Caption: St. Lawrence County Alms House, Canton, New York

          In the year 1817,         $    929.21  
                           1818,            1,819.15  
                           1819,               967.56
                           1820,            1,894.33
                           1821,               672.22
                           1822,            1,009.11
                           

                 Total,                     $7,291.58

   Within the last year there have been three appeals, which cost about $175.  The law of 1817 has been beneficial to this county.  [Letter from the supervisor's clerk.]

CANTON.

   The overseers of the poor of this town, were compelled, under the act of February 18, 1820, to prosecute a complaint against a person for killing deer contrary to the act, in which suit a judgment was recovered, and a writ of certiorari obtained, a determination whereof is not yet had. The overseers of this town, have also prosecuted a person under the fourth section of the act, passed April 5, 1817, for bringing a pauper into this town, and then leaving her, having no legal settlement therein, and obtained a judgment, which has been reversed as I understand, on the ground that the section does not mean the removal of a pauper from one town to another, but from without the state.  This section is considered ambiguous.  See the case of the overseers of the poor of the town of Canton vs. J. Davis, last January term.  [Letter from the supervisor of Canton.]

LOUISVILLE

   I think the local situation of the county of St. Lawrence, as a frontier, demands the attention of the legislature.  We are unquestionably entitled to a proportion of the state fund, granted to the city of New-York, for the support of foreigners.  [Letter from the supervisor of Louisville.]   

ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY POOR HOUSE

This house is located near Canton, and consists of wooden edifices, two stories joined together, each twenty-two by thirty feet on the ground.  The farm consists of one hundred and thirty acres, yielding an annual revenue of $1000.  The basements are occupied by paupers.  It has no ventilation and no provision for bathing.  Twenty rooms are appropriated to the use of the inmates, in which rooms from one to seven are placed.  One hundred and twenty paupers were found in the house, forty males and eighty females, of whom sixty were foreign and sixty native born, including forty children.  The sexes are not kept separate either by day or night. They are in (the) charge of one keeper who is assisted by his wife and aided by the paupers, work the farm and provide for the wants of the family.  The supplies for the house are furnished by contract.  The supervisors have visited the house once during the year.  The average number supported in the house is one hundred and fifty, at an average cost of eighty-three cents each per week.  The house is not supplied with Bibles, but a Sabbath school is maintained, and a day school during the whole time at a cost of $1.00 per week.  A physician is employed who will do the business at the smallest price, the present incumbent receives a salary of $90 per year.  During the year there have been ten births and twelve deaths.  There is one blind, one deaf and dumb, and twelve lunatics, five males and seven females and all paupers.  They have no special attendants nor receive any special medical attention.  None have been cured or improved the past year.  Some are confined in cells constantly.  The methods of restraining are confinement in cells, handcuffs and shackles.  The house does not allow of the classification of the insane.  There is one idiot twenty-four years old.  Three-fourths of the whole number who receive support in this house are reduced to this necessity consequent upon habits of inebriation.

Transcribed by PHS-Volunteer, Cheramie Breaux in Louisiana