The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1888-02-09
County Farm Question.
Morris, Feb. ., 1883.

ED. SrN:-Your a!luson, last week,
to the present system Of caring for
the poor Of this county. prompts me
to still further asitate this question,
which has indeed become one of i'm.
portance to the taxpayers OF the
county.
Driug lie tersn Of D.. Heenan rs
County auditor this subject was cane
fully considered by the county com
missionele, and their deliberations
would have resulted in tire purchase
and maintenance of a county poor
farm had it not been that Rev. ii. ii.
Hart, then secretary Of the State
Board Of Corrections and Charities
met with the commissioners and ad-
vised to delay the establishment OF
such an institut ion, giving AS reasons
UGH advice, his st atement, that the
counties thus caring for their poor.
made far greater drafts upon the
poor-fund than those counties which
supported paupers under the syste N
now in vogue in Stevens county.
believe it was against the person
al wishes tand contrary to the per-
sonal judgment Of Eevery member of
the then board Of. commissioners
that the present system was contin-
ued, in Difference to the opinion and
advice Of Mr.. Hart, whose experience
in such matters was entitled to the
respect of the commissioners.
The business as now conducted Is
unnecessarily expensive; applications
for aid are made to the commi Ssioners
of the several districts in which the
needy applicants reside; the circum-
stances are investigated and if the
eases require it, The commissioner to
whom the application is made issues
his certificate, directing the cot,nty
auditor to issue his warrant for the
| nect ssary aid. This results in the
care of families and individuals In
different places, each of which must
be kept warm, which. during such a
winter as the present, is no small ex-
pense. Then, in cases of sickness
among such charges some one must
be employed to care for them. which
in serious cases is also expe nslve.
Whatever may have been in the
past the better method to pursue.
AM satisfied the time has now arriv-
ed to make a change. l feel sure. that
if the poor of the county, who are Ell
titled to aid, could be gathered int
one place, their support would cost
the people less than it does. Whether
it should bea peer-farm am not
prepared to say. Land can be bought
now al a low figure and Will doubtless
increase in value.
For The reason we have bnt vel,
few permanent county charges, l ar
inclined 20 TIE belief that Il lot &2!e
bui.Gin. could be luugl.t i'll y - s
and the county charges al piece
therein and calet fer at Il ee'p,tt =
ing to the eeai,ty; or Il building couls
be erected upon ne Oil court hou-'
block for that III II ose. 1.is coult
answer for ho, ta,al us w as Il hun3'
and the hep of those county poo
who would be able to re;.t.er *. cox {
be utilized in the care OF those W
| are sick.
| These are simply suggestions L
set people to thinking upon a mate
Which affects the pockets Of the tax
payers and the comfort of those wh'
are unfortunate enough to depend up
on them for subsistence, with thu
hope that suggestions will be mad
to the commissioners which will re-
suit in the adoption of the wisest
most humane and economical plan.
HENRY HUTCIIINS.