Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1873-02-28

> dred dollars per annum profit. This
being the only conspicuous instance c.
an energetic Oyerseer, and being IL
. such striking contrast with those sc
indolent and efficient, we were in
| cilned to look upon him with favor and
commentator.
rAUPEEs-ISsAHE, PARALTTiC, IDIorzC
EPLEpTIC, ETC.
With regard to this class alonc al,
most a volume might be written but
the board only have timo to rccite @
few facts somewhat illustrative Of thc
treatment Of these unfortunates.
Who, that ever passed through the
wards OF al insane asylum, even the
best regulated hospital for the care
and keeping Of this pltlable class, but
has had his heart crushed into gloomy
sadness, and his tenderest eympatilies
aroused for these afflicted. forlorn and
helpless creatures, viii not say to him
self, "God grant it may never be thus
| with me Or mine," and reason again
| with himself and wonder ell these
mind-lost fellow-baings ore treated
| humanely, kindlyan gently, and think
how cruel indeed it would bo TO neg
lect them, or iniure them, or treat
them harshiy? and with these feelings
yelling mp III his soul, let Us ask him
to go with us Gf he pleasas) 10 the
county poor house, and walk with US
| through these wards, and he will per
hap3 see an epileptic that, by the often
recurring commissions the brain has
sustained so many shocks, las lost rea-
son and intelligence driven out and
! arc gone forever. In another corner is
! the poor old para!ytic. crying for some
t one to raise him up 10 enable him to
! stake his thirst with cold water. or 10
| partake Of his acanty meal. just be-
| yond is the IDIOT, with his Vacant stare
! and tattcrcd clothing, and little fur
/ 5hcr back, il closeted corner, you
| hear loud cries, with Heiting and bang
ing against the walls. alternate
cries and lnugbs, imprecations
and song. Look into this little nook
! Of cell, and you see the shivering
naked form Of al insane man or woman
whom the keeper viii tell you will not
wear clothes, nor have bedding, nor
| even straw upon which to lie, wbo is
sometimes violent, and breaking out,
nearly crash to death some roor blind
man, woman or child. No skiIlful
! physician IS here to prescribe even q
| palliative dose to sootho and compose
| the irritable nervous system: no quiet
chamber to be left alone to sleep no
careful watchins-all is blissful igno-
rance, disorder and confusion.
| This is indeeda q sad picture, bat true
to life, Of our poor houses this day
| Beside the insane inmates, as already
described, III the poor houses, many
are confined i'll iails, some chained in
the dungeons, without anything around
them or about them bat cold, bleak.
dreagy darkness, wallowing IN squaEd
filth and in chains, and some, VIC had
good reasons for believing. were often
stjnted for food, ana even were de-
prived of sufficient cold water 10 qucncI
their thirst
rood, COOKING, @C., FOR PAUFEEs.
It was found where the County
Boards furnished provisions there
seemed 10 be no complaint as 10 the
quantity of food. but where the ooQ1-
missioncrs had let ont to the lowest
bidder, contracts with keepers at from
/ ID to i5 cents per day for entire keep
ing and support, there vas not a
sufficient quantity allowed, and TO
care tahcn as 20 variety or Eeaithfu,-
ness Of food IN fact, We can state,
with the fcwcst exceptions, the food
provided for the poor is almost rnivcr-
sc y the same throughout the State
! VI: " BIiti2torc Gncon," and badly
! cooked Indian corn bread II 8 few
u the ErhcGt growing counties wheat
! bread was used more frequently, but
even vas: OF the mountains. tl1a home
| OF the grasgc5---c. land. it may be SAID,
. flowing with milk ali honey--Eecf,
mutton. chickens, egg, cheese, milk.
| -four. &c, SC, (in fact everything is
| producoi IL sbundanco.l we found
! that this SAFE IG!tin3oTc Glslk
! bacon had been ordered by tho
! economical! and proyident commission
ers, and III a heavy expense had been
| ila72le,i over tho mountains from the
! e;,a3 to supply the poor With gr3ca aZlt
! meat. when their own local markets
were gluttad with al OF tho richest,
! fait est, cheapest fresh meats. and cverr
! business man complaining that III"
! great want cf thut section was the
means of rali transportation for the
. irlEzCn2e quantities ot agricultural!
| products OF Z most every nanle and de-
! sc1ip*ion known Is p%o,!Gots OF fhe
/ tcI1li c?aJo Zo:]c.
VEGETABLE GARDENS.
! I: il he possible to contemplate anv
| one feature, more than another Of the
! faulty mana gc,pcnt Of cur poor houses,
! it is in the neglect and wGnt nf proper
cultivation CT vegetable gardens. About
an acre is usually fenced OFF for this
purpose, and if properly cultivated and
feg gtilized, az could DO easily done by
one Of fair Intelligence and enerGy,
full half support could be produced;
but IS found to exist, barely sufficient
is produced for the overseer and his
family, and apples and fruits during
their season. $50 abundant the past
year in North Carolina}, was regarded
as great luxury by tho inmate poor,
aud vas seldom found among them
either as n relish or food.
JAILs AND THEIR MANAGEMENT.
The iails of tho State visited were
| found to be far from comfortable,
healthful or secure Us prisons. No
means of warming themin cold weather,
very imperfect ventilation, but little
effort at cleanliness, classification or
| separation oi those imprisoned fer til
| vial offences and the notorious and
hardened criminal, and sometimes
there was through each day an inter
mingling freely Of the sexes without
hindrance or restraint only three OF
over twenty jails visited had means OF
hc2ting or warming Iit CSiS. IL H"o
ascertaincd by inquiry that the cost OF
providing the furnaces and fues IN
these jails, and thereby securing some
comfort TO prisoners III cold weathej,
was not heavy or great. Most Of tie
jails are in 4 dilapidated condition,
and defective and faulty in their con
, strlction.
. STATE PRIsoE.
!
In our examinations nothing was
found particularly reprehensive or ab'
normal, nor different from our ezpec.
tations with the existing condition allo
surroundings, and considering the
characters of the buildings or cells
, erected up to this time With the
!, means placed at the hands OF the BoarC
of Directors, We are OF the opinion tha
5 they have done about the best they
= could. We are we'll aware that cver'