The Price of Compassion in Pioneer Seattle
Before social safety nets, King County sought the lowest bidder to provide medical care, board, and lodging for the 'indigent poor.'
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
NOTICE is hereby given that the Board of Commissioners of King County, W. T., invites sealed proposals for the care of the said county poor for one year from the 1st day of March, 1877. Said proposals are to be for the board, care, and lodging of said poor, and for their medical and funeral attendance. All bids to be delivered to the Auditor of said County on or before the third day of February, 1877, and to be opened and acted upon by the Board their regular session commencing February 5th, 1877, the Board reserving the right to reject any and all bids. By order of the Board, W. H. BOOTH, Auditor.
“Said proposals are to be for the board, care, and lodging of said poor, and for their medical and funeral attendance.”
In 1877, Seattle treated social welfare as a commercial procurement contract, soliciting bids for the 'care' of its most vulnerable citizens. This stark administrative language highlights how far the city has evolved from viewing homelessness and poverty as a line-item to be outsourced to a private vendor, though debates over how to manage social services remain a defining feature of Seattle’s civic identity.
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