Waterbury Democrat., 1902-01-07

VI
 easterly line of the Watertown road, in the vicinity of the old city line, in volving as it does the grading of said road to it's full width, and the removal of the railroad tracks to the wall, is work of considerable magnitude, and will be highly appreciated by the trav- cling public when it is completed.
 The action of the board of public works and the last board of aldermen in negotiating with the Connecticut Railway and Lighting Go for this work, is to be highly commended, and shows a strong desire to properly pro- tect the interests of the city. The en- tire cost of this work is nearly $30,000, and will be paid for by the railway company.
 A matter of importance, which we will be called upon to consider during the coming two years, will be the lay ing out of streets and the establish ment of grades therefor, in the newly added territory. During. the past five years street opening has been going on promiscuously in the outside districts. Tn most instances the layouts are not matters of public record, and little in- clination has been shown to comply with the law in such case made and provided. Another problem which will have to be solved is the remaining of many streets in the outlying district. which now bear the names of some of our city thoroughfares.
 Department of Charities.
 One of the new departments taken over by the city, namely, the depart ment of charities, is a very important one, and under it's direction large sums of money will be expended in caring for poor and insane persons and inn beetles. The city nowhere undertakes problems of such delicacy and diff 1 culty as the administration of charity. There are mainly two forms of public charity practiced here, viz: Relief to the poor at their own homes, and the care of the poor at the almshouse. The first form, viz: giving relief to the poor at their own homes, is a subject which has vexed the minds of able men in
 many countries for more than cen l tury. Out of all the turmoil, discus
 sion and experimentation a concensus
 of opinion is gradually being reached
 among those who have given the sub ject much study, or have had extend ed experience. Their conclusion IS
 that large cities should not give any out door relief. To many this prop osition seems revolutionary. Ii sounds cold and unfeeling; it seems ! to be 2 denial of charity. Shall this
 city not give clothing, groceries, rent and fuel to those in need? Is it not better to give the little help that seems
 to be needed temporarily, rather thar
 offer the alternative of going to the
 almshouse to become wholly a public I charge? Plausible as these question: seem, extended experience in many
 cities and careful study of the sub
 Ject answer them in the negative, anC
 declare that material relief given t
 their own homes causes much nor,
 suffering than it relieves, undermine
 the desire for self support, and dis
 courages foresight and thrift, encour
 ages immortality and political corrup ton and brings in it's train a long ser
 ies of evils that affect a communit, . to it's very center. I am of the opin ion that we have not arrived at tha
 period where we can dispense wit that form of charity. I believe, how
 ever, that every application for publi charity should be carefully investiga1 ed and only the deserving ones shoul I receive aid.
 , Under the second form, viz: The car , of the poor in the almshouse, tw : things are frequently overlooked f First the need of careful investigs
 tion of applications for admission. s P that only those who are properly sul 2 jects of public charity shall be |, : ceived. This is not merely a matte f of economy; it is q matter which V f tally affects the welfare of the aim
 house population for if admissions al : not carefully guarded, and too man
 are received, the buildings becom Q overcrowded, food supplies inadequat
 and those who are justly entitled 1 2 proper care at the city's hands al :. obliged to endure all manner of har, : ships. The second general failure v almshOuse management is the lack
 fany classification of the inmates on
 basis of character and previous re
 ord. The almshouse population Il; T various elements A large elemel ; consists of those who have spent the r life in dissipation, who have been | in and out of penal and correction E institutions and who are thorough
 vicious and deprayed in speech ar COuuuCl. HSI0 lS dlSO tin eIeUlcl ' composed of persons who are the vi T tims of misfortune rather than mi s conduct, who have led upright live Il who possess some measure of refin t ment, to whom daily association wi U the vicious and depraved is the bl z terest cruelty. I believe that stri adherence to the requirements of u charter relating to the giving of pu u lie charity and the management of u of the public charitable institution Il will bring about much good and W T in time secure a considerable sayiI | to the taxpayers.
 In connection with the almshouse, U would recommend that the prese ls heating plant be removed from u n boiler house, which is located at co i' siderable distance from the ma n building, into or near the same. II II would result in a great saving in flu f Fire Department.
 q The fire department has render le meritoriOHs service during the pa t. year as is evidenced by the smallne ii of the losses from fire, said loss D. amounting to S1S,951.12. The lo if lover insurance paid amounted to b " the mall sum of $1,900. With -h modern house in the Brooklyn q nt trict, equipped with up-to-date app;
 |