Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1872-01-24
Annual Report Of the Board of State
Charities.

Animal Report OF The Board OF Stale
Charities.
From the fifth Annual Report of the
Board of State Charities, we make
the following extract from the Report
of the Secretary, Rev. a. G. BYERs,
of Columbus, in regard TO the In
firmary and new Jail of Trumbull
County:
lfrmdry.-Nothing could be more
marked than the improvement in the
condition of the inmates of this insti-
tuition generally. This improvement
was reported last year, and i; is
gratifying to state that it is being
maintained. Here, as well as else
where, there are exceptional cases,
that seem TO reflect upon the manage
ment, but for which it is rarely, if at
all, responsible. In this infirmary,
where there is an evident purpose on
the part of the directors and superin-
tendent to maintain thorough system
of management, and promote, as far
as possible, the individual comfort Of
the inmates, mention may still be
made of certain classes and conditions,
that ought to be remedied.
FIrst. That class of insane, or epil-
optics, requiring constant restraint.
Ordinarily, these are kept closely
confined in cells, or strong rooms.
! These rooms are, for the most part,
naturally enough, selected from those
moste remote from the outer world
usually such cells as are central, or
are flanked by other cells on either
side. These rooms are more secure,
at least, less suggestive of escape, than
those affording a view of the outside
world. But when it is found that
this additional security is had at the
risk of health and life itself, for
the want or light and air, then it
becomes a very questionable arrange
ment. So the HperfHendent of this
infirmary regarded the matter when
( his attention was called to the case Of
an insane man, closely confined in
central, rather than an outer room of
/ the insane department.. 1t some
/ times happens that during the winter
months, in buildings heated by stoves,
as this is, rooms are selected with a
view to their comfortable heating
still, this should be remedied by i'm
/ proving the method Of heating.
Second. Another class of deranged
{ inmates or idiotic inmates incline to
wander about the premises, lie about
/ in the yard, or in out-buildings, and
as this kind o. care of themselves
relieves the management from care,
they are allowed the utmost freedom.
For instance, a poor, senseless crea-
ture belonging to this infirmary, had
chosen for himself a bed in manger,
4 . f,e 4 ffr,an rNf ~icft
/ found him lying here, with scanty
covering, and evidently suffering from
the chilliDess of the day, and yet,
apparently, without sense enough to
go to the house, where he might have
been entirely comfortable.
l have elsewhere spoken of the
necessity of personal care over such
classes of dependent poor. These in
stances are cited here, not as rejecting
upon the management Of the Trumbull
county infirmary, but as illustrating
the necessity to which have alluded.
There ought to be a different and
better method of heating this infirm-
AIRY, and adequate help furnished the
superintendentf for the care Of the more
violent or dependent classes.
m .Jafl of TrumbdlI county, so long a
reproaeh, is put away. The new Jail,
now in process of erection, and which
will doubtless be completed at an
early date next year, is, in manyof
its features, quite new, as compared
with other Ohio iails, and VIII be, in
many, if not in all respects, a model
prison. ~, - 81 :-.,...-- 80.
The construction of this prison
proper does not conform to the Jail
plan of the Board, in providing
middle corridor, thus securing COM
plete separation OF prisoners; but It
does separate the stories and make
complete partition of the floors of the
prison into apartments, so that there
are four separate prisons, two on each
floor, containing four cells each. and
these are independent of the female
prison, which is wholly apart from
the male, and situated so as to avoid
all possible contact or communion
ton.
The system of ventilation seems to
be q good one, and is apparently,
thorough in its application.
The cells are each Z by feet. There
is but one Questionable feature in
regard to them, and that is, each one
is supplied with a soil pipe, The
utmost care has been taken for cleans
ing, and YentIlations and yet, with
the mischievous. often malicious,
tendencies of the inmates of jails,
there are liabilities to injury of pipes,
any one of which, becoming deTanged
OF obstructed, may infect the entire
place. Apart from this, there is a
moral influence in making the room
where even the yllest and filthfest
men may be inearcerated, entirely
free from everything that ofends.
This Jail provides common dining
hall, which also affords facilities for |
eongregating prisoners for religious /
worship. To the right of the hall, on /
the second floor, Immediately over 4
the sheriff7s Office, there is large and 1
entirely comfortable hospital room. |
The residence of the sheriff is quite 1
sn elegant building. The front is of /
dressed brick, with stone facings, As /
a matter of convenience to the sheriff1s /
household, the kitchen seems remote |
from the dining room, and vet its 4
relation to the prison is admirable, if /
a common dining hall is to be used 1
for the prisoners.
Another feSture lone however of
mGI6 ldslcJ may Dc OOedLhcut a. VI 4
doubtful propriety. The main en-
trance to the sheriff's residence is
highly decorated. The large stone
cap or Intel of the door is engraved
with the names of the county COM
missioners, while the door posts on
either side are ornamented with cross
keys, rings and bolts, the insignia of
penal institution, or symbols of
security. Ordinarily good citizens,
(such as the commissioners of Trum-
bull county,, would scarcely care to
have their names associated so closely
with hints aud representation of
things dark aud repulsiye. The cor
ner stone of public institutions may,
and ought, perhaps, to bear the names
and perpetuate'the memory of faithful
public funetionaries,s as well as of
private benefactOrs, but anything of
doubtful propriety might be less
prominent. ..-
The contract price of this prison
was, originally, $50, 6,910.51. Some
nlodif featioRs- of the contract have
already been added to the cost some
$500. Besides this, the contract for
heating (by steam) is separate, and
has been made at a costrof 81 800.
These figures have been kindly fur
nished by James d. Kennedy, ESQ.,,
auditor of the county, who says
"TheTe will also be considerable addi-
-