Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1885-06-04
ITEMS OF LOCAL INTEREST
THE FIRST MEETING At THE NEW
ALBfSITO USE.
a hig SAVING Under the New Iseg, =
Is.tions-sids i'm Great Number -
The Poor s'-,.s-~"s.

Inc trustees OF The puor held the r
hrHt meeting in the new linre's Corn
alnshollse yesterday week all the menb a
III attendance. After the preliminary bus,-
ness, superintendent Guthrie renorted
z5z inmates III the institution, 15S in the
alnshouse and IA in the Diamond State
insane Asylum. During the month there
were three deaths: William Haffmioster,
aged 43, Wilmington; james Veach. aged
~, Pencader; James Champion, colored,
aged 20, Pencader.
| The bond of Treasurer Ferguson, in
the sum OF $4,000, was approved.
The board sitting as o committee of the
Whole, IN accordance with tie resolution
OF trustee Williams adopted at last meet
ing proceeded TO open the bids for sun
plies to the almshouse to be furnished for
June and July. President Bird, who desired
degree of privacy in connection with
the reading of the bids, had the room
cleared OF every one except the members
OF the board and its officers. The ex-
animation of bids and inspection of
samples occupied about five hours, when
the awards as follows were made
Liquors, I. ]. Fitzsimmons; tobacco. Otto
~ Butz; drugs, Herbert X. Watson
kienle; mutton, p. Monaghan; salt tmeats
Hart d Brother; flour and feed, @. Witsil
boots and shoes, P.Monaghan; dry goods
Cranor IL Co.; groceries, G. w. Lodge q
Son, j. p. Almond Il Co. and George
Gray.
As no samples of clothing were sent in
rs called for in the proposals, the con-
tract for this line of supplies was not
awarded.
The number of bidders for the different
supplies was very large, great
excess over those when the contracts
were awarded by the committee of five.
Both political parties were represented
among the bidders and at least two of the
contracts were awarded to dealers whose
politics are of the opposite complexion of
the board, which is unanimously Demo-
cratic.
The wisdom of the board sitting as
supply committee was very clearly mani
Tested in the large number of
bids, and the reductions effected in the
prices at which the supplies were given
out. On the prices of beef the reduction
amounts to about two cents per pound OH
the last month rate, and one-half cent ON
bread. Proportionately large reductions
were gained in the important items of
drugs, groceries, liquors, in fact the saw
ing to the county for the next two months
will be very considerable sum.
In every case where there were con-
tracts awarded the bids were accompanied
by samples of the goods bid for and these
were examined by the trustees. The
going over of samples and the various
items on the bids required great deal of
time and work, great part of which.
however, can be avoided by next meeting
when the proposals will be rather better
classified and systemalized.
The inmates of the almshouse are yery
comfortably quartered, the rooms being
large, airy and cheerful. In comparison
with the old building, the paupers regard
their present quarters as palatial. The
conveniences in the way of bath rooms
and other innovations are greatly appre-
ciated. To the large iron grating doors
dividing the different wards the inmates
take exception, as they regard the bars as
giving the interior of the building
prison like appearance, and some of the
older people, in their dotage are in mortal
dread of being mistaken for convicts, and
Mt once assure visitors that they have not
violated any law and are not in Jail. The
labor of scrubbing the great area of floor
ing in the building was very great and il
is demonstrated that more help will be
required than has been employed rs yet.
In the Diamond State Insane Asylum,
the name applied for obvious reasons to
the insane department, the accommoda-
tions for the unfortunate inmates are
vastly superior to the old institution. The
patients are classified, with reference to
their particular mania, and confined to-
sether. The brightness and cheerfulness
of the building is in pleasant contrast
with the dingy old quarters just vacated.
There is much yet to be done in the way
Of fittings and furnishings before the in
sane asylum offers the accommodations
for inmates and facilities for the attend
ants to minister to their wants that are
eniOYed in the larger building.