New-York tribune., 1879-12-11
DUrcHESS COUNTY ALMsHogsE.

TIE ESTABLISHMENT n MISERABLE CONDITION.
FILTH ASD DISCOMFORT AND vIcE-REPoRT OF
THE RRsPoNsiBLR COMMITTEE.
lPnoM Az OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF rRrBuSE.i
PcUGHKEEPsIE Dec. 10.-About one year
ago AN expose nade of the pltul condition of the
Dutchess County Aiushouse, situated IN the town OF
Washington, and the attention OF the state Board OF
Charities WIS called the matter and the articles then
publ In regard 10 il commented upon far and
near Though statements been made that the sit
uaton there had been exaggerated recent developments
prove that half had not been told. The building as
stands j. not only disgrace 10 the rich county IN
which II is bu. also disgrace to humanity. and the
wonder that the Grand Jury has NOT taken action in
regard 10 II ere this
Crowded into the miserable tinder-box 1876 inmates
breathing sckening odprs in ilventiaed rooms. when
positively there II not decent room enough Tor so per
sous aud Winter here must necessarily largely In
crease he number aud IKE tAe risks greater. It IL
wostOry aud garnet aniir mere she'll In the rooms
the walls damp, with the steam from an III
couriyed aud -ventated kitchen and the atmosphere
IS almost uabr1raDe The the whole length
OF fhe binding and has q peaked roof. Two small win
dows ghf In the daytime, and at night dim candle
suine twenty-five or thirty human beings.
crippled decrepid and blind hudded there with now
and then boys inclnded among them sometimes there
s q fre and sometimes not should fire break our In
any below. probably moi person IN that garrett
could got ont alive. The exit is iown very narrow
winding stairway. and the building dry and old.
But humane persons IN the county agitatlng the
subject aud subcommittee OF the State Board OF
Charities vii submit statement TO the Board Of SUI
pcryi-or-, in session. a day or two The STATE
mont contains remarkable Information, some Of which
viii at1und even those who supposed they knew all OF
the shortcomings Of the institution.
Tn. committee was organized last January. and is
composed Of reputable people who reside in the mme
dae neighborhood he almshouse The president Il
IAc otIer members are the Rev. Henry y. CO5O. Mrs
Cobb. Mrs. Richard Micaeii Mr. J. G. Haviland. Mrs
Ha,lland Mr. and Mrs i.I,nari CarDentrr. Henry II.
-T'if. Etwin TLorne ~ lmcr wheaton. Mr. khOda A.
sw't NJ T. g. Canil., Miss Fanny Hagnf' Aiss
They have made regular and s5stemruc VISIT
90 tne Aimshousr ana Haye made II ther Duslne-s 10
become Thoroughly acquainted with he actual conGi-
ton Of tnugs aud they say. among oh~r things. over
theii own Eni tfes Una ne IMPERATIVE hten on Ger
tain cnHng-s ana improvements las forced Itself most
ia ne u.oh thc inih"s oil - lhe meup'f@ ahi tDcy
believe the tme Las come iNf lsVlraDle ana tHcitnt
acfun lne, desire WIN special emphiaS 10 cal atLcn-
ton O. tue following point:
Iis-"Tnr a0sol nefic ency OF The present accom-
no arous 10 meet The rqurrm Mt OF tile Winter"
carrg OF last Winters reports muca exagEer-
attd RESPECTS. hat here I'D doubt however.
tha thc couduon OF thngs wa -unrirnily disgfacei
-'ctou : o' ieit ri.Ae ia . % ',t.
slOI command iHr minedilte al fn.ion Oi not Ony
state send h I'm fuil aa follows:
Seco1d-" Not Jess import mt. perhaps even more
rs sc1 an nt OF he m laugs and grounds as
shall secure the absolute separation of me sexes day
ana night except sucn times and under such cOndi-
of the superintendent ur keeper D. HUtn rty. by
present rrang-nent or iack of arrangement. 80
every hour 0t tlr day men anf women may DE fOuad
freely assOcafing torpfIer IN the yards. Men ltFe
paareav been I,uud v fine commit ees of TINS Assoc
cItn the hl Of the women =. department, and ls
-umeWnit natural perhaps Inevitable Consequence, al
.agi TWO women have become or are about 10 become
mnfhtlsi And they nave been D. ihr hOuse more tfan
ycari WuatevH care or kindness the people or The
county my be vii ing to br-tow upon the unfortunate
vicious poor, 10 not believed that they wOud
any other feeling than thai OF horror the
Thought OF breeding pauDers in their pubic institution
YET such tue fact and WIN ue present Lack O means
Tor separation me wonder 'hat ~ h Not more nHgrant
How remedy he defect s question Oi great dii-
ruY. IAe suYeinten Office ls &C one end OF tue
building. the end occupied by the women. Both men
and need claim liberty or access % n ana 20
him. The wasn-hOuse, the we the water tanks, etc.
placed thag division by fences sceins 10 meet
with nsuperaDle objections. With unsurpassed advan-
for drainage. and really unlimited ground TO
devoted the purpose the buildings are thrown
together in suel way--O utterly without pan or ad
imrut-a~ eclude the o. success this
ter. which D. a matter of vital IMPORTANCE"
IIc Board OF -uperv sOrs. now iu session. has decided
To visit the Aim-huu-c .u tliday next ana make
sOnal pectlOn Of tir sa.ur.