Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-03-03

While something has been achieved in the matter of economy, we believe that relief has been given in all cases where it should have been. Tn view of the high prices of coal during the past six months, the board was fortunate in procuring sufficient supply of good hard wood at reasonable price under the circumstances. This wood has been sawed, split and delivered at the homes of the outside poor families, by the i1l- mates of the Broolcside home. At the close of the winter season it can be de- termined whether 1t will be wise to continue the use of wood provided in this way, instead of coal, for the out side poor. Other necessary work us- ually done in winter by the inmates of the Brookside home, such as the clear Ing of land and the extension of the retaining wall in front of the institu- fion, has been suspended during this winter
 Our report shows the amount of pro- duce raised at the Brookside farm. practically all of which was consumed l at the home, the value of products sold being only $37.SO, as appears in the cash account. Among improvements made by the labor of the inmates Of the home during the past year is a large new well. which assures sufficient supply of water for some time. Among improvements urgently needed at +ha Brookside home is a new barn. the old ones being dilapidated and unsafe. We earnestly recommend that some nro- 1 vision be made for a night watchman for the home Our system of records for all branches of the department is !. q great Improvement over old methods more permanent and complete records being made now than formerly of all persons aided, and accounts of relief given are kept in greater detail as ap l pears by the tables which this renort comprises.
 I (SigneD WILLIAM T. DISLEY, I EDWARD J. FINN. 1 WILLIAM c. MOORE,
 JAMES Fl. FILLING, l CHARLES BREWER. I Total number of hospital cases dur. ing the year, 219; total number of in- mates during the year at the Conne.- ticut Hospital for the Insane, 1O2: at St Francis Orphan asylum in New Haven, 20; Hartford hospital, IA; Gen. eral hospital. 8; Waterbury hospital. 9O. The amount expended on hospital account was s14 .45247.
 Applications for aid made during the year numbered 6,650. of which 6.135 lwere granted.
 There were 294 inmates at the PlcGkside home during tha year The daily average was 99, the weekly cost Of each being $24e. The total cost Cur ng the year was S13.993 -t;.
 Tle number of poor persons rei!cvcI Was 346; number of persons given re- lief. 1,o34, and the total cost Of outside rei;ef was $15, ,49S.c7, or Si.T3 less than the appropriation.
 Tn regard to the installing of an electric lighting plant at the Brookside home, the mayor thought this was too delicate matter to handle at the pres ent time.
 Commissioner Finn said that he was not in favor of increasing the expenses of the department, but he thought that there should be night watchman at tthe Brookside home, where there are so many lives and so much property at stake. If a fire should occur and there should be any loss of life the board would be severely condemned if there were no watchman there. The other members of the board agreed
 with Commissioner Finn and in all probability watchman will be ap-
 pointed at a meeting in the near fu- : ture.