considered good price. This seemed,
to put an end to the proposed removal
of the County Aims House. But
since the Trustees have been consider
ing the propriety of erecting an addi-
tion, Or new hospital building for the
better care and comfort of the insane,
the Republican press have raised the
question of removal again. We could
have no healthier no more beautiful:
no more convenient and no less expen-
sive position for this purpose than the
one we have, and we think it will be
long time before it is removed. There
are ample grounds around it; and such
an institution being necessary is need
ed in the city limits where it can be
reached conveniently. The Penn hos
pital at Ninth and Pine streets, Phil
adelphia, has been there for a century,
and, is found to be well situated. No
fears arise from infectious diseases :;
and it is easily and quickly reached
when a place is required for the un-
fortunate. We do not wish to be
thought captious about this matter
But it is serious one, and if an addi-
tion is necessary to the Aims House,
we think no better place can be found
to build it than on the present site.