Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1932-10-06
A NEW PLAN

VIM. II. LAMSON.
A NEW PLAN
Editor Askov American:
AS everybody seems to be talking
about the excessive cost Ito the coun-
ty) of helping poor and dependent,
perhaps the taxpayers would like to
consider some new plan for doing this
with greater efficiency and fairness.
and less cost.
For this year, as it is too late to
follow my plan in its entirety, let us
take this $4,000 levied and apportion
it out for the various necessities
which these temporary poor require.
Perhaps $4,000 will be spent on food.
All right, send car load of supplies,
sugar, flour, coffee, lard, and tea. to
the poor farm to be kept in store
room under lock and to be distributed
to the needy us required upon an
order from the proper authorities.
The farm manager would sign re-
ceipts for the goods as it came in and
secure receipts when he delivered 1t.
This would be distributed by the man
ager, in county car, and at no In
creased salary. That is, We would not
pay extra for the trips out to deliver
the goods. 1t would require an extra
of those needing aid would be free
to work at the farm for board and
would appreciate the chance to do so.
This would save lot of money as
the food bought in quantities would
cost less and those needing help would
get the best kind of food for the
money spent and we would not see the
piles of tin cans and cracker boxes
we sometimes note behind some of
such homes.
For this year potatoes, beans, and
meat would have to be included in
the supplies purchased, but after this
year the farm manager would be re-
quired to raise enough of these neces-
stiles to supply the need.
Now, for clothing, perhaps another
$4,000 would be needed. Arrange
ments could probably be made to pur-
chase bolts of outing flannel and ging-
ham for children's and women's needs;
overalls and mackinaws for men and
boys; and shoes, underwear and blan-
kets for all, at wholesale cost, and
at the end of the year goods not used
could be carried over for another
year.
That would leave $4,000 for fuel.
milk, eggs, etc. There would be no al
lowance for shows and other amuse-
ment, but after the first year chickens
and geese could be raised on the cOun-
ty farm and each needy family would
receive box of extras at Thanksgiv-
ing and Christmas. Perhaps we would
have to buy more land in order to
raise enough beans, potatoes, and 9TH
er vegetables, pigs, chickens, etc., for
this work. but land is cheap now.
Oh, yes, we could require some of
those families helped to work for the
county in return. For instance, buy
a few knitting machines and some
wool and have them knit hose for men
and children for winter. Others could
knit mittens and still others could be
required to make cOmforters.
1t sounds like lot of work, doesn't
it? But if good strong man and
wife, without children, took the farm
management. with the help of the de-
pendents who are able to work but
out of jobs, it could be managed
nicely. The manager would be under
heavy bonds and should give strict
account of everything bought, raised,
and distributed.
Later hospital wing could be built
and our emergency cases cared for.
Pine county has several first class
surgeons and great many former
and practical nurses who would be
glad to attend such cases and at less
cost than we now experience.
In support of my plan let me add
that last winter a family in my vi
cinity received help from the county
Tin the form of money for groceries)
for period of three months. A grown
son and a grown daughter were in
that home with no work of any kind
to do. Why could they not have been
sent out to work for the county farm
manager for the period in which their
parents and small brothers were fed?
l am sure there are many jobs both
could have done to help out there.
If had to ask the county for food,
l would want to do something in re-
turn and would be glad to help with
sewing and knitting for others need
ing such aid.
ANOTHER FARM WIFE.