Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1883-11-08
REPORT OF The BOARD OF VISITORS
OF THE
Charitable and Correctional Institutions
Of Belmont County-NOv. 1. 1888.

year, Judge'St. CLAIR Kelly, OF our Com
mon Pleas, appointed board of visitor
for the inspection of all the charitable
and correctional institutions of Belmont
county, consisting of the following per
sons: Thos. Balph, Chas. E. kurZ, Mrs
Ross J. Alexander, Mrs. VIM. Eaton, anC
Miss Jane Edgerton.
The law makes it the duty Of suci
board of visitors, by personal visitation
Ur otherwise, to keep themselves fully ad
vised OF the condition and management
II all charitable and and corrective insti
tutions supported in whole or in part by
county or municipal taxation, or which
are under county or municipal control
and especially the intirmary, county jail
municipal prisons and childreD's home
and to recommend such changes and ad
ditional provisions as they may deem eS
Sential for their economical and efficient
administration.
Shortly after the appointment of the
board, its members met in St Clairsville
and organized by the election Of Rev
Thos Balph, chairman, and Miss Jane
Edgerton, secretary, and they at once en-
tered upon their duties. During the yeal
they have diligently prosecuted the work
tor which they were designated, and have
devoted themselves unselfishly to the i'm.
portant business with which they were
entrusted. The result of the inyeStiga-
tons of this board, ard their recOmmen-
datIons are of such general interest to our
readers that we publish their report sub
Stantially in full, as follows:
The board submits that the municipal
prisons at GAINESVILLE, Bellaire, Bridge
port and Martins Ferry, the county Jail
the infirmary and the children'S home, are
subject to their inspection.
The above named Institutions were
visited, either by the full board, or COM
mittee of the same, in accordance with
the spirit, If not with the exact letter OF
the statute. The cOnyenor was prevented
Jy sickness from calling the board togeth-
II, organizing and entering upon the work
IS early as would otherwise have been
done. The utmost facilities were afford
"a the board for inspecting the correction
al and charitable institutions of the coun-
Jy by those having them in charge. The
.Islts We're made in every case unan-
nounced. The institutions were seen in
their every day life and attire No special
preparation was made to receive the wis
itors.' The report may be regarded as the
more reliable on this account. The sani-
tary condition of the three main inStitu-
tiOns of the county are good, as attested
by the general health of the inmates.
Cleanliness and good ventilation are char
lcteristic. The general management de-
serves commentator.
THE MUNICIPAL PRISONS
"Au these consist of an iron cage within
substantial brick building. They are
well adapted as places of confinement.
They are almost destitute of furniture.
The bedding is scant Sufficient whole
some food is furnished those incarcerated.
A large percentage of the commitments
to these prisons is for violations of law,
induced by the use of strong drink. Some
of these have a work-house connected
Herewith, which is no doubt of advan-
tage
~The prisons in Barnesville and Mar
tins Ferry would have been improved by
the white-wash brush and soap and water
The location of the latter is not favorable
to good sanitary condition. A change
in this respect is submitted to the author
tiles in charge.
"The prisons of Bellaire and Bridgeport
were in good condition in respect to pure
air and cleanliness. Bridgeport's pris-
&c fa fnn fnr bn dc
made upon it. The board would suggest
a larger structure, if the supply OF in
mates continues. The mayor and marshal
of the above named municipalities re-
ceived the board with courtesy.
"THR COUNTY JAIL.
This institution is in charge of the
sheriff. who appoints the jailer. Due at
tention is given to the prisoners. The
management of the institution is COM
mendable perhaps all that could. be de-
sired under the circumstances. ~The jail
is a stone structure, within which, is an
iron cage, on either side of which are two
tiers of cells, having capacity for 30 priS-
oners. The cells face each other, and
open into hall about s feet wide. The
hall affords the only exercise that can be
given to the prisoners. Without the iron
cage. in the northwest corner of the
building, has recently been constructed a
wooden cell, in which female prisoners
are confined. 1t will thus be seen that
the accused and the condemned, male and
female, the old and young, those guilty of
a first offenSe and the hardened in crime.
are subjected to the same penal treat
ment, and all must submit to the influence
of the worst characters therein confined
1t is submitted that this ought not to so
be- Provision should be made, that our
prisons be not schools of vice and crime
This they cannot but be where isolation
is impossible.
1T is most earnestly recommended to
the proper authorities, that new Jail be
erected and so constructed, or the present
one SO altered, as to forbid its being an
institution for the propagation of crime.
The moral reasons for such recominen
datiou are weighty and call for considera-
ton. B sides these, other reasons sustain
the recommendation. Such as the ability
of the county, the well being of the pris-
onerS, the comfort ana convenience of the
officials in charge, respect to the advance
ment of the age in penal discipline, all
to sustain such recommenda
tion.
"It is further recommended, that chap
lain for the jail be appointed, who shall
give such moral and religious instruction.
and conduct such religious exercises of
y orship on the Sabbath as may be deem
ed for ediiication by the officials in charge,
in conjunction with such chaplain.
THE COUNTY INFIRMARY.
''The main building is of sufficient ca
pacity to meet the wants of the county
Detached is hospital, and also depart
ment for the insane. The farm is in good
and outbuildings are ample.
The general management of the inStitu-
ton deserves high cOmmendati0n; and if
the details might, in some instances, be
it is not for want of interest
.,l,ilit,- or tha rlrt nf