Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-12-31
Capitalization Of COUNTY
POOR PROPOSED TO CUT COST
Many Patients Housed in Hospitals Due to Lack
of Room at Farm; Larger Buildings
Urged by DR.. Fuson.

visit. any of these people are able to
do considerable work and some Of them
do. Some go out and earn their iv-
Ing during the summer months. return
liz to the poor farm to spend the
winter.
I'm order to get some information as
to the actual condition of those re
ceiving aid from the county other than
what were being cared for in various
institutions, a list, together with the
addresses, was obtained from the
auditors office of all those receiving
such aid during the month of Novem-
Der, 1922.
"Out of a total of 80 making up this
list. 10 were selected at random and a
visit of inspection made in each case.
In two instances the inspector was
unable to locate the parties Or obtain
any information concerning them. This
was attributed to a possible mistake
in address.
Visits Aid (
Some Of the people visited had re-
ceived help in the way of food, some
fuel some rent, and some were fur
nished all. One family Of two out OF
the 10 were being housed and fur
nished everything they used. THESE
were two old people. neither able to
work, and probably neve will be.
Granting there are 80 people. in the
two hospitals continuously each year
whose only need is simple care n
comfort, as obtained at the time OF
this investigation. it means an annual
expenditure at the present rate OF
$3.50 per diem or S17,52O.
s'The estimated cost Of caring for
the inmates of the poor farm is slightly
over 50 cents per day PEE person, or d
little more than half of what is now
being paid for those kept in private
institutions.
This Investigation discloses the
probable fact that many families are
being furnished shelter and provisions
each in a separate home. thus over
Iapping in the matter of light and fuel.
The overhead expenses also tena 10
overlap. For instance, the c~aretakers
now at the poor farm could double the
number Of inmates with but little ad-
ditional cost If conditions would permit.
Fall by Wayside
I'm the struggle for existence there
always has been and always will be
those who fall by the wayside. No
ss..uIt can be attached to those unfortu-
NJ, te people, and society is bound by
a sacred duty to render aid. On the
ether hand. there are those who will
take advantage of the misfortunes OF
their fellows to become parasites upon
a charitable public.
THE question Of providing for the
poor is a big one. and as conducted
in most communities. there is much
wasted effort and overlapping in ex
I,enses that tends to defeat its own
purpose.
Charity as such in most cases is a
mistake; the greatest charity we can
themselves. The are of the poor in
each community should be put upon a
business basis. One institution should
b. provided adequate for all those
needing institutional care, where the
poor, able to earn. could lend a hand
i'll supporting it. Such a place or farm
or home could. in a little while under
wise management. become almost If not
wholly self supporting.
Recommendations
In view of the foregoing, the need
IN Cascade county of centralizing OF
b ,nging Under one management and
cEe institution the work of caring for
u G worthy poor Is apparent.
'"The poor farm in it's present condi-
ton is not only inadequate to supply
II is need, but can never be made so
with any reasonable expense.
Sufficient land of the right sort
and location should be bought. enough
plain sanitary buildings erected to take
care of the present urgent needs and
Others built as the necessity of the
future might require.
Thus. as small beginning would, il
{, flowed up from year to year. become
, foundation upon which a well-equip-
ped, productive farm could be built as
a home for the poor.
(Signed) 90. A. FUSON.'