The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-11-04
NEEDS OF 4 NEW
 ALMSH0USE SET FORTH IN ARGUMENT
State Board of Charities Sends Communication to
 Local Board
To the Editor of the Evening Farmer

To the Editor of the Evening Farmer
 Sir:-
 Since the, publication in the local press on November 2d, of the appeal of the Board of Public Charities to the voters of the city for their favor able vote on the question of issue of bonds for a new almshouse, the fol- lowing communication anent the sit uation has been received by our board from the State Board of Charities: Board of Public Charities,
 Bridgeport, Conn.,,
 Dear Sirs:-At meeting of the State Board of Charities held at it's office in the Capitol on Wednesday, Nov. 1st, pr. Edwin A. Down. of Hartford, and MT. J. B. Holman, of SaybrOok, members of the board. re- ported on a visit of inspection which they made for the Board to the Bridgeport almshouse on Oct. 27th. Their report was substantially as fol- lows:
 From an inspection of the Bridge port almshouse it was evident to the visiting committee that the almshouse had seen it's best days. A glance at the exterior of the building might lead a superficial observer to believe that the conditions were all that could be, desired, but his survey of the in- terior would lead to directly opposite conclusion. This has been the opinion of the State Board of Charities for a number of years, until now ma tiers have reached such conclusion as to demand public attention in order to place the responsibility for the present conditions where it belongs. Upon bility of improving conditions at the almshouse remains unquestioned. As to the best manner in which this is to be accomplished the City must decide for itself. Upon general principles, the practice of putting new cloth into an old garment works only disaster for. the entire fabric, and our ex- perience with similar institutions in other towns of the State justifies the assumption that the Bridgeport gar ment should be replaced by modern building on par with those estab- Hshed in cities of the same class in point of population and industrial prosperity.
 Some of the more striking defects of proper facilities for the care of the inmates. Labor saving devices are few and this means greater expense for the taxpayer on account of addi- tional help needed. Water closets are dark and unventilated, unless a tram som over the door can be considered sufficient for furnishing both light and fresh air. The plumbing Is of the mongrel type and the decaying floors, wet plastering. exposed areas of lathing from which the clustering of the ceiling had fallen bear witness to the necessity for renovation through out large portion of the building. The department for the insane is ap- parently a makeshift and is not mod eled in keeping with modern concep- tions of the care of these unfortu- mates. The quarters for the admin istrative department are wholly in- adequate and give the impression of an overcrowded storeroom. So in- ferior are they to similar departments in other larger and we'll conducted almshouses that the Bridgeport condi- tions are completely outclassed
 Under existing conditions the work of caring for the poor in this institu- tion must be difficult problem. Up- on questioning the inmates it was as- certained that those in charge of the almshouse did all in their power to make matters as comfortable as pos sible and censure should therefore be directed to the structure itself and not to the management.
 "It certainly seems time that some thing should be done to provide bet ter quarters for the Bridgeport aims house; and the State Board of Chari- ties would be very glad to hear at your earliest convenience any state- ment from your board in regard to the matter.
 Thanking you for the favor of an early reply. I am
 'Very sincerely yours,
 (SigneO.. CHARLES P. KELLOGG,
 Secretary" Connecticut state Board of Charities
 We earnestly request the voters to read in connection with the foregoing communication from the State Board above referred to (November 2d). and also the statement presented on the question of bonding for a new aims house by the Aldermanic Committee, sppearing in the local press Nov. 1st, 1911.
 Respectfully,
 THE BOARD OF PUBLIC
 CHARITIES.