East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1913-05-10
REPORT OF AUDITOR ON BOOKS OF
POOR FARM SHOWS COST OF EACH
INMATE A MONTH TO Be OVER $27

annual interest on capital invested in
plant and permanent improvements
at per cent, s1463.7O; interest cost
per month s21.97; amount Of inter-
est per month per capita, Ss32; to-
tai cost per month per capita dis
bursement and interest s27.5O.
Figures for the year 1911 show the
per capita cost to have been S32.95
per month; in 1910 the cost was
s26 81 a month; in 1909 the cost was
$29.44; 1908, 1899; 1907, 5000;
1906, $19.19; 1905. S19.O2. The fig
ures have all been compiled and put
into tbulated form by Mr. Wilson and
different tables show the data for
the institution for each year and
month Investigated.
The following extracts from the re-
port by Auditor Wilson throw light
on his Investigations at the poor
farm:
$4,000 Investment.
In January, 1903, Umatilla county
purchased the S. w. IA of Section
16, Township North, Range 32 East,
for poor farm. The sale included 3
head of horses and harness, s head
of cattle and farming machinery and
implements of the former owner on
cthe place.
The price paid for this prop
erIE was ............ .Sll, l,OOO.OO
(Journal L, p 2S2).
For continuation of abstract
to the land the county
paid ........... S.25
According to the Co. Court
Journal the county con-
tracted for building ma
terials (pages 295 to 373)
to the amount of . 5,726.00
According to the Co. Court
poor house bills audited
during the year 1903 and
1904 exclusive of con-
tracted materials) the
county paid for material
and labor connected with
the poor houses the sum
of q. ................. 5,645.56
In 1904 about November. a
barn cost, at poor farm. 7046s
In September. 1909, perma-
nent improvements were
added to the poor house
to the amount of .. 449.1O
Ir May, 1910, the same. 5679S
In Nov, 1910, the same. 29495
Total cost of ground ana
buildings ............S S24, 1868
The foregoing cost of permanent
plant at the poor farm does not in
clude repainting the buildings, nor
wiring them for electricity, nor the
installation of gas engine, or machin-
cry, or fencing added since the
buildings were originally completed.
The last three items We're taken from
the superintendent's reports.
The interest on the foregoing cost
of plant amounts at this time to
$1465.7O per annum, computed at
per cent.
I have compiled the following tables
showing average number of inmates
of the poor farm and the average cost
Of their maintenance from 1905 to
1912 inclusive, from the reports OF
the superintendent of the poor farm
on file in the county clerks office.
The amounts here shown do not in
clude, in the averages, that is the
average consumption of food, the
board of the farm hand the superin-
tendent, the several mechanics and la
borers occasionally employed about
the farm, nor of the cooks and nurses
if there have been any such en-
ployed there.
From the time the buildings were
completed until about 1911 there
seems to have been little improvement
or repair made but since 1911 a
number of Improvements and the ad-
1;.; =
but these | have not included in the
permanent cost of the plant, deeming
them more in the nature of mainten-
ance than of permanent investment.
\ list of the items thus treated is
glven on the tables for 1911 ana
1912.
In 1911 the county purchased 81
head of cattle which were fed on the
farm, and sold the following spring
They cost S3SS6.45, and sold for $4,-
S33.99 showing a profit of $947.54,
deduct Sails interest leaves net profit
of $S50.S9 which amount l have in
cluded in the receipts for June, 1912.
There is a little confusion in regard
to the cattle in the reports of the
superintendent to one unacquainted
with the circumstances, and this pro-
fit might fluctuate a few dollars more
or less but not to exceed a few dol
lars. I have not included in the dis
bursements the cost of the cattle, nor
I have l included in the receipts the
] corresponding amount when they were
: sold. but only the profit above the
f cost.
r In 1912 the county purchased 70
e steers in the fall for $476S 10 which
o were fed on the farm. At the time
to which this examination is brought
, January 1st, 1913, the cattle were
4 still on the farm being fed.
: This statement does not include all
: the INDECENT expenses of Umatilla
5 county during the time covered by the
t examination, but only those expendi-
o lures connected with the poor farm,
s and, as to them, they have been taken
e from the reports of the superintend-
y ent of the poor farm.
p Respectfully submitted.
]. H WILSON.