Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1882-11-27
GRAND JURY REPORT.
VARIOUS CHANGES KEcoMmsSDE,

What the Inquest Found Nscessary to suc
Sesr In the Supervision OF the County
| lnsf!tutions-GeneraI Sasisfac-
| tlOn Expressed.
| The following is the report Of the grand
inquest empanelled at the Novembe,
sessions as submitted to the court :
The grand inquest Of the commonwealth
Of Pennsylvania, empaneled for the county
of Lancaster, at the November sessions OF
| 1882, respectfully do report They kept il
| view the instructions OF the hOnorabls
court for their government in considering
| the criminal cases laid before them by the
district attorney, and all eases submitted
to them have received fair aud impartial
consideration. The total number Of in-
dictments handed to the grand inquest for
their consideration numbers o., OF which
~ have been returned as true bills, the r.
malnder being ignoramus. We are pleased
to notice a marked improvement by the
district attorney, Thomas !. Davis, in not
multiplying indictments, which took quite
burden from off the grand inquest, and
also saving to the county, aud We think
ior this improvement he deserves special
commendation. On Thursday and Satur-
day tho grand inquest visited, in company
with the high sheriff, the different institu-
tions OF the county. and respectfully re-
port as follows: The first place visited was
the county almshcuse, where they were
politely met by two Of tho poor directors.
Messrs. Grider and Musser and Steward
Brock, who showed the grand inquest and
explained the workings of the different
buildings sorry to state On arriving at
said institutions, was informed Of the i'll
ness of the superintendent, Mr. George
Spurrier who has since passed away. GA
examination Of the different departments
and wants Of such We found the water
| supply not sufficient in case Of fire break
| ing out would recommend that i tank Le
| erected on tho third story of the lew aims
| house, and when erected the water could
he turned with much force to any part Of:
| the building. They have plenty OF power to
force all water needed into said tank. We
also recommend the removal Of the threc
| firc-plugs at and around the new almshouse
to 4 safe distance from the buildings.
They now being too close for safety in
| case OF fire, and should new ones be
| erected to have tho pipes OF said new
plugs to run direct from main pipe run
ming to reservoir, ard said plugs to have
separate pipe of its own connecting with
main RI ipe running to reservoir, or have a
large main direct from reservoir sufficient
to supply all plugs. This plan would
give a heavy water pressure on said fire
plugs. We also found the building in
nice, clean condition, and men being at
work rebuilding the one lately burned
down, and must SLY the board Of direc-
tors are adding somc improvements which,
will greatly add to the comforts of the IN
mates, and are arranging the water facili-
ties very satisfactory, which will make it
more convenient to inmates. Found the
inmates locking we'll and satisfied with
the care given them. Next building
visited, AZ rather where the building had
stood, the county barn, found no barn aud
no arrangements made to rebuild ono
found shedding not suitable to accommo-
date the cattle and horses Of the county
during tho winter months, and would REG
ommend the rebuilding OF said barn forth
with should land belonging to said
county be sold would think the land
would sell much better with barn being
thereon {; also inquired if said Building
has been insured. and have been informed
that mono of the buildings have any insur-
ance would recommend, that all said
buildings should be insured forthwith,
and fault rests on county commissioners
that said buildings have not been insured,
as they have the power to Iayo all county
property insured. Tile barn, which was
lately burned dowp. was insured, but no
other buildings have any insurance on
them found tho number Of inmates in
county almshouso as follows: Males,
men, 180; women, 60 children, male, 3:
children, female, S-:otal, 280. Found in
hospital, males, men, so; females, women,
16; children, male, s-total, 81 co!ored
department., males, men, :; fe-
males, women, 3; children, male, 1; female 1;
insane department male, men ., women,
female 8 total Sc. Insane of county at
Norristown, male, men 80, female, women
1G total 4G. Insane Of county a: Harris
burg, male, men 8, female, women 13 !; |
total 81. The next building visited was !
tho county Jail. On arrival was met b. |
Keeper Burkholler and tho accommodate !
ing, pleasing and polite clerk, Mr.. David !
Warfel was then conducted through the |
prison, inspecting and viewing the work.
ings Of the said Jail. Ia regard to the
heating apparatus think it could not we'll |
be changed without q worry heavy expense
to tho county. The water capacity il
good, but would recommend larger pipes
in order to carry off the waste, &C.;
think that is quito necessary and should
be attended to ut once. In regard to har-
mony among the officials of said Jail we
found nothing wrong, all willing to attend
to their duties faithfully, without regard
to factions. In procuring all articles
necessary to carry on said Jail we think
the officers arc trying to do justice in bar
gaining and procuring such articles. In
regard to meat it seems to be good and as
cheap as could be purchased elsewhere.
The coils are i'll gOod condition, and in re-.
gard to the iron cells We can see no change
,an be made without the work or
plating is put On from the outside OF tho
,ell. The prisoners receiving articles
rom one another is done from putting out
! long string from their window and
icing the article to the end OF the strin.
md let down to the window below and is
received in that way from one another.
II regard to the telesraphlng to one an
'ther is done through the water pipes,
'aid pipes running direct through each
ell. If each cell had its Owa drain pipe
his work Of telegraphing would be more
" less stopped. We found the inmates .
It county prison as follows COnvicts ]
4, awaiting trial 6, they being the arson
ases drank and disorderly SO; total now .
a county prison 122.
In regard to the long term prisoners now
n the county jail. we, as the grand in
uest, would recommend law passed by
he Legislature to send them to tho East
rn penitentiary also, would recommend
law passed for the appointing of the off
ials at the county Jail by the court in this :
ray: That the said court OF Lancaster
ounty to appoint tho six prison inspec-