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REPORT

OF

Visitation of Almshouses

IN THE

SEVENTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT.

627

REPORT.

To the State Board of Charities:

The almshouses in the Seventh Judicial District, which comprises the counties of Cayuga, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Seneca, Steuben, Wayne and Yates, have been visited and inspected by the officers of the Board at frequent intervals during the past year.

IMPROVEMENTS.

In two counties, Steuben and Wayne, considerable improvements have been made. In the former a new hospital as an addition to the women's building has been erected, which provides accommodations for the sick.

In Wayne county the fire which destroyed the old building gave opportunity for the erection of a new residence building for the keeper and a building for the women. The residence formerly occupied by the keeper has been removed to the rear of its former site, and is now an addition to the hospital. In this same county, since the close of the fiscal year, a fire has destroyed the barns. By this latest fire, all of the old group of farm buildings are removed, and an opportunity is now presented to relocate the outbuildings.

WATER.

The lack of sufficient water has been a serious handicap to the Wayne County Almshouse, and in other counties within the district a larger supply has also been required. It will bear frequent repetition that one of the first essentials in an almshouse or other public institution is an abundant supply of water. The health, comfort, cleanliness and safety of the inmates depend

ANNUAL REPORT OF THE

upon it, and unless such supply can be guaranteed where an almshouse is now located, it were better to remove to some place where an abundant supply of water can be assured.

THE CARE OF THE SICK.

This is a matter of prime importance, and, except in two or three instances, this district is not abreast with some of the other districts of the State. There are not adequate accommodations for the care of the sick in many of the almshouses. This matter has been pressed upon the attention of the boards of supervisors from time to time, and it is hoped each almshouse will soon be supplied with a separate hospital, adequately equipped, and large enough to provide for all the sick who are likely to require its accommodations.

MONROE ALMSHOUSE.

Monroe county has not yet decided to build a new almshouse. Its boards of supervisors have successively considered the removal question year after year, but, as in the famous parable of antiquity, "the labors of the mountain bring forth only a mouse." The matter has been referred to committee after committee. Visitations have been made of farms for the purpose of selection, but in the end nothing has been accomplished, while ever the difficulties of administration in the almshouse continue. The over-crowded hospital, the dormitories filled to overflowing, the difficulties of making proper provision in such cramped and crowded quarters, should spur the board of supervisors to speedy action. If the almshouse is not to be removed, then new buildings should be erected which could be equipped for hospital

purposes.

ADMINISTRATION.

It may be stated in general that the administration of the almshouses in the several counties of the district has been satisfactory. The officials in charge are of high character, and take great interest in the work for which they are responsible. Cleanliness and good order are characteristic. The food supply is usually abundant and varied, and, in consequence, the inmates

seem to be contented.

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