The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1905-11-25
BENE VIOLENT
INSTITUTIONS
Bureau Of Commerce and
Labor Gives Statistics of
the United States.
GROWTHFROMlS 1890 TO 1903
CHARACTER OF THE INMATES
AND EXPENSE OF THEIR MAIN
TENANCE-RANK OF STATES.

The Bureau of the Census has just
published a special report on the benev-
olent institutions of the United States.
The inquiry that formed the basis of this
report was conducted under the direction
of Mr.. John Koren, expert special agent,
and the work of collection and compila-
ton was performed under the supervision
of Mr.. William A. King, chief statisti-
clan for vital statistics. The various
kinds of benevolent institutions and the
extent of their activities are treated in
this discussion, which is especially val
liable as source of information to those
interested in organized or individual phi
lanthropy.
ioi- machi-r theb-t kiilflnd
Not only are the people of the United
States becoming more and more inter
ested in charitable work, but they are
expressing their interest by establishing
and supporting benevolent institutions.
During the period between 1890 and
1908, 2,004 such establishments were
founded, and now there are 4,207 insti-
tutions supported, wholly or in part. by
public taxation, private endowment, or
by subscriptions, donations, and other
forms of gift, for the benefit of the sick
aged, and needy. These institutions are
classified as orphanages, hospitals, per-
manent homes, temporary homes, and
schools and homes for the deaf and blind.
More than one-third of all the benev-
olent institutions enumerated are hos
| pitals, and about one-fourth are orphan
ages and children's homes. The perma-
nent homes for adults alone or adults
and children rank third in point of num-
Der. and the temporary homes rank
fourth.
The increase in the number of hospit-
ais and permanent homes for adults was
more marked in the old and thickly pop
ulated communities than in the newer
ones, while the growth of orphanages
was more notable in states somewhat
deficient in benevolent institutions or
other kinds.
The great proportion of institutions in
certain commpnities does not indicate an
excessive number of sick and dependent
in those neighborhoods so much as the
greater advancement of the inhabitants
in the care of such classes.
The number of inmates in benevolent
institutions on December 81, 1904, was
2S4,3 1862, and the number admitted dur
ing the year 1904 was 2,040,372. The
persons enumerated as inmates should
not be considered as paupers, and many
of them should not even be considered
as recipients of charity, for the institu-
tions, particularly the hospitals, are FREE
| quently rcsorted to as a matter of cons
yenience by individuals who pay liber-
ally for what they receive
4 At the end of the year 1904 the in
mates were distributed as follows: Chill
dren in orphanages, 92,2S9; inmates in
permanent homes, s0,346; patients in
hospitals, Il $50; inmates in temporary
homes, 25,466; and persons in institu
tions for the deaf and blind, 14,731. OF
the inmates admitted during the year
more than one-half were received by hos
pitals and over two-ffths by temporary
| homes.
For the United States as a whole out
of each 100000 inhabitants, 347 were
being cared for by benevolent institu-
tions on December 81, 1904, and 2,5O9.6
4 had been admitted to such institutions
during the year.
It is a noteworthy fact that the men
and boys outnumber the women and girls
in benevolent institutions. This condi-
tion of affairs is, partly accounted for by
the numerous homes for veterans.
The. financial statistics given in the
report are for the year 1903. The total
cost Of maintaining the benevolent insti-
tutions during that year was $50. SIT .633
More than one-half of this amount was
used for the SUPPORT Of hospitals. The
orphanages cost about ten millions and
the permanent homes almost as much
while the institutions for the deaf and
blind required over three and half mil
lions.
1 The income from pay inmates amount
ed to $14,s4s,5OS, and the subsidies from
| public funds reached $6,0S9,22 The
hospitals received over four-ffths Of ths
entire amount paid By inmates and al
most tlsee-eights of the subsidies
little over one-tenth Of the cost Of MAIN
tanning the orphana ges Is covered sbs1 khs