Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1886-06-03
THE ALMSHOUSE EXPENSES
BIG IR0REASE IN THE EUdTBER
OF INMATES.

bA1 ANChBAbE IN THE ~ HUM bG
r OF INMATES.
The Abuse OF Turnins, the susan
Hospital Into nu Inebrinte Asy
IusD 10 be- Corrected-About $500
spent h.ast Year
A bare quorum of the members of I'll
Board of Poor Trustees, attended th
meeting ut the almshouse yesterday weel
In the absence of Chairman Baldwin
Mr.. Farra was elected to preside over th
meeting until the formers arrival, an
Mr.. Hart filed the Office of secretary.
The monthly statement Of Superinter
dent Guthrie was read. II reported 2S
inmates in the institution 1888 in th
almshouse, and los in the insane asylum
Three deaths occurred during the month
Superintendent Guthrie presented
lengthy annual statement setting fortl
the workings of the institution for tn
year ending April 2Sth, 1886 During tn
period covered by the report there wer
525 admissions to the almshouse and in
sane asylum from the hundreds as follows
Wilmington, 413 Brandywine, 4; Chris
tiana, z; Mill Creek, Q: White Clay Greek
o.; New Castle, SO, Red Lion, 3; Pen
cader, 10; st. Georges, 10; Appoquini
mink, 49, Blackbird, s.; number dis
charged, 374 births, 23-l7 whites ant
O colored; 8 males and Is females
deaths, 73-47 whites and 26 colored Al
males and 90 females. A statistical table
showing the average number of inmates
for the past is years shows that the nd.
missions this year were 33 in excess of any
previous year.
An improvement in the department ol
the inmates is reported and all who are
able to work are constantly employed.
All the garments worn are made by the
women, and degree of interest is felt
by the inmates in the care of the building
and grounds. Reference is made to male
inmates who, after being given new
clothes, run away and pawn them and
spend the money for liquor. 1t is pro-
posed to put u mark on the garments and
punish all persons who purchase or ad-
vance money on them. The annoyance
Of not having the buildings enclosed
gives better opportunities for run
ming away. The care of the in
sane is reported to have been of the
best, their wants being administered to
with kindness and gentleness. The erec-
tion of pavilion in the yard surround
ing the building where the inmates pro-
tected from the sun may sit out doors.
The patients are classified, and the colored
people are kept apart from the whites.
The heating apparatus and other
machinery except the gas appliances
which are defective, are reported to be in
good working order and few changes
have been made to adjust the appliances
to the emergencies that have arisen. The
water supply sgood and abundant, but the
system expensive, and it is recommended
that the water be lifted from the vault.
The successful moving to the new build
ing is referred to-, and thanks are OK
pressed to Drs. 0gle and Springer for
their assistance with the hospital inmates
and the insane. The kindness of the p. w.
* B. Railroad in transporting the poor to
their destinations is also referred to.
Superintendent Guthrie closing his report
says; "a word about the extravaganza SO
much talked of during the past year may
not be out of place though it is not
necessary for any thoughtful or
fair person; facts are stubborn things,
and facts in this case are just the reverse
of extravaganza. The annual appropria-
tion for the poor the past few years were
$40, 900 for the poor of county
of 100000 population, and no hos
pital in the county except that
connected with the almshouse and main
tanned from the same appropriation has
not been expended, but $11 200 have been
saved the last four years and has been
expended on permanent improvements on
the new buildings"
Ao tho Yarort Ntrou mot oaka5 ,,,Na,, o,.5
the above statement is scarcely borne out
by the treasurer's statement, It is subject
to amendment. ..5
During the year 1,3i2.79 were re-
ceived for board of inmates, and total
of 81, ,661.3S, including money from sale
of stock, &c. OF this sum, 81, 1902 were
turned over to the treasurer, the balance
being expended in meeting miscellaneous
expenses. The stock of the farm at
present is: Six horses, s COWS, 80 hogs,
and various wagons and vehicles.
The physicians reported that the
health of the inmates had been as
good as usual during the year
and the death rate at about an average.
During the past 10 years the number of
insane has more than doubled, and they
are now for the first time in many years
provided with convenient and comfort
able quarters and the benefit to be de-
rived from such surroundings has already
been manifest in the improved condition
of some of our worst cases and in the
general comfort and happiness of the
whole number. The need OF more at
tendants was reported and the good
offices of all the attaches commented
upon favorably.
The bonds Of Richard Ferguson trea-
surer of the board and of John Guthrie,
superintendent, were offered and APP
proved, and the attorney was directed to
enter the former also to satisfy his bond
for 1886.
The treasurer's statement of the ex-
penses of the board for the year reported
the total of $40, l09.4 paid out to various
sources, and gave the balance on hand in
oluding $1,000 due from county trea-
surer, at $4,397,28. The amounts ex-
pended, as given in quarters, are as fol-
lows: July, 1885, $12, 1874; October,
1885, $13,096.7l; january, 1886, $12,-
S9S.50; April, 1886, $40, ,9680G. It is es-
timated that about $40, 900 was expended
on stock for farm, furnishing new build
ings and permanent improvements, leav-
ing about $40, 900 for the maintenance of
the almshouse and insane hospital.
The board made an inspection of the
buildings after dinner and found every
thing in good order, the houses clean and
well kept.
The following bills were allowed: Pay
roll, 1856 34 Peters Nursery Company,
shade trees, $45; for fencing, SG.35
Pennsylvania Railroad Company, drill
press, $5.
The superintendent was instructed to
Ask for proposals for supplying ice by the
ton, to the almshouse for the season, the
ice to be delivered in car load lots at
almshouse.
Visiting Physician Pyle called the at
tention of the board to the fact that
number of patients are sent to the insane
hospital while suffering from the effects
of prolonged debauch. He stated that
after they had been drinking for time
and the liquor had worn them down they
come to the insane hospital to getsobered
up, be well-fed and taken care of. Just
as soon rs the liquor had worked out of
their system they then began to be
troublesome to the matron, nurses and
with everybody coming in contact with
them, as they protested against remain
ing in the hospital. When set at liberty
they would in many cases go back to the
bowl and in q short time be returned to
the hospital to go through the SOLDERING up
process DIR. Pyle did not think the in
sane asylum the proper place for such
cases and felt that it was an abuse of the
privileges of the institution and an abuse
which should be promptly corrected. The
members were in accord with the opinion