Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-10-26
Charities and Corrections

The Maine Charities and Correction:
Commission has closed the work o
, inspection of almshouses for the year
a duty that has taken much time an(
| labor on the part of the commissioners
and the secretary. the latter assuming
the major part of the work. Two hun
dred and thirty-two visits were PAID
the various institutions by Secretary
James F. Bagley. of which 125 were tc
almshouses, II to va''als State institu-
lions and SO of a special nature at diff
ferent times to different places: all
this in addition to the visits made by
the members of the board.
The total number of persons assisted
during the town year of 1916 was 1884.
an increase over the reported number
of 1915 of about 900. The great differ
ence in the number for two years can
only be accounted for by incomplete
returns from certain places. as con-
slant reminders from the department
has brought out the apparently correct
returns from them. Mistakes and an
incorrect method of reporting may also
have had to do with the discrepancy
for some officials were accustomed 10
report only the head of a family. re-
CARELESS of the number in SAID family.
The 1916 total of 1924 is large com
pared with the 1879 of 1915; the 1884 OF
1914 and the 8424 of 1913. the nrst year
of the commissions work
The average cost per capita of popu-
lation for the year for a settled pauper
was So cents; for 1914, So cents; Tor
1915, So cents; and 1916, 60 cents. State
paupcrs for same time. cents; .
cents; IL cents; and II cents the
total expense for poor rellef IN state,
per capita of population. has been:
For 1913, 60 cents: 1914, 81 cents; 1918,
60 cents; 1916, ~ cents.
The towns spent in 1916 for the poor
a total of s447,9S3.92 and the State
spent SS6.17599, making a grand total
of s534.159.91.
Kennebec county's expense per
capita of population for 1914 was SO
cents; for 1915 81 cents: for 1916. So
cents. Hallowell's cost was the highest,
costing each person s1.S1. while Albion
and Benton had no poor expense. The
cost by towns and cities follows:
Albion, 0; Augusta, 70 cents; Bel
grade, Al; Benton, 0: Chelsea, 70; China,
7; Clinton. Al; Farmingdale. 80; Fay
cite. 27: Gardiner, SIS: Hallowell, $1.s1;
Litchfield, 40; Manchester. 70; Mon
mouth. Sc: Mt. Vernon. s164: Oak
land. SO: Pittston. 81; Randolph, 81;
Readield. 4; Rome, 80; Sidney, 81:
Vassalboro. s143: Vienna, "A; Water
vile. 81: Wayne, SO; West Gardiner.
IA; Windsor. IL; Winslow. 4s: Win
throp. 20.
The highest cost to a town per
capita in 1916 was to Chapman Planta-
ton. 1927, and Caratunk Plantation
1910. The little town of Perkins. with
it's "a inhabitants, in 1915 had a ner
capita cost for the poor of $3.50. but
reduced it in 1916 to $1.59.
The towns having no expense for the
poor during the year 1916 owing IN
having no paupers or what thew bad
being State paupers, were: Alhior
Benton. Hersey. Ludlow, Masardis
Merrill, Perham. Smyrna, Stockholm
Weld, Aurora. Otis. Hurricane Isle Ts,e
au Haul. Lincoln Plantation. Mason
Argyle. Burlington. EdinburR. Lowell
Mt. Chase. Springfield, Woodsv,,le
Bowerbank. Lake View Pl., Parkman
wellington. Williamsburg. Brighton Pl