Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-05-01
EXPENSE
Wapello County's Average Elk
penditure is $5 81 Per Month.
IS POOR KEPT At FARM THIS MONTH
The Cost of Maintaining the Depend
ents Varies From So to $40 Per
Month in the Various Counties
Throughout the State.

According to the report of George
Wilson, superintendent of the poor
farm, the expense to Wapello county
Of providing for the care of its de-
pendents at the county farm averages
1871 for each inmate. Compared with
the amount given in the report of the
state auditor as the average for the
ninety-nine counties in Iowa this is
encouragingly low, and is evidence of
the fact that Wapello county is provid-
ing for its poor at much less ex-
pense than many of the other counties
in the state. Although Wapello coun-
tvs expenditure in this direction is
considerably below the average, yet
the poor within its territory are we'll
provided for and receive all the care
that is necessary for their comfort.
The Quarterly Expenditure.
According to the accounts kept by
the superintendent of the county poor
farm there was expended during the
three months of December, January
and February, the sum of $1,867.S9 for
the care of the dependents of this
county. During this time there Were
in the county Institution 104 persons
who were provided Tor with these
funds. This number varies consider
ably from month to month and at the
present time has decreased TO ninety
eight. With the variation in the NUM-
Der of wards at the county poor farm
the expense of maintaining the insti-
tuition and caring for them varies from
month to month. From all the data
that has been kept by the superintend-
| ent of the poor farm of this county it
| is learned that the average cost of
maintaining one person at the county
institution for three months amounts
to S17.03, while the average for the
year is given at $3.50.
The Cost of Maintenance.
Among the people cared for at the
! county institution are many who. are
able to give little assistance toward
| their own support in the way of help
ling on the farm. During the summer
months all who are able to work are
I given employment about the farm and
the produce raised is sold and the
funds received are turned into the
moneys for the maintenance of the in
lstitution. AS the expense of keeping
4 up the farm varies with the number
having their homes tkare, so the
amount OIL rec6lpCS also makes con-
siderable difference in the amount of
money actually expended from the
county funds. During the TN ~ = :, q
closing with March 1 the receipts
were exceptionally light /, the total
: amount of money being received from
the sale of the produce Of the farm for
,, that period being $96.65.
In comparing the average amount
expended per month by Wapello coun-
ty for the care of its poor with the fig
ures given by the state auditor for the
other ninety-eight counties of Iowa,
the result is most favorable for this
county. According to data received
from the various county auditors in
), Iowa the state auditor says in his re-
port that the expense of keeping the
; paupers in the different counties var
les from $3 to $40 per month for each
one cared for This makes the aver
age for the state S7.S1 and places
Wapello county So below that amount.
This makes very good showing for
Wapello county and considering that
: it's poor people are cared for in the
best possible manner the expenditure
required for the maintenance of the
! institution is not considered very
y large.