Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-03-13
CIRCUIT COURT.
Report of the Grand Jury 70 his
Honor Judge Reeves.
The Affairs of the County.
MEMPHIS Eehrnarr "a 1859

The Affairs of the County.
MEMPHIS, February %, 1869.
To His Honor George W. Reeves, Judge OF the
Circuit Court for the County OF Shelby and
state OF Tennessee:
We, the Grand Jurors for the January
term, 1859, beg leave TO make the follow
ing report, in obedience to the charge,
having for this purpose devoted to gen.
ersl inquiries as much Of our time as
other official duties would permit:
COUNTY POO HOUSE.
On the 10th day OF the present month
the Grand Jurors visited the county
poor-house, otherwise called the county
hospital, which is situated in the south
ern suburbs Of the city, on a command
ing elevation some half q mile from the
river, We found the main building, a
large two story brick structure, with
other cheap frame buildings, econo-
mieaIly constructed and the whole, in
eluding several acres of ground, enclosed
With an ordinary board fence.
There were about sixty inmates-tbe
recipients of eharityIpretty equally d.
vided in fourteen or fifteen rooms
OF wards, nearly half Of whom were
white, and most of these were females
| Some four or five were laboring under q
mild form of smallpox. A large pro-
portion were 9 thicted with rheumatism.
Two were insane, Henry BalkiDs and
Mrs. Dalton. One OF two were blind,
while Others appeared to be the emacia-
ted objects OF poverty only.
On inspection Of the various wards,
both within and without the main build
Jog, we found many badly ventilated and
the bedding often filthy, scant and aesti-
tute Of pillows; more particularly was
this the csse in the wards, the inmates
Of which were colored, many OF whom
bitterly complained for sufficient cover
ing from the cold, and for fire.
We found the premises apparently
under the SUPPLEMENTARY OF the doc
tor and the steward, both pleasant and
courteous young gentlemen, Who keep
the books in q business like manner Be-
sides these the only other employees,
not eleemosynary, were 3 man COOK and
q eOiOred meid-of-all- work. The store
room appeared well stocked with whole
some bresdstuffs for immediate use, and
the fresh beef in the Kitchen was of q
good, fat quality, forty pounds of which
were received per day st twelve cents
per pound, as we we're informed by the
cook.
Upon the whole, we cid not see such q
variety of those d~elicGeies essential to
the eonvslescence of the sick, nor was
there a sufielency Of fires in the wards
for comfort.
By q cutsory estimation the present
expenses of the establishment do not,
perhaps, exceed six or sever hundred
dollars per month including the rental OF
the premises. This magnificent sUm
might readily be enhanced 8 moiety for
humanity and d~eeenoy's sake, in cover
ing tas asked with substantial clean
clothing, . preventing the sick from
lingering In disesse for want Of suitable
nCurishment and attention.
To maintain discipline and order ia
SUCH 3 place, no doubt a punishment
commeG surate With the civilization of
the age is requisite, aud should &c en-
forced without however resoEting 10 the
knock down and drag out style Of the
servile savage.
We would, therefore, Tesoalepd TO
the controlling authority, the enforce
msnt OF greater clesnliness, q better
of diet for the sick clothing
also should be furnished q few
Of the most ragged, while q
more liberal use Of dlsinfeetauts in the
wards badly ventilated is an essential
sanitary necessity. Further, the supply
OF wster should be ample for thorough
ADDITIONS, the capacity Of the cistern be.
nov constructed is regarded insde-
Quste for the demand.
The insane we would recommend to be
sent 20 u suitable asylum and one or
two others, who are in the daily habit Of
low dens in the city, to be dis
COUNTY EATL.
We visited this Institution or the
llth met, and found it to be g large,
handsome brick structure, OF the Gothic
style of architecture, ia the center OF
is an isolated, parallellogramic
Iron tower, four or i've tiers high, in
are some two hundred prisoners
cells, all built on the most approved style
for comfort and safety. Beneath this
aud on each side ef the ground floor are
On geon cells under ground, dark and
places: and by the aid OF
the rogues lantern, re saw large
Of dew hanging all oyer
the inner walls, which made
hose ab0des appear SIS though they had
The crystalline small pox, together with
he peculiar interl9eklng OF the Dumer-
gIeGt iron doors, IS placed sjar, one
YOU "a tnlLh lHhl tie Iofl HiLASciA UOuiu
these cells as a place OF punish
nent. and yet, after ali, the system is
as bgElan a. any TO &c eHectiYe
when judlciousiy Administered.
We found the premises in admirable
order. TIE only complaint Of the pris-
,nsTs was, the laws delay for speedy
rial aud Lesns to communicate In writ.
ng with their frien1s. The bathing
.OOms need repair, and the yarq better
drainage.
CEMETERIEs.
In obediencs to the charge, inspection
vas made OF the g~rsveysrds or GENE.
cries near the city. A few Of these were
ouud to be neglected, the ~shiubbery re-
naming untrimmed, and the litter OF
,sgetsble decay prevalent, 80 much so
hat the wallis frequently were impass-
bic.
Winchester Cemetery is e large enSlos-
re near the Winchester avenue, and
within the city limits, covered with tall
hade trees and we'll filled up with the /
esd. It is in tolerable order, and we did {
Ot observe any wanton mutilations Of
be tombs CT mementoes.
HE CATHOLIC ORPHAN ASYLUM BURY. !
ING GROUND,
u AuauHS street, Is hisO III tuS CITY
mits aud quite full Of graves. The
lrubbery here is much neglected yet, A.,
from the mementoes around and ,
he numerous costly tOmbs, but little f,
Abor would be required TO put the place !
D order.
THE ELMW0o D,
g tkis great city OF the dead Is called, |
n the southeastern borders OF the cor
GRAFTON, is q very large enclosure, owned
y a stock company, who sell and rent
ut the lots. This picturesque cemetery
deliberately planned and graded, mucn
I which is fringed with beautiful ever
neatly trimmed. Owing to its
Extensive drives, beauty of forest shade
nd proximity to the city, it is 8 favorite,
nd We might say q ple0surdble resort
Memphis hence, perhaps, the
violence Of the wanton hand of desecrs-
ion was occasionally seen, the tombs, :
ONE of them, being mutilsted, and we
we're informed that thieves had on one {
T two occasions, although the premises
re well guarded. brozen In and robbed i
raves of their ornaments. 3