Morning appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1877-1906, 1904-11-02
THE POOR FARM.
1t is Now Costing Over Forty Dollars
Month Per Capita to Maintain the
Caun<v Poor

It is Now Costing Over Forty Dollars
Month Per Capita to Maintain the
County Poor. .....
In January 1899 a Grand Jury ap.
pointed from Judge Macks court made
a searching investigation of the condi-
ton of the county finances of Ormsby
County This Grand Jury was COM
posed to leading citizens without re- t
gard to party and was composed OF /
Republicans and Silver men p. !
1t found that the finances of the |
county was in very deplorable condi- i
ton and no attention had been paid |
to provide for the meeting of bond is |,
sues by providing for sinking fund, |
but everything ran along in a hap
hazard, happy go lucky way, which
had always been the rule with the
Republican Board of County Commits
sioners
Although the Grand Jury recon-
mended a change of less extravaganza
no attention has been paid to these
suggestions.
Now we will take sample brick and
call the attention of the taxpayers to
the extent of the Poor Farm graft.
The Grand Jury report Of '99 con-
tanned the following.
INDIGENTS.
Evo1,c;yo IF oil tho produo+c IF tho
Poor Farm and exclusive of all aid
extended to indigents outside of the
Poor Farm the cost of maintaining
that institution during the years 1897
and 1898 as per Auditors books. was
$3,2S590 for 1897, and s3,42O.47 for
1898, a total of s6,706.37 or s279,43
per month, or $23.2S per month per
inmate. We would recommend that
supplies for the Poor Farm be con-
tracted for as is done by other public
institutions. That the salary of the
visiting physician be discontinued or
that it be reduced to $50 per month.
That the salary of the Superintend
ent be reduced to $50 per month.
That all products and live stock raised
at the Farm. as near as may be. be
reported to the Board of County Com
missioners by the Superintendent and
regular account kept of the same
The last Grand Jury of the county,
after careful investigation of the fl
nancial condition of the poor farm.
reported that the average cost of main
tanning the institution was $26.37 per
slightly increased. In 1897 the ex-
pense was s3,2S5.9O, for the year 1898
it was $3,437.79. In going over the
books in which the county INDECENT
expense account was kept your COM
mite was unable to find any expense
account for the month of August for
the past year The warrants drawn
for the farm and recorded in the
County Clerks office, showed that the
expense was $24o.70. 1t will be seen
that the expense of maintaining the
farm, however, for 1898 has only been
$146.79 greater than last year The
previous Grand Jury stated that it re-
garded the expense ofs26,37 per capita
in excess of what it should be and
further stated that responsible parties
were ready to care for the county
indingent at the rate of $12 per capita
per month and recommended change
from the present to the contract
system. The recommendation was
made two years ago but the board OF
Commissioners did not deem it advis
able to make the change. The an.
nual report of the Superintendent has
not yet been filed.
There was SO much indignation ex
pressed among the taxpayers at these
exposures that the County Commits
sioners found it necessary to curtai
expenses until the storm blew over
and so in 1900 there was a slight re
trenchment, and the expense went
down to 1894 as against $4,000 of ths
year before. Then there began :
steady rise and here are the figures:
1900. ......,.. 1894 g.
1901, Observation-Disclosures. 3,826.0l
1902, -. -. -. -. .4,5779
1903, ... " .. 5,8O6 ri
The expense account of this yea
is not yet available and will not b.
until after Jan. 1st. ...... s
1t will be observed that in 1899 tn.
grand jury composed mostly of Rep
ublicans took the county authoritie
to task for causing the taxpayers t,
pay $26.37 per month per capita whe1
now the expenses have so increase,
that the cost is now little over 81