The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-11-28
AN ALMSH0USE BADLY NEEDED
THERE ARE DIFFICULTIES IN THE
WAY OF STARTING 1T.

Several of the Commissioners Favor
1t, But They Do Not Like the Work
of Arranging the DetaiIs-The Coll
or Question Liable to BE Very
Much in the Wny-Chairman Dale
Says whole Families Could Not Re
Taken There-It Is Believed 1908
COIOred People Would Want 10
Get in at the Start.
There is considerable sentiment in favor
of the establishment of an almshouse on
the county farm, but according to what
those interested say of the matter there
are several difficulties in the way of es-
tablishing such an institution.
Chairman ]. ]. Dale OF the board OF
county commissioners says he has always
been in favor of an almshouse, especially
for the reason that that means of taxi
ing care of the poor has been adopted by
the whole civilized world, and has proven
successful in almost every instance. But
he says there are difficulties In the way of
establishing an almshouse in Savannah
at the present time that the commission
ers have not decided how to meet. All
of the poor people could not be sent to
almshouses, he said, because a great many
of them have families, and the families
could not be sent there along with them.
Then, again, the color question comes in,
he said. He was of the opinion, along
with Commissioner William Kehoe that
there would be no less than 1000 negroes,
who would want to be taken into such a
place were 1t established. Mr. Dale has
had a great deal of practical experience
with the poor of the county, as he is in
charge of the committee which has had
to distribute the poor fund. He thinks
the keeping up of an almshouse by the
county would cost 1t a great deal more
than is at present expended on charities.
Commissioner ]. A. G. Carson took a
somewhat different view Of the matter.
He believed an almshouse would be
decided step in the direction of economy
on the part of the county, and he was
highly in favor of 1t, but, he stated, that
the arrangement of the details for such
an institution was very difficult matter
and one that the present board of county
commissioners did not care to tackle
The commissioners took the matter up
about year ago. he said, "at the time
change was made in the manner of dis
tributing the poor fund. 1t was discussed
then in very informal manner, and il
was apparent that the arrangement of the
details in connection with such an institu-
ton would be a matter of very great diff
Guilty.
The county is now expanding a great
deal of money through certain charitable
institutions, such as the hospitals, and
these would be put in very Strengthened
circumstances should those appropriations
be withdrawn from them for any purpose.
Then the question of the colored people
also enters the matter There are many
old colored people who are now supported
and kept going by the members of their
families, but as soon as an almshouse was
opened these families would want to shove
them right off on the county.
There is a stream of mendicants along
the Bay every Saturday. That Is their
day, and they come one by one, appar-
emily working in with one another, and
never getting in one anothers way. l am
satisfied an almshouse would be a good
thing for these classes, and 1 think it
would be a step in the direction of econo-
my, but the only trouble Is in arranging
the details. 1 hope some plan can be sug
gested by which such an institution can
be properly established"