Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-12-27
HERALD MAKES
INVESTIGATION
OF 5. A. REPORT
Condition Of Poverty and
Filth Bad, But Not as
!, Represented.

In last Saturday mornings issue OF
The Herald there appeared q report
from the local Salvation Army to the
effect that the corps workers had I'M,
earthed a destitute family on Thir-
teenth street. Because Of the I'M
usually bad state of filth and poverty
described by the Salvation Army. The
Herald caused an investigation to be
made and the exact situation de-
ter,nined.
by the Salvation Army workers were
substantiated, additional information
was obtained that somewhat changed
the face Of things.
The house is made Of two thick
nesses Of rough boards with tar paper
between. The place Enthusiastically
was unclean, and tile furnishings
were dirty. There was sufficient fur
niture OF q kind, however, to meet
the requirements. Few eatables were
found in the house except some Sal
walton Army donations. but IN a pox
outside was half a hog. in the base
ment a quantity Of potatoes. and IN
the barn q large flock of
At the grocery store where the family
deals. The Herald was told that since
September 20 the man OF the. home
had secured an average Of about
$50 worth Of groceries a day, that
cash had been paid for more than
half Of this amount. and hat n
family could secure ten dollars
worth this morning II wanted" The
neiehbor oma who was reported
to have given a Loaf of bread told
The Herald representative that the
man had paid her Is cents for the
bread.
Matter: for the Law.
rhase facts would indicate that
the family was not in as destitute
circumstances as reported by the
Salvation Army. There are, however,
conflicting reports as to the gener-
osity Of the man, although the chill
dren look we'll fed. 1t Is tru that
the house. although sufficient as q
shelter, is not properly maintained as
a. home for children. but these de-
~unouencies come under tho jurisdic-
ton of the law and not welfare
workers, Nevertheless. the Salvation
Army may be thanked for stressing
certain points that local authorities
have had difficulty in making SUI
ficiently clear to bring about the
proper action.
On Saturday it was learned that
tho family had been investigated and
sometimes aided or otherwise dealt
with from time to time by various
authorities. including Mrs. Agnes Rex
while overseer of the poor and since
as Juvenile officer; Mrs. E. NJ. Pierce
social service commissioner; Miss
Mary Berg, police matron: Miss
Beatta Christensen. city nurse; Juve-
nile Officer A. B. Guptil. Police
Magistrate r. J.. Purcell and Sanitary
Ohicer Thomas Treacy.
When Last Visited.
Tho last time the family wa,
visited by Mrs. Pierce was severa'
months ago. The social service com
missioner's only duty Is to provide
for families where the head. of the
family is unable to provide the ne.
cessities of life. This condition die
not exist in this instance and so thu
complaint, which was from the wife
regarding lack of clothing. was a
that time turned over to the Juvenile
commissioner. Mrs. Rex thereupor
visited the family and found that thu
man had a garden, a number o
chickens and several pigs. She wa'
told by the ma that clothes hat
been ordered, and by the woman tina
she had never been without suf1icien
food. After instructing the woman tt
notify her in case there became neet
for assistance, Mrs. Rex took he
leave, feeling assured that the maj