The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-04-23
CHARITIES AND CORRECTIONS.

FORMAL INSPECTION By THE GRAND JURY OF
THE INSTITUTIONS ON BLAckwE1Ls ISLAND.
Early yesterday morning the members Of tho Grand
Jury passed on board OF the Mnuahanock at
the foot Of Easu Twenty sixth street. and went TO
Backwells Island for the purpose Of investigating the
operations OF tho institutions located there aud
md out by actual contact with the inmates Of tho
houses whether any OF complaint existed i'm
provements could be recommended
Among the Grand Jury we're Messrs James A. Smith
Eugene Jackson, Samuel Abraham, Edward Colgate,
Gustaye Koengsbcrger, Walter A. Yates, Ecsard Lam
BERT Hamilton II. Kerr, Louis G. Koppeli David /.
Baker ana Harvey b. Lane Mr.. William II. Phillips
the foreman, unavodably absent
The steamer left her wharf ut quarter past eleven
A. ~ The first landing ut tho Insane Asylum.
the Grand Jury. escorted by Commissioners Thomas s.
Brennan Townsend Cox and Isaac II. Bailey, then
passed rapidly through tho various wards and pavons
OF the Insane Department. Tho members OF tho
Grand Jury stopped the bedsdes OF tho most INTEL
gen PATIENTS and with cheerful greetings gained the
good WI, OF the sufferers and drew them into
ton. Those who able 70 speak ntelligcntly the
patents exhibiting tho mild forms OF dementa,
cxprcsscd their satisfaction with the SAM.
tary arrangements OF the department., saying, Wc do
not nnd any fault with tho food, or treatment, or
ventilation Tho kitchens, the cooking arrangements,
the quantities and quantities. Of food furnished.
closely examined The jurymen commenced the scru-
puous cleanliness OF the buildings ana the economy
exhibited IN their management
Leaving the chapel Of the Insane Asylum, the gen.
tlemen passed tho eight acres oi made land
on the upper end OF Blackwels Island and inspected
tho lighthouse It's northern extremity That land
was flied H. and granite wall built around It. as
an extension OF the property, solely BY convict labor
visit then made 70 the projected bathhouse. Ii
located tho upper and eastern side ofthc island
stone wall incloses q basin about SIX fcet in depth
INTO which tho sal, water GIBBS and flows A house is
20 be put the basin that the pacnts have
the benefit OF salt baths without exposing them
selves tho OF passengers on passing steamers
After q iuIl and careful inspection OF the va.
ri0us institutions the members Of the Grand Jury
asked the Commissioners 10 express themselves Mr..
Bailey said 1--WE are trying 10 make the labor OF the
convicts productive far possible The great OBJ
stacle We have Ia the Insulciency OF keepers Wo
are limited in our money and have not enough keep
crs 10 prevent convicts from eloping To every 200
men there Is only one keeper These keepers receive
asaary that Is $500 less per year than the pay OF
the Almshousc is from ten TO twelve aud half
cents per day.
Commissioner Brennan said that in contrast with tho
public institutions ~ Albany and other cities, New
piled from the pontentiary and workhouso ON Black
wells Island, made by convict labor, are distributed
through thirty eight other institutions If the force OF
inborers and trad0smcu let out by contract the
Commissioners would be Obliged purchase from tho
contractors the es Of the labor OF tho convicts
largely Increased rate.
Speeches we're then made by Mr.. Smith, Nj. Edward
Lambert Mr.. Jackson, Mr Koppei, Mr. Baker. Mr..
Lane and others OF tho Grand Jury, warmly compli-
mcnting Mr.. Brennan and tho other members OF The
Commission OF Charities and Correction for perfect
discipline OF their subordinntes tho cleanliness and
excellent management OF the institutions under their
charge, saying, In the coarse OF their remarks,
that having visited the charitable institutions In the
aud In Europe. they cit that those OF New
York reelected credit upon the city and the Empire
State