The Palatka news and advertiser., 1915-07-23
The County Poor Farm.
Editor. Palatka News:

Editor. Palatka News:
In your issue of 10th inst. is no.
tice of county commissioners lnten-
ton to equip and put in operation the
county poor farm at Rice Creek, and
requiring all indigents to abide on
the farm who are TO have county AID.
Now, Mr.. Editor, do the tax payers
of Putnam county owe the aged, the
cripples, the feeble poor Of this coun-
ty any assistance? If so why not
give tnat assistance to them and let
them remain with relatives or friends,
where most of the INDECENT can be
of some service and earn a part, at
least, of their living expenses?
If the county commissioners will,
they can find out very nearly the
amount of cash assistance each pau
per should receive. Friends and
neighbors can give information as to
ability of relatives, or friends to sup
port in part, or in full such INDECENT,
as we'll also as to the ability of such
pensioner to earn part of necessary
expense of being supported and fur
nished a home; where oftentimes the
example and advice of the aged is of
more value to the young around them
than the entire cost of their support.
1t may be- claimed that some would
not go to the poor farm ,and the aid
now given them would be saved.
Alas! Let's not think Of saving
such money. Do we owe the aged,
helpless, the feeble, the cripples moth
ing but little cash assistance? Deep
down in our hearts there should be a
moral respect, and unstinted homage
and sympathy that would drive from
cur minds any financial deals at econ
omy that tends to degrade or sadden
the last days Of such human unfor-
tunates. If each county commission
er will, without fear, hope of reward,
or malice, do his duty by careful in
vestigation of the environments Of
each county pensioner, there will be
but little misappropriated money to
county poor and the taxpayers Will
not complain for extravaganza on that
line. If it is necessary to economlze,
let US begin on some other line and
be systematic about it. How often
have we read of abuse, inhuman, dis
graceful treatment of occupants Of
"Poor Farms" in other sections? How
often in a psarcely settled country
like this, has poor farms proved a
success (morally or financially 1
believe there is a greater probability
of financial failure than of honora-
BILE success. Let us guess little.
There will have to be superln-
tendent at good salary; suitable
houses at county expense; mules; wa
,eons; plows mule, wagon and tool
sheds; cows and cow sheds, and men
kept on the farm to care for stock,
for those going to the farm cannot
be expected or depended on to care
for teams, milk cows, etc. Clearlnr,
fencing, blowing and opening up farm
costs considerable; then two wardens
Zone for male and one for female oc-
cupants) cost unknown; two nurses,
one for each sex, cost unknown; pro
visions for one year, cost unknown
household and kitchen furniture, cost
unknown; at least one cook, posi-
by half a dozen, cost unknown; then
the main home house or hospital with
net less than thirty rooms, with mod
ern bath rooms, commodes, ETC., cost
unknown; some good doctor to see af-
ter the needs of the occupants, cost
unknown; poor farm purchasing
agent, cost unknown; a good many
more incidental expenses, graft, etc,
cost unknown; sum total, untold and
unknown, thousands of dollars; bal
ance sheet. Some of the deserving
poor, remaining away from farms,
preferring to live and die in need,
than 90 to that farm. The (per-
haps) less respectable going to the
farm and costing Putnam county tel
times more per capita than they now
cost, and the cash outlay for the
farm all told will be three times
greater than all the cash now heStow
ed or all those receiving county aid
NOW; then a great Deal of just ana
's ime unjust talk and complaint about
the management" of farm and treat
men of occupants.
Now the Poor Farm proposition is
venture; an unsolved problem; an
untried experiment. With an in
Icreased tax millage over last year
(which was high; with every indrs-
try in this section suffering from bus
Iiness depression and no ray of LIGHT
to inspire an immediate brighter
hope for future prosperity, it be
hooves US to keep close to shore end
not luanch out into uncertain invest
ments, the results and expense OF
which is untried and cannot be COM
puted. AS a taxpayer | hope oul
county commissioners will abandon
the poor farm project, and not re,
trench upon the needs of our deserv'
irg poor.
Very truly,
!. H. HARP.
Crescent City, July 10Th, 1915.