Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1875-08-01
BARTLETT CIRCUIT COURT.
Report of tIle Grand JuTy-The Poor.
hSase-InsaHe Asylum aud JaIl
Needed-RecOmmenda

The following is the report OF the
grand jQry Of the Bartlett circuit court,
at the July term, 1875:
To Hon. J. E. r. Ray, Judge of the Bartlett
Circuit Court:
In obedience to the orders of the court
your grand jury visited the poOrhouse Of
Shelby county on the tWenty-first in
slant and inspected the buildings and
grounds, aud beg leave to make the fol-
lowing report: We were met by the
courteous and gentIemanIy superintend-
ent, Dr.. Beatty; DR.. q. K. Duncan, at
tending physician, and Esquire Cannon
Il. Brooks, chairman of the pOOrhOuse
commission, and were conducted by
them through the different wards, and
over the grounds We find the number
Of inmates in this institution to be one
hundred and six, almost all of whom
are UNDER medicat treatment, unable to
support themselves by their own labor,
and are proper SUI jacts for the charity
Of the county. We were struck with
the good order and cleanliness of the
different wards and grounds, showing
that the police system of the same is
perfect. The discipline of the inmates
seems 60 be kind but firm, and general
g)Od order prevails in every department,
rejecting great credit upon the superin-
tendent DR.. @. K. Duncan, the attend
ing physician, visits the iDstitu.
ton almost daily, and the medis
cal department seems not 10 be
in any respect behind any Of the
departments OF this well-COnducted in
stituti0n. We find that the county com.
mission pays frequent visits to this asy-
lum, and from an inspection of the
accounts we would infer that the insti-
tuition is run upon as economical scale
as possible. Shelby county pOOrhOuse is
located five milts from the city Of Mem
phis, On the old Raleigh read; the build.
ings, with background attached, cover
eighty acres; the location is dry and
the buildings are almost lew,
but OF insufficient capacity. The in
mates represent nearly all natiODalities,
about One-haif being negroes, of whom
g great number are Insane. The culina-
~ department is presided over by good
cook, assisted almost exclusively by in-
mates. We found this department a
model of neatness and cleanliness, the
foI d substantial, healthful and abundant,
consisting of mutton, beef, potatoes,
beans, cabbage, tomatoes, and variety
Of other vegetables, al of which are
well cooked. The vegetables referred to
are raised on the place under the super
vision OF the superintendent, partly
with hired labor, and by such of the in
mates as are able TO work. There is |
also growing on the place good crop OF
corn, potatoes, hay add other farm pro |
ducts; we also found two fine mich |
cows, = hich furnish milk FOR the sick, |
and about fifty head OF hogs, mostly fed |
from the refuse of the kitchen. We find |
the Superintendent untiTiDg in his atten- !
ton ard exertions to the supply and |
wants Cf the inmates, but We find his
salary an inadequate compensation for
the OnerOus duties performed by him,
and recommend &c. the honorable county
court an increase OF his salary. We
would further recommend the building
Of an insane asylum, to be inclOsed by
high walls, separate and apart from the
rest OF the institution, as the buildings
DOW in use are insufficient in capacity
snd strength for the confinement Of
hese unfOTtunates. Altogether we
would report that the institution is well