The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-09-17
BOARD OF CHARITIES
 STATEMENT TO PUBLIC

l The Board of Charities have issued 1 the following statement:
 1 Tn order to more fully inform you l in regard to the proposed issue of 1 bonds to the amount of Si75,o00 for a new alnshouse, which issue is to be | voted upon at a special election, Sep l tember 24th, we desire to place before | you the facts in our possession, which
 We believe warrant us in urging you
 to vote in favor Of this particular .At the very outset the Board of Chariteis wishes to emphatically deny | that they have at any time had in mind the building of a palatiaI aims hoiuse. All that is desired is 8 fire proof, vernain proof. sanitary building, large enough to care for in reason able and decent manner the homeless pd8r of our city.
 Tour present buildings are unsafe, | unsanitasy and utteEly inadequate for ofeasing number of people we are compelled to care for. The record Nof
 our increase for the foEr years from 1907 to 1911, inclusive, is as follows:
 Average number of inmates, 1907, POS; ; 1908, 25s; 1909. PAS; 1910, 241; 1911, 267. The decrease in 1910 was due to the taken to Shelton by order of the State, thus closing our pavilion
 The original building, erected in 1863, is showing marked deterioration owing to the fact that the laundry and shower baths are located in the eel lars, and the steam from them has perm Q0aIS0 TkkS whole Ouf1O1n2, ca uS1nR a disintegratfon of the mortar and in many cases of the brick itself. The additions which from time to time have been erected appear to have been largely makeshffts simply to provide sleeping space, without regard to san itary conditions or accessibility for the purposes required. and apparently faulty in design and arrangement and cheap in construction, and are causing a constant outlay to keep in usable condition. As an example of this, to cf f1ITi1 led IcrTr1 one-story and basement affair, was aded at 8 later date two floors and and attic without reinforcing or strengthening the foundation to carry the added weight in the center Of the building, thus causing it to settle later.
 showing up and will continue to do so with increasing frequency is apparent to anyone who will give the buildings a careful and honest inspection Such an inspection the Board of Charities solicits on the part of the voters of Bridgeport. State Board of Health and the Board of Building Commissioners of the city of Bridgeport, are unanimously agreed that money expended on the present building would be simply wasted. We the Board of Charities, recognize the conditions, and also recognize the ser fousnes and responsibility of the sit ua tion; and we feel that we would be remfss in our duty if we did not do all in our power to forward the project of rew building.
 Our general plan is to build the main buildings and move the inmates into them; then rage the old structure, using such material as is found suit able in the erection of the necessary farm buildings, shops, etc. The old material could be cleaned and some of the smaller buildings be put up by the inmates. giving them employment 1 and 1essening the cost of the com nplet- | ed plant but would require several years to accomplish.
 'SThe price of the land desired will 1 increase the longer the purchase is de- | layed, Sand it will take at least two | years after mosey is available for the | preliminary work, to prepare plans 1 and estfma tes. secure bids, and erect | a building we deem it iTnperat tiveN to | begin at the earliest possible moment | We therefore urgently request the vot- | CTS of Bridgeport to take favorable ac- tion on this bond issue for a new aims house, believing that we are more than justified in being especially insistent in this mater owing to the gravity of the situation We feel that we can only be dissolved of the responsibility for delay, and the censure, criticism and liability in the event of accident by presenting this matter to you in as forcible manner as possible
 "Respectfully submitted,
 'sF w Behrens,
 John MacLaren Richardson,
 Patrick Kane
 Matthew J. Judge.
 Dated Sept. Is, 1912.''