The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1901-10-25
had begun in 1872 and he wanted to


Jillson when one wagon was put on.
Since that time the work of the depart
ment has increased steadily. Com
plants were received once in while
but the system by which the Board OF
Health issued licenses to private col
lectors of swill was to his mind large
ly responsible for trouble.
Under the old system men with lot
of hogs would get license from the
health department and start in to col
lect swill from a certain district. When
the city collectors called several times
in succession and found others had
taken the swill they were liable to pass
houses where such a condition was in
evidence. Subsequently the private
collector for one reason or another
might give up his route and then COM
plants would be lodged at City Hall
because collections were not made. The
scavenger department is practically
self supporting. The expenses are be-
tween $4,000 and $4,000 per year and
the sale of swine results in an income
which reduces the net cost of the de-
partment to $4,000 or $4,000 per year.
Rev D. w. Hoitt said he thought it
should be stated that the institution
was not conducted for persons who
have been brought to it as result of
their evil habits nor for the mildly in
sane, but rather for the sake of the
worth poor. He thought that people who
| through no fault of theirs are brought
to ask the city for aid should be made
to feel that there is no shame attach
ing in any way. He referred to an in
cident of a worthy couple who through
misfortune lost their little fortune and
were obliged to go to the Home Farm.
He thought the city should take the
place of children for such unforturf'ates.
Mr.. Curtis referred to the death of
| Denis C. Leonard who was the Oldest
member of the board from point of SER
vice and voiced the regret of his as
sociates that he was not present. He
| introduced Frank Z. Murray as Mr..
| Leonard's successor.
| Mr. Murray expressed pleasure at be-
| ing associated with men who are willing
! to give up so much of their time for the
worthy Door of the city. He thanked
! the members of the City Council for
! his election and hoped he would be able
to perform his duties in a manner sat
] isfactory to all. E. NJ Woodward said
( that as a member of the finance COM
mittee of the board he took special in
, terest in seeing how the money was eX
pended. He believed the 5000 spent in
fixing up the grounds, wisely invested.
The fact that photographs of the in
stitution had been shown at the Paris
exposition and at the Pan American
exposition and awarded medals in both
instances was sufficient evidence of the
esteem in which the institution is held
by others. He believed that the scav-
enger department should interest the
City Council fully as much as the over
seers If it were not for the system
now in operation much larger appro-
priations would be necessary.
Mr.. Woodward spoke at some length
of the work of the city relief de-
no ,a,af f.I,
assistance of certain individuals re-
suits in considerable saving as com
pared with the cost of maintaining
them at the Home Farm. The cost of
Keeping each person per week at the
Home Farm is now figured at 50. IS.
Mr.. Woodward also referred to the
class of men that comes around every
fall and asks to be taken to the farm
for the winter, and them when spring
comes and they are asked to do a lit
tie work on the farm, they promptly
start for the city and secure employ
ment of the departments. They work
all summer and manage to dispose of
the money they get With the return
of cold weather they are back asking
to be admitted to the institution. The
board is trying to devise some means
whereby this class of men can be
handled to better advantage.
@hA. w OOuN dId Introduced URureS TO
show the cost of maintaining the de-
partment UP to Oct. of this year as
compared with a similar period in
1900. At present there are 235 inmates
The total expense for the period mem
toned was $780, 800 this year and
$751; for the same months Of 1900
The revenue last year was $9073 and
this year 1869, making the net ex-
pense for 1900 $27,SO6 and for 1901
23.O40.
The net expense of the scavenger
department up to Oct / was $4,000, as
compared with S5361 at the same time
last year. The total cost of the
scavenger department this year has
been Sl5,293 and this is the amount it
would cost the city to dispose of garb-
age were it not for the pigs.
The net expense of the city relief
department up to Oct. l was SIT 1892 as
compared with $4,000 at the same time
last year. A principal item in this
department is the bill for care of in
sane.
Councilman Morrissey thought the
gathering might well be christened a
scavenger party; at all events, he was
pleased with IT, Some of his friends
had spoken of reelection. He wasn't
sure about his case, but he thought
the voters of Ward four would be wise
III ICbui illiB Nun 10 the common COun-
ell for another term. Mr.. Morrissey
praised the institution and suggested
that as there is a Protestant chaplain,
it might be well to have a Catholic
priest visit the institution and saw
mass occasionally, as there are many
inmates of that faith.
Rev. Mr. Hoitt explained that Rev,
Robert Walsh conducts services at the
Home Farm whenever he sees fit and
that he was willing to give way for
other clergymen at any time.
Superintendent Schouler preferred to
let people judge for themselves as to
what was being done at the institu-
ton. He urged the necessity of in
stalling better heating plant.
Councilman Crosby said it was his
fourth official visit to the institution
and he was pleased to notice great
Improvement at every visit. He be-
lfeved it would be a wise step and in |
the line of economy for the city to
take out the boilers now in use and
install new heating system.
S. Hamilton Coe. clerk Of The Com |
mon Council told some good stories /
and went over the history of the |
scavenger department. He believed |
that the entire matter is in reality in |
the hands of the Board of Health and |
that it has as much right to say what !
shall be done in the matter of garb- |
age collection and disposal as in the
appointment Of a nurse to attend a 1
smallpox patient.
Councilman Power was glad that |
the overseers of the poor were made |
up of the best men in the city. 1t was |
his first visit to the institution, but /
he was much impressed with what he /
had seen. He expressed the belief that |
the smallpox hospital should be moved |
from its present location and that a