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An additional matron is much needed to take charge of the infirm. We repeat that it is impossible that the present number of matrons should do their work well even if all the children, including the truant school-boys, are removed as we desire. The entire absence of appliances for extinguishing fires and the limited supply of water expose the inmates to extreme danger in case of a fire, and great destruction of property also is certain to occur in such case. The nearest signal box is one mile distant. There should be one in the house. It is not probable that all the helpless and aged persons could be got out in time to save their lives if the house were on fire. These dangers and defects are well known to the overseers of the poor, and fully stated in their last annual report, which designated the manner in which fire-escapes, hose, etc., should be provided. Nearly a year has elapsed without a remedy -- in sinful apathy. If this procrastination and indifference continue much evil will result. Children are being corrupted and living untamed, lives and valuable property are endangered, old people and invalids are needlessly worn and worried with discomfort, curable patients are becoming incurable. Perhaps we shall see, before long, one of those horrors where 30 or 40 human beings are roasted alive. God is not unmindful of sins and omissions, and will hold the guilty to strict account. Citizens of Springfield, voters and tax-payers, ye are all guilty of these things, see ye to it. We do not ask the city to increase the expense of our pauper department. Far too much is spent already: But alas! More than half is thrown away. Too much is spent on unfortunate, extravagant, idle and thriftless mendicants, too little on the really helpless and needy. Cut down outside relief to almost nothing, spend judiciously and to good purpose on alms-house and hospital, always working to promote the future usefulness of the young and the sick. There should be no long delay. One or two vigorous men in the city government ought to be able to carry on all the rest to prompt and conscientious action.

To sum up, we recommend and earnestly urge the speedy

(1.) Removal of the truant school (2.)

(3.) Placing out of all the children in families (4.)

(5.) The removing or sending all acute diseases and surgical cases to the city hospital (6.)

All of which we predict will prove to be true economy and humanity -- while the present method is pennywise, pound foolish and morally wrong.

We would suggest to the city government to consider that 70 per cent of their alms-house cases are intemperate persons. It is already well known that nearly all our crime and pauperism originates to intemperance. The granting of 100 licenses in our city seems a great encouragement to the habit of drinking, and probably if all the saloons were refused licenses, one-fifth the number now granted were allowed, and the law enforced, we should need less money for pauper relief. Dr. Howard Crosby of New York, and eminent philanthropist, advises withdrawing licenses from all grog-shops. We beg that the number of licenses in this city be greatly restricted.

Physical Condition of Alms-House Inmates July 1, 1877

Twenty-one men and 3 women came to the alms-house intemperate; 34 more persons were made paupers by intemperate habits of themselves or their parents.

Ages

Nationality

The nine boys at the truant school July 1 were all of foreign parentages.

The City Hospital.

On the 20th day of September this committee visited the city hospital. We found the house, bedding, kitchen and everything about the premises scrupulously kept and orderly, the ventilation thorough, the whole appearance of the house comfortable and fully supplied with the appliances of good nursing. The well-known and high character of the matron, Mrs. Howard, her experience and efficiency, are in themselves an assurance of the well-being of patients. Mr. Howard, also, is an excellent person in his own department. A sufficient number of employees are kept, consisting of a nurse, cook and laundress, and there is room enough and persons enough employed to take charge of twice as many patients as the average number, when we examine other hospitals and see how many persons at the hospital; all but one were old persons, two over 60, four over 50, two over 70, and one patient, 16 years old, blind from birth; the last the only one in bed. All were chronic and incurable, except, possibly, the younger one, who has a home in the city. One was hopelessly imbecile, a fit subject only for a lunatic hospital, and had been there 13 months, at present under no treatment. He came there at first with a broken leg, lapsed into dementia, and was permitted to stay for no particular reason. He could be boarded at less cost at the Northampton hospital than he now pays -- $5 per week. Not one of these patients would be received or retained in a well-managed hospital, under the care of a board of physicians. Not one receiving any particular benefit from being there. They pay an aggregate of $20 per week. They cost the city an aggregate of $66.97 per week besides the rent of the house. The salaries of the attendants in charge of them are $23 per week, and there are five attendant to five persons, only one of whom is in bed, and that one has a private attendant in addition. Compare this with the alms-house, where seven attendants take care of seven severely sick and of seven other persons, most of whom are infirm invalids or young children, and where the salaries are $26.50 per week. The average weekly cost of attendance on persons at the hospital is found to be $4.60 and at the alms-house 32 cents. Yet we found the invalids of the hospital far more well and active than at the alms-house, though costing the city taxpayers, as will be seen from estimates drawn from the municipal register, four times as much to keep as the paupers cost.