The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1907-01-07
PAUPERS ARE FEWER
ALMsHousE POPULATION LOW.
Err, SAYS CENSUS BUREAU.
Majority Of Them Are Men-Foreign-
ers outnumber American-Born
Among Public Dependents
Many Are Diseased.

Many Are Diseased.
Washington.-The bureau of the
cen census has just published a spe-
cial report on paupers in the aims
houses of the United States. The bu.
reau's inquiry develops several inter-
esting facts. among which are that
pauperism is decreasing and that hos
pital facilities for unfortunates for
merly sent to almshouses have be-
come better and more scientifically adj
ministered.
The number of paupers in aims
houses on December 81, 1903, was 81
1854, and the number admitted during
1904 S1.412. making a total of 16S,.
176 persons who were in almshouses
during the whole or part of the year
1904. OF this total 1857 were men
and $3.50 women. The number in
cluded 52,444 men and 29,320 wom-
en-. and the number admittsA 59,373
men and 22,039 women.
The number Of paupers in aims
houses in 1850 was 66.203 and in 1890
73.045. But although the number Of
almshouse paupers is increasing the
increase has not kept pace with the
growth Of population and consequently
the ratio Of almshouse paupers to pop
ulation is decreasing. In 1880 it was
1872 per 100000 Of population; it de-
creased to 1855 in 1890 and to 101.4
in 1903. In part, at least, this decline
in institutional pauperism is due to
changes in the treatment of the men
tally and physically defective poor,
who In former times were sent to
almshouses but are now cared for in
hospitals or asylums, and also to the
development of nationally organized
charity which strives to make the poor
self-supporting and to place destitute
children in families rather than in
almshouses.
Although pauperism is less preva-
lent among women than among men,
the chief distinction between the two
sexes seems to be that women, hav-
ing once entered an almshouse are
there permanently, while men are to
o large extent only winter boarders.
Although decreasing, the ratios are
still high in some Of the older COM
monwealths located in sections with
large urban centers and a compare
lively severe climate.
Climate affects pauperism in states
where severe winters prevail and those
permitting easy entrance and dis
charge from almshouses.
For example, states with large ur-
ban populations and states with meth
DDS Of almshouse administration al
lowing great freedom Of ingress and
egress show large percentages of ad.
missions and discharges, while agri-
cultural states and states with mild
winters show correspondingly small
percentages.
The percentages Of discharges do not,
however, signify that the discharged
never return, for of the thousands who
are discharged with the opening of
summer the majority can be depended
upon to return with the cold weather.
In fact, the number admitted during
1904 were, for the most part, seasoned
inmates.
The foreign-born whites whose eco
nomic position IL not high show a
greater tendency toward pauperism
than the native whites Of native pa
rentage and native whites of foreign
parentage. There is, however, no rea-
son to believe that many immigrants
drift into almshouses soon after their
arrival in the United States, for only
23 per cent. Of oil the foreign born
in almshouses had been in this coun-
try for less than five years. Among
the different nationalities of foreign
born whites the degree of thrift, COM
bined with racial characteristics, seems
to determine the tendency toward pau.
perism.
That pauperisE Is in a large meas
ure concomitaht Of age and its ac-
companying evils is shown by the large
percentage at least so years Of age,
and the rapid increase in the number
of aiMshouse paupers in each of the
succeeding quinQuennial age periods
between IS and 65 years, after which
the high death rate prevents any fur
Their increase.
TIL relation Between age and pau
prism is also shown when it is OBJ
served that the proportion Of paupers
appears to be much smaller among the
native whites OF foreign parentage, in
which class there ire comparatively
few elderly persons, than it is among
the foreign-born whites which class
is composed fer the most part Of
adults.
Among the relatively large numbers
Of negroes in the earlier age groups
are found many Who are suffering
from pulmonary complaints and many
feeble minded who are sent to the
almshouse as soon as their inability
to earn livelihood Is established.
OF the total paupers in almshouses
nearly two-thirds were mentally or
physically defective.
More than three-feurths of the aims
house paupers old enough to work we're
incapacitated.
OF the aggregate almshouse popu.
lation 1874 died during the year. OF
this number more than two-thirds
were at least so years of age.