The silver lance., 1899-07-07
CURE FOR PAUPERISM
VS.. CHARITY.
Has spent $4,000. 900
In Supporting Paupers-It Would Have
Given Homes to 100000 Persons.

According to the official statistics the
state of Massachusetts last year sup
ported entirely 16,S25 paupers and par
TALLY supported 1902. OF the latter
2S, 400 were under sixteen years of age; (;
h,9I4 had fixed residences in towns
and cities; 10,sIS had fixed residences
in the country: 20.214 had no fixed resi-
dence. In addition to these. 232,
persons We're reported as vagrants by
the police. The census of paupers,
taken on the LIST of July. 1878, In the
state of Massachusetts. showed a total
of 33,511. OF these IA 222 were entire
ly supported by the state county or
municipal authorities and 1900 were
partially supported. The expenditures
Tor the support and relief OF these peo-
pie amounted to 81. 400. Dog.
During the last year, according to
me official statistics, 146,473 persons
3ere supported more or less time in
sne county almshouses of the state of
New York. or these 1898 were ell
nrely supported and 127 $40 were par
daily supported. In the city of Great
fr New York 1S2.395 paupers were re-
ported, 63,6O0 being wholly supported
by municipal institutions and 11S.795
partially supported. The expenditure
OF off1cial appropriations in the city of
Greater New York. which. as every
body understands. includes BROOKLYN.
for the relief and support of paupers.
was S3,251 SOP. The counties outside
of the city of Greater New York spent
Sl,69S, 735, of which S7S9,6SS was for
permanent inmates of almshouses AMI
NS3,o6I for the temporary relief of the
suffering.
Nor do the reports above given from
Massachusetts and New York include
anything but purely official expendi-
lures. If the truth were known
the expenditures of private and relg-
lous charitable organizations would
doubtless equal those of the public au
thorities
was led into this inquiry, said n
correspondent of the Chicago Record
IN connection with the colony which
booth-Iucker of the Salvation Army
has established in Colorado. He has
been able to provide homes with ten
acres of ground. n team of horses. "A
COW, two or three pigs, twentw four
chickens and full outfit of farming
implements and machinery for twenty
SIX families at the rate of SGOS fam
liy. This was during the experimental
period and he believes that he can
hereafter establish them at an average
cost of 500 family. 1t naturally oc.
ours to one who,is studying this sub.
1ect that II might be profitable for
some of the charitable societies. IL not
the municipal authorities, to attempt
thls experiment. The state Of Massa.
chusetts since 1878 has expended S35.-
S9S,3s4, or an average of 81 969,323 a
year, for the care of paupers. Suppose
one -half of that amount, or say $15,.
pO,OOO, has been expended in the re-
moyal and establishment of those pau
pers upon the farming lands of the
west, at the rate of cost now paid by
the salvation Army, 25.OOO families or
perhaps 100000 paupers who are n
public burden would have been given
a new chance In life and placed in n
position where they could contribut,
to the public wealth and the public
welfare. This suggestion is at least
worth talking about.