The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1898-03-16

medical treatment and teaching.
We also submit an account Of the re-
pairs made during the year, condition /
of the farm, products OF the same ma |
teriais made and manufactured, i'm |
provements made or added, together |
with such other items as may be Of in |
terest to the Court, Grand Jury and |
public.
All of which Is respectfully submit
ted aud certified this 3lst day of De |
cember, A. ID. 1897.
Attest William Dull,
l.. G.. Colborn, Harrison GOhn,
fSeal Clerk j. w. Peck,
Directors of the Poi and House Of 4
Employment OfSOmerset County. !
With the constantly rolling wheel of
Time we lay before you our iifty-secoud |
annual report, with another years ex- |
perience OF the best institution of the |
county, one in which all should be in |
terested.
How well and efficiently we have
fulfilled the trust and managed the
business affairs of the institution, after
"A reading of this report, you must
Judge. The office of Director of the |
Poor is one of the most responsible of
any in the county. As well as being
an honorable one, il is an office that re-
quires a wise Judgment and brings out !
the noblest pTOmptings of the heart. |
It calls on one TO decide the difference
between giving and charity, between
truth and error, and judge OF the ca
pacity of one by the surroundings.
1t is not always charity TO give, or be
moved by the tale of woes and stories
of wrongs sympathetieally related; yet,
withal, have heart that can be "tOuch-
ed by the feeling Of anOther's infirmi-
ties" (" and whose tenderest sympathy is
enlisted to all deserving and honest
poor. The Directors of the Poor are
the dispensers Of the county's charity,
having both the keys of office and the
Office.
10 us the law commits the care, we'll
being and happiness of our unfortu-
nate, aged and infirm poor, those whose
condition must excite your sympathy
on every visit you make TO the home,
those TO whom ''pity gave ere charity
BEGAN To US is also committed the
distribution and use of the funds so
generously provided by the laws of the
Commonwealth TO the greatest advan-
tage of those whose comfort, health
and happiness the law makes il our
especial duty 10 provide
We are aware that il is expected that
the Director of the Poor should have
''s tear for pity and hand open as day
for meeting charity" and il is also ex-
pecied that he should keep an eagle eve
upon every department of the institu-
-tiOn TO detect and prevent extravaganza
and waste. The duties are numerous
and Onerous, and in the performance of
them we have made il a point OF honor.
We do not claim perfection, nor do we |
think the Home has reached the stand |
ard that the citizens desire il should |
have, yet we can say without bOasling
that the Poor Home of Somerset Coun- !
~, and the inmates thereof, are better |
kept, more comforts with less expense,
in proportion 10 the number of in /
mates, than any other in the State. /
This assertion is made upon the author
itV of the Secretary of the Board of
Public Charities
The public IS invited to visit the
Home and make such criticisms as will |
be beneficial to il. The Grand Inquest |
of the county made two special vista |
tions TO the Home during the year, be- |
sides large number of taxpayers, and |
the encouragement given US and the !
favorable comments made were greatly |
appreciated.
During the year no contagious dis |
eases or accidents were visited upon the |
Home, for which all should be thank |
ful.
The FARM-In all the history of the |
Poor House, never before has the farm |
produced so abundantly as last year. Ii |
Is in fine state of cultivation. and will |
soon rank among the model farms OF the
county, the earnings Of the farm alone
amounting 10 3, 449.S5, with a cost of
s442 y for the entire year.
The MISUNDERSTANDING the year the |
large frame white house was thoroughly |
renovated, painted nicely inside and out, |
and papered throughout. The buildings |
were never IN better repair. or presented |
finer appearance.
FURNITURE.-There were thirty two |
iron bedsteads placed in the mems de- |
partment 10 take the place OF the old /
wooden ones that were worn out long /
ago, and were simply a disgrace 10 the /
Home, besides being a rendezvous for |
VerInin and bugs. Ii is needless TO say /
they are enjoyed hy tho occupants. We /
also placed one dozen large rockers and 1
two dozen good substantial chairs for the 1
use of the occupants These were badly /
needed. and are a comfort 10 the old in /
their feeble condition.
Lightning rods were placed ON two of 4
the buildings; whether this was essen
iial or not. you must decide; vet, in our i
Judgment, we deemed Il our duty TO pro-
vide all protection for the safety of our 4
= clarge, and if there is any virtaein them.
we were desiFo1rs-firT The Home should Il
have the benefit Of it We hope in this
our action mag have your approval.
telephone was also recently placed in i
the Home, a necessity that has been long
felt. We feel thai the saving by it, on ae
count OF transporting persons TO the Home /
from the station at Somerset. viii repay 4
shp fn=f A ul.nan ~ tho ,cfu 81
bles' bills viii convince all of the neces-
slty. And notice is given To all Consta-
Dles aud Others bringing inmates To the 1
Home-instead of incurring a bill for 4
conveyance TO the Home. telephone to the /
Steward OF the Home. and he will meet
YOU with the teams of the county and /
convey them out
A new wash-stOve was also placed in
the wash-house, the old one being COM
pietely worn out.
lNMATEs-There was an average Of IS /
Inmates at the Home daring the wear. all
af whom were well cared for, comfortably
clad ond housed
There were nine (9) deaths at the Home.
IN Dstly Of those who had passed their al /
loted time. and had been great sufferers
for years, and when death came il was a
relief
DIVINE WORSHIP. Divine worsbin
was held at the Home once each month.
ID at each funeral, by Rev. j. s. Hark-
ey. up 10 October lsi, and since then 10y
R-v. Hiram King. These services are,
indeed, helpful to many and a great COM
Tort to those who are nearing the VALLEY
OF he Shadow OF Death. Invitations have
be- n extended TO all ministers to hold ser
viaes al the Home, or spend shcr, tine
IN visiting. bat none have responded.
They forget the divine iujuncsion, "Inas-
much as you have done il unto the least
OF these. my brethren, you have done il
unto me-"
CHILDREN--Duringt the year there were /
more children committed 20 the care Of
The Directors Of the Poor than in many
f"Imer years. Under the wise provisions
OF the Act of Assembly Of June Il. ISSS.
the Directors are prohibited from keeping
cor maintaining any children at the Home
between the ages of two and sixteen wears
under penalty Of one hundred dollars.
exeert il be deformed, idiotie or maim-
ed child.
A number Of children were placed bv
the Directors. and the balance placed in
the care OF the Children's Aid 5. ciaty,
who have acted In harmony with the Di-
recsnrS nf the Poor in nlacing children in
good homes The children. after beipp
placed in good homes, are regularly vis- 1
I'ed by the Aid Society, insuring good