Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-09-17


much in their friendly aid to the poor.
They have supplied clothing, groc-
cries, coal and hospital care. The or
tumwa hospital and Ottumwa physi-
clans have given much free service.
The Hedrick Mothers club has helped
to keep many children in school. The
different churches. church societies,
and other religious organizations have
responded generously to the needs Of
destitute families. The city has no re-
lief fund but the city jail gave 1,449
lodgings to men from April l, 1918, to
April 1, 1914. This covers In brief
the relief agencies Of Ottumwa.
Many Families Aided.
Attempt was made to compile list
of the names Of families who received
aid last winter. It was not found pos
sible to secure a complete list. From
a number of different sources 1877
names were registered This did not
include the names of fifty families who
had received temporary aid last winter
from the overseer of the poor. II
these were added the total would be
447. However, the Elks' Christmas
list was included and many of the
families to whom they sent baskets
should not be considered charity
cases. A conservative estimate would
place the number of families requiring
aid, either continuously or intermit.
tently last year, at about 800.
Visits were made to the homes Of
some of these families in order to OBJ
tain first hand knowledge of living
conditions. In some parts of Ottumwa
housing conditions are bad. The
houses are in wretched shape with
holes in the roof that let in the rain
and render the houses damp and un-
healthy. There are some shacks that
are not fit for people to live in. In
other parts Of the city the houses IN
which charity cases live are in good
condition. There was not much over
crowding.
Some Distressing Conditions.
In one family the children were suf-
fering from ugly sores on their faces,
probably an infection caused from the
weeds and filth. Other children in the
neighboFhood were found to have the
same trouble. Home conditions were
pitiable. There seemed to be little
conception Of what cleanliness means.
The father of another family was
hurt year ago. Since then he has
been able to work only part time. He
had not seen q physician, the mother
said. The family had received assist
ance, yet no one had arranged for the
man to see doctor in order to find
out what the trouble was. There
had been no insistence upon the mans
getting in good physical condition.
In another home on the floor OF a
miserable house on piece Of old
blanket lay sick child, perhaps ten
years old The little limbs were
crooked The child was CHASTITY pale.
Her face was sad and wan and old.
She was probably suffering from
tuberculosis. Without question she
needed regular medical care and treat
ment.
At one place the mother was wash
ing. The clothes as they were wrung
out Of the rinse water looked almost
as black as when they went into the
suds. Sitting on chair nearby was .
fretful, peevish child of about two
years. The mother thought he might
be sick but seemed unconcerned.
Summer and sickness are serious
things for babies.
A poor old granmother who has the
care of a little grandchild Is receiving
aid more or less frequently. Yet the
childs father and mother are both liv-
ing and the child's father is working
in Ottumwa., The father should be
made to assume the support of his lit
tie girl.
There are a number of cases OF wild
ows with one child receiving aid. No
special investigation of them could be
made but there is question as to the
need for relief for q woman with one
child. Unless she is physically in
capable, she ought to be able to sup
port herself and her child. Many OF
these women only need advice and
friendly counsel. They are 80 OFF,
entirely helpless after the death -
their husbands and do not know how
to think and plan for themselves.
There were found in the list num-
Der of deserted wives. Deserted wom-
en- ought usually to receive aid only
on the condition that they will take
action against the deserter. 1t ought
not to be made easy for the father
VI 1dullly WHO Is TO6pOuoAO1C AOA IuS
of his wife and children
to slip out from under the burden and
have it carried for him.
There are of course, many families
temporarily in difficulty who need only
to be tided over dificult place. They
need the most careful treatment in or
der that they do not lose their self
respect or give up the fight and rest
content to be taken care of.
There is considerable tuberculosis in
Ottumwa. It was not possible to get
the present number of cases.
All over the country tuberculosis
figures as a cause of poverty. In
creasing emphasis is being put. upon
the prevention of the disease and
scientific care of patients suffering
from it.
Cities Are Compared.
The question comes, how much has
Ottumwa spent in the care Of the
poor?. A conservative estimate based
on the amounts secured from repre-
sentatives of the various organizations
places 1t at $22,S00. This does not.in-
clude the cost of operating the county
home. A comparison of the county
relief given in the homes of the poor,
that is, outside OF the county home, IN