Year: 1865

BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF TIE COUNTY OF NEW 1ohh


The Commissioners Of Public Charities and Correc-


tion in conformity with the law creating the Depart


men have the honor to submit the following report OF
their labors for the past year.


the receipts and expenditures OF the Department that
& Notwithstanding tho very formidable increase in the


cost of all articles Of consumption and the additional


necessarily paid for services to on the affairs


Of the Institutions the exercise of strict economy has


enabled the Commissioners to present an account wnch


they believe will compare favoraby with those Of other
r. similar trusts throughout the country. .
M Unavoidable circumstances have prevented an earlier


presentation of this report and yet thero would seem


to be prqprety in bringing up as near to the point


Of expiration Of the term OF service OF the present
E Board possible, in order to embrace within 1t the


entire 1--WE years of official connection with these In


stitnons In former period of five years were such
difficulties and derangemens encountered in the admin


straton of the business devoved upon this commission


in the period which embraces the official term OF the
n present Board Entering upon the duties OF the Com


mission with perfect independence and determ nation TO


do their simple duty they have throughout their ohcal


term acted with entire disinterestcness and impartiaty


and they submit for the consideration Of their fel
81 citizens the results Of their efforts TO to the
~ City Of New York Just and faithful administration OF
kJ its charities and corrections has cost little effort
Nh in the midst Of similar administrations and in the I'M
mediate vicinity of extraordinary and extravagant ex-


penditurcs to withstand the mporunity of individual


combined Efforts to increase the amount OF expendi


urc under hope and expectation of popular favor ana
III consideration.


9 Year after year we have cndcavored upon the
G consider Grafton Of fellow citizens well the
f horities the State city objects Of great public
Importance tending to the amcoraon OF the condition


of the the Just and proper correction or the
g criminal the more humane treatment demanded by the


Climatic and the comfort and happiness of the aged the


dccrepd and the unfortunate not forgetting those who


have through nugences reaching oven to statute Grim
Minalty thrown themselves upon the care support and
.Abcnevolcnce of ourinstitutions


Y In the performance of duties it is than
fright for continue to rail- the attention Of the re
specve repositories Of power throughout the state to


hc views which have grown ont OF our experience and
(which have been heretofore repeatedly eXpressed and
trust that those authorities will see the necessity as
twll the propriey Of acting upon these suggestions
NThe fact to which refer in partisan or proscrpuve
Esprit that of the persons who become inmates OF the
" institutions under charge eighty per cent are OF
'yforeign birth unaccustomed TO political and social
~ system Is Of sufficient importance to attract the at


ntion and receive the cons Iteration OF all those who
eve that the laws which define the duties and RESPONSE
~ bcs OF different public officers should be strictly
'A obeyed in spir and in letter


"A II should not be- forgotten that this Board Is CHARGED
S with the Of the poar tho inrm and the criminals


the county of New York only For the care and pro
~ OF the Immigrants who throug 10 our great city
W from Europe the stat has provided by the establish
~ ment OF Board Of Commissioners, which possesses
sSamplc powers and controls means raised by tax on
- the immigrant sufficient to enable IL 10 fully provide for
IA his wants and TO throw him. otherwise than as crmi
n nal upon the of this commission, should be an un


frequent yet very large proportion as has
been shown of the Subjects of It's care are of the i'm
~ migrant class who could and should be cared for by
n the State Board, which is so fully endowed for the
\! purpose.


q rho Commissioner of Charities and Correction have
y never hcsated neglected to provide for the imrn
IN grant, when thrown upon their protection but duty
N alike To the county of New York and to the immigrant


dcmands that for the wants and needs of the latter tho





vdc and the county be saved the large expense now IN
'3curred


~ II will appear by records that the claims made by
this department upon the Commissioners OF Emigration


for reimbursement OF moneys expended in supporting
Immigrants who found asyum in these institutions
durng the period in which they entitled 10 support
Yby the Commissioners Of Emigration have been decided


favoc by the referee; thus rescung, through te
ldious vexatio,s and expcn sive litigation, the sum Of
SIS 22 IL 100 on the first suit with interest specific
\ amounts from May l. 1854, with costs Of action, and
<; finally settling principle which this commission has con
md
fairly carried out would entitle the city and county OF


