The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1863-12-11
The Condition. Of ,hs A,m,hou,e.

The following Is The official report Of
special committee, adopted to by tho Board
OF Aldermen, and by vote Of II 10 3 In the
Common Council:
CITY OF PORTLAND.
In BOARD OF MAYOR AND ALDERMEN,
Dec. 7th, 1855.
The Joint Special Committee 10 whom was
referred the Order OF Nov. z, 1868, directing
them 10 'lnquirc into the manner in which the
inmates of the Aims House are treated--the
Bill of Fare made for them during the week
the Services or The Sahbaih--what punish
meuts are inflicted for violations % the Rl.es
OF tie House--and also 10 enquire into the
general infringement OF the House and the
condition of the inmates" dc,
Having attended 10 the duty assigned ,l.cin.
after careful and thorough inyestigaiiun OF
the several subjects committed 10 them
4" Respectfully Report, That The Inmates are
well aud kindly treated, the provisions pfOyl-
ded for them are wholesome aud sufficient
and the inmates generally arc satisfied with
them, although iu some cases, complaints
were made OF the quantity and quality which
are served 10 them.
Many Of the inmates in the Female De-
pertinent, complain Of being In want Of cloth
lug, but We were informed by the Matron that
thN HSNScOoAJ ehPihy vi -
now being made up, and will sooG be ready to
distribute 10 those who need il.
The Sick In the Hospital Department are
well provided for, having good nursing aud
attendance, and feed adapted to their wants,
as whatever is ordered by the physician is
supplied.
The services on the Sabbath are Sabbath
School at noon and preaching in the Chapel
in the afternoon, when all the inmates who
are able are required TO be present. There Is
no attempt made so far as we could learn to
lnculcate sectarisn views, but the principles
of a sound and pure morality and salvation
through the Savior as found ia the Bible are
faithfully taught.
The punishmenis inflicted for any violation
OF the Rules of the House, are by confine-
ment Of the offenders TO the Lookup or
depriving them Of Tobacco Tor such time as
the 0verseers may direct.
In the opinion Of your committee, the house
Is well managed, prudently and economically,
with due regard TO the wants aud comforts
of the inmates.
The halls, rooms and dorlnltories generally
appeared very neat and clean, and the beds,
with few exceptions, also appeared neat and
well provided with bedding. Some of the
rooms in the old part of tie house were I'M
comfortably cold, and few of them were in
tested with vermin, and we would recommend
the removal Of the old wooden bedstead from
these rooms, and supply their places with iron
bedsteads, and also thorough cleansing Of
such rooms.
The old part If the house, which was built
some sixty years since, Is badly arranged and
very inconvenlent, and not adapted TO tho
present wants oil the city. The Overseers have
recently tried the experiment of heating 1t by
placing coal furnace in the basement, but
finding 1t did not answer The purpose, as it Is
difficult TO convey the heat TO the several
rooms above, have decided to continue to use
wood as formerly.
Every facility was given by the overseers
and the keeper to examine all the rooms In
the house and to converse with the occupants
alone, and all who had any cause of complaint
had a hearing. The whole number Of inmates
at the time of our visit was 172.
We append to the report the Bill of Fare for
each day, and also the Rules and Regulations
for the government Of the house, adopted some
years since, and which we have reason to be-
lieve are strictly adhered TO.
In conclusion we have only to add that, in
our opinion, the overseers, keeper, natron and
physician discharge the duties devolving upon
them, In a faithful and satisfactory manner.
Respectfully submitted,
F. C. Moody.
FREDERICK G. MgssER, c,.,
SAMUEL WArIRHousR. oooi"'i''oe'
BROWN THURsroS.