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New England Chattels; Or, Life In The Northern Poor-house
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| 3014 | From these returns, which must be regarded as authentic, inasmuch as they were given by the proper authorities of the several towns, it appears that in the year 1851 there were actually reported 3,680 paupers, and the remaining 15 towns would probably swell the number to 4,000. We find in these papers, prepared with much care and printed by order of the General Assembly or Legislature, of that state, that -- | |
| 3015 | In Hartford County: | |
| 3016 | There were in the town of Avon, 12 paupers, costing the town per year $240, i.e. $20 per year for each pauper, or a 2-3 cents each per day. How many crackers would this buy? | |
| 3017 | WINDSOR, same county, 56 paupers, cost $838,56: each per year $14.97, per day 4 1-lOc. In New Haven County: | |
| 3018 | BRANFORD, 17 paupers, cost S193,29: each per year $29,00, per day 7 9-10 c. In New London County: | |
| 3019 | GROTON, 22 paupers cost $492: each per year $22,36, per day 6 1-10 c. In Fairfield County: | |
| 3020 | HUNTINGTON, 25 paupers cost $400: each per year $16,00: each per day 4 1-3 c. | |
| 3021 | WILTON. 24 " " $490: " " " $20,41 2-3 " " 5 6-10 c. | |
| 3022 | WESTPORT, 40 " " $620: " " " $15,50: " " 4 1-4 c. | |
| 3023 | In Litchfield County: | |
| 3024 | BARKHAMSTED, 34 " " $500: " " " $14,70: " " 41-10 c. | |
| 3025 | In Middlesex County: | |
| 3026 | HADDAM, 32 paupers " $497: " " " $15,53: " " 41-4 c. | |
| 3027 | In Tolland County: | |
| 3028 | VERNON, 30 paupers " $680: " " " $22,66: " " 61-4 c. | |
| 3029 | In Windham County: | |
| 3030 | POMFRET, 14 paupers " $350: " " " $25,00: " " 64-5 c. | |
| 3031 | BROOKLYN, 19 " " $450: " " " $23,68: " " 62-5 C. | |
| 3032 | Some of the towns mentioned in the report from which we make up this little morceau, gave more than those we have mentioned. The average cost here is less than 7 cents each per day. (37) (37) The report closes as follows: "This subject viewed in any of its aspects, is one of great interest and importance to the people of this State. In a pecuniary view alone, the annual expenditure of nearly one hundred thousand dollars, demands a scrutinizing and vigilous attention; but in Its moral and social aspects it makes upon us a far higher demand. For He, who created man in His own express likeness and image, hath ordained to him other and deeper wants than those he feels in common with the brute. Neglect may leave the skin to be shrivelled with cold, and the stomach to be pinched with hunger; but the heart and the spirit may be left to a keener and a deeper suffering still; and any system of Charity which merely provides for the sufferings of the former, entirely regardless of the latter, is hardly worthy of the name. Mere food and raiment are not enough. The virtuous aged and infirm should be fostered with respect, and in substantial ease and comfort; the sick should have kind and careful ministrations; the able should be required to labor for the common support according to their real strength and ability; the young should be properly trained and educated and all should he surrounded by a genial, moral, and social home influence " A good report, good, generous sentiments, and the public shall have the names of the committee who drafted it. They are If. H. MORGAN, S. H. KEELER * * * And Judge Osborne, together with the young Secretary of State, Hon. N. D Sperry who furnished me with the report and with other valuable information, will please accept my thanks. -- AUTHOR. | |
| 3033 | According to the United States census of 1850, there were in Conn, supported in whole or in part for the year ending June 1st, 2,337 paupers. This is, I think, far below the truth. -- AUTHOR. | |
| 3034 | From the same returns, Massachusetts is represented as supporting but 3,712 paupers, but by the Mass. State Returns in 1856, there were 21,102 paupers relieved in whole or in part. | |
| 3035 | In Massachusetts: | |
| 3036 | NORTHAMPTON, with a population of 5,278 souls, 38 were wholly relieved, 16 partially -- costing $633; 17 of those relieved were by the Masons and Odd Fellows. | |
| 3037 | From the census we also gather this remarkable fact, viz., that in the ten years from 1843 to 1853, the order of Odd Fellows had paid to relieve its poor and sick members an aggregate of $3,023,221 1/2! | |
| 3038 | The census also shows that whereas much relief has been granted to the poor by Ladies' Sewing Circles, by Widows' and Orphans' Societies, by Churches, viz,, Cong., Bap., Meth., Episco., Pres., Religious Societies in General. Sons of T., Daughters of T.. Masons, Hibernian Societies, Odd Fellows' Lodges, Fuel Societies, City Missions, &c., &c,, these have been generally, (not always.) but in the great majority of cases, given to relieve the partially poor, not the absolute paupers. | |
| 3039 | So the census has it in two divisions, as "number wholly relieved," paupers in re, and as "number relieved in part" i.e. the common and respectable poor, who are thus, it may be, kept out of the poor-house. -- AUTH. | |
