The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-07-20
UNFORTUNATE HUMANITY
ATTENTION CALLED To WHAT IN
DIANA DOES ALONG THIS LINE.
statistics Cleaned from a Forthcom-
ing Bulletin of the state Board
of Charities.

Amos W. Butler, secretary of the Board
Of State Charities. has prepared a resume
of the work accomplished by the State in
stitutions that care for unfortunate hu-
mainly. Some of his cancellations and
statistics are taken from the quarterly bull
letin of his department just published. 9TH
ers are new. Secretary Butler has the fol-
lowing to say:
1T is interesting 10 stop sometimes and
see what the State of Indiana is doing for
unfortunate humanity. Few persons re-
alize how great is her work in the field of
public charities. The quarterly bulletin OF
Cnarltles and Correction, issued from the
office Of the Board of State Charities, gives
in concise form much information on this
subject.
1T shows that there was an average of
S,633.69 persons cared for each day during
the six months ending April 80, 1902 in the
thirteen State institutions. For their care
during this period the State expended $751;
2a2.S3. There is included in this $l43, PASS
spent in the construction and furnishing of
new buildings and in extraordinary repairs.
Notwithstanding the higher cost of living,
this aggregate was $2, 124.3S less than was
spent for the same purpose during the cor
responding period of the year before. The
cause of this, it should be stated, is that
last year there was included the legislative
appropriation to some of the institutions
TO reimburse the maintenance fund of the
preceding year. That was made TO the
ANOl llitln anu Eastern Hospitals lOI lle
Insane. School for Feeble-minded Youth,
State Prison and Reformatory.
Each person dependent upon the State
for support in all these institutions cost the
mother state on an average S91.65 for the
past half year. Not all the States wards
cost the same. however. The 3,707 inmates
of the four insane hospitals cost on an
average OF $S4.S4 each, which includes all
expenses OF maintenance, salaries of Of
fcers and attendants, clothing and repairs
in short, every item of cost incurred by
the State TO maintain the insane. Esti-
mated on the same basis, each of the $50
inmates of the Soldiers Home at Lafayette
cost ST1.3S; of the 595 soldiers and sailors
orphans, SS41O. The 81 pupils in the School
for the Deaf cost S132.u each to maintain;
the 19 in the Institution for the Blind,
SlI4.46 each, while for the S4 at the School
for the Predetermined, S70.S2. covered the
individual cost. In the four correctional
institutions the per capita was 1921. or
SlSS,O9S.5S for the 2,4S4 prisoners.
Included in the above estimates are the
salaries and wages, amounting to $244, 621. "a.
paid TO the 1,31S officers, attendants. teach
ers, guards, domestics and laborers whose
services are required in administering the
affairs of the States charges. Deducting
all related expenses the bare cost of sub
sistence in these institutions for the half
year varies from S31.S1, the per capita in
the Institution for the Blind, 10 SIG. 10 in the
School for predetermined Youth. the char
liable institutions averaging $27S3, or Is
cents per day, while the average of the cor
rectional institutions was 1894, or IL cents
per day.
Compared with the corresponding period
a year ago the enrolment of three of the
insane hospitals, the Soldiers Home and
the School for Predetermined shows a large
increase. The populations of the School for
the Deaf. Eastern Hospital for the Insane
and the State Prison were slightly aug
mented, while at the other correctional in
stitutiOns, the Soldiers and Sailors Or
phans' Home and the School for the Blind
the attendance decreased. The most not
able increase was at the School for Feeble
minded-73.5 persons; the decrease at the
Reform School for Boys was 1857
The following table shows the amounts
spent per capita during the six months end
ing April 80, 1902, in the various institutions:
Gross