New York to the repayment Of hundreds of thousands of
sAdollars. I, will be borne in mind, in this connection


that gradually from the earliest period OF the organiza
Tton of the Board of Commissioners of Emigration, step
.sby step, through one h gshhre ater ahotner unuer
~ the most persistent and determined action this depart


has been made 70 perform many of the duties and


espeally those of the most unpleasant character which
~ included In the obligations OF that commission
" They have compelled this department TO receive all
n their patients suffering from snalpo and ship fever
~ thereby creating pca'ileniia atmosphere around


sick and helpless patients, in the hospitals which
y they justly entitled 10 occupy witho being involved


the dangers Of personal contact with CHI dread
Ia panons We trust that the time Is not fer distant when
t4 the poor and unfortunate OF city and our


county may have the privilege OF enjoying what there Is
NJ OF life and protection and comfort without being made
M the comran ons Of Immigrants suffering from Load some
pcstlcnte senses and esr ciay the lat
" ter under The spirit and ph anthropy OF laws made for
sf their special protection entitled b be trr1ed by the
AZ Emigrant Commissioners in manner becom ng civil
ia lied and generous community without endangeTng the
M lives and health OF Others.


IA In our previous recommendations have deemed il
proper To set forth our views in sfccnce to the estab
cdhmen of an asylum or nebriaes also for the exten


sion of the hospital and medical department of Bellevue
Hospital well as additional buildings for the and


protection of those afflicted with ship fever and other
q, contagious diseases. While we have fun conviction
~ Of the necessity OF carrying out those views we ec
also that it Is duty, under the existing condition Of
the country its heavy expenditures well as the boun
M provisions made by the United states government
the protection and Of the soldier and his family
proceed with great care and make every possible
IN effort 10 e%pend the money Of citizens with economy


Wow of the present extraordinary and unprecedented
& state Of Affairs.


W Tho immense provision for hospital accommodation by


the United States IL Is gratifying to know fully up
the demands Of the country upon that charity Oul
~ hope and expectation is that but short period viii
y eapsc before will be relieved from many Of the
IN expenditures which war has entalod upon us.
Ia In reference to the establishment OF an
Ia ISEBRIATB ASYLUM,


feel that II is project of great moment to the wei


OF class who are made wretched by the improper
Iuge OF intoxicating beverages


IA No Institution of this sort yet established has sum
Jcenty advanced in its government and usefulness tt
~ enable us to Judge TO what extent II may be proper fo
E this commission TO venture. We hope by means Of th


asylum, TO effect the restoration TO usefulness OF large


class Of persons who through excessive indulgence ha


been rendered useless to society placed without thu


pale of confidence and respect and have brought sor


row and disgrace upon those with whom they are con
E1nccted.


" with this view the commissioners have obtained


plans for the building OF IN ed0ce upon Wards Island
fIwhch while Is sufficiently large to test, in all points
embrace the full requirements OF tho city for long tim
yLto come.


N The building in contemplation at Bellevue Hospital


ntended TO AFFORD all the necessary provisions for the &C


commodation OF the increasing demand of the city for
3dead house. for legal examinations post mortem nvesti
Ia cations coroners' juros and for med


zeal and surgical relief to out door poor and all the vare
Requirements OF an institution OF that Sort besides fur


nishing the necessary room and accommodation for tn
luse Of the Bellevue Hospital Collegcan institution


united by common interests ard perfectly good under


standing with the welfare Of the institutions In charge
this commission, and already known throughout tn


country az by far the most important institution OF u
r. kind on this continent. ..
~ In this connection II may bo well 10 state that durin


the last year have had unprecedented increase i
the number OF patients suffering from small pox sh


fever and other vruleDt diseases requiring us TO furns


additional buildings and tents beside the additional re


quste ATTENDANCE from medical men, nurses, and all th


paraphernaa Of hospital service This has entaled no
only large additional expenditure Of money, but ha


caused W upexaRped mortality among cur employees