Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1884-11-22

sk"ioos tutDS tTHmVb WnlIS no
fewer than 40 witnesses were sent
to testify against them but one
or two knew the "tramps," while none Of
the rest had ever seen them before their
arrest many Of them had not testified at
the hearing before the alderman. had told
the latter that they knew nothing CON
cerning them, but were, nevertbe.
less, sent before the grand inquest
As witnesses, being told "they might
~ we'll 60 along" Another case,
10 trihipg In its character that a simple
lodged with constable would
have been sufficient to Abate the nuisance
of, was returned by the alder.
man, with the names OF eighteen persons
rs witnesses. The grand inquest desires to
censure aud denonnce In the most emphatic
manner this disreputable practice OF null
t,pying business aud duplicating fees. 1t
desires, further, to express the opinion
that II the magistrates we're to return only
legitimate cases to the court, fully one. |
third OF the business that encumbers the |
docket from term to term would disappear,
lessening the labors of the court and |
saving thousands of dollars to the tax.
payers.
In pursuance Of its duties the grand
inquest visited the county prison, through
which 1t WAS shown by Keeper Burkholder.
The crowded condition Of tho Jail was
manifest. There are 80 cells in all, but
some being unfit for occupancy, and others
being required for store and working
rooms, only 72 can DO used for the reten
tion of prisoners. There are 122 of the
latter now in the building 20 Of these
sentenced to separate confinement I; the rest
are crowded into cell, rs circumstances will
allow. Experience has shown that the beat
roRnlta nhfainal Uh
confined separately. This Is impossible In
the county Jail. More room ia an absolute
necessity. This oan be secured by making
additions to the present structure or by
the erection VI q new aud larger one. In view
OF the present dilapidated condition of the
JAIL, the defective system OF heating, light
ing and ventilation, to say nothing Of the
insecure cells aud honey oombed floors
and walls, the grand inquest is unani
mously Of the opinion that new prison Ia
one OF the crying needs of the hour. Much
money has been spent In trying to repair
| and keep up the present structure, but it
gets worse from day to day, and new
building Is Q mere question of . few years
at most. The present site is valuable and
could be sold At good price. The county
has plenty Of land on the other side Of the
street on which . new Jail could be built.
Bummer's Hall was visited. Only nine
inmates were there, consequently 1t did
not present the disgracsful scenes so often
seen there. Relief seems possible only
through the building of q new house or
room. We are Of the opinion the money
| required to do this could more profitably
DO spent on new Jail, where better quar-
ters for this unfortunate class could DO
provided. II this class Of offenders were
moro frequently sent to the public build
ing on the other side Of the street and set
to breaking stones, the present evil would
In part be remedisd. The filthy condition
OF this room and it's inmates is so we'll
known that 1t Is useless to enlarge on this
subject now. We know how difficult 1t ia
to keep such people clean, but We suggest
that II those sent there were compelled to
remove their own clothes and put Cd the
prison dress while they remained, aud
those With the longest terms to serve were
more frequently compelled to thoroughly
scrub and cleanse the room, it might be
made more comfortable and freer of yer
min. The new we'll dug at the jail gives
complete satisfaction and will result in a
large saving to the county. Much credit
is due those through whose efforts the
project was carried forward. We bsg
leave to direct the attention Of the cour,
and the proper county authorities to Che
project of establishing gas plant at the
several public buildings, being satisfied q
large saving would result to the count y
therefrom. The productive capacity OF
the Jail has been greatly increased of late
The carpet looms have been increased from
seven to fifteen. During the first eleven
months OF the present year, Il. 600 yards OF
carpet have been made for sale, besides
1000 yards for private parties.
This department labors under the dis
advantage of having most of the long term
prisoners sent away, while the short term
ones remain. By the time they learn
enough to make their labor profitable they
are discharged. The discipline and gen.
eral management Of the prison appears to
be excellent and Keeper Burkhoder evil
IDENTIFY has the institution we'll 10 hand.
The county almshouse was visited and
every department from cellar to attic 10
spect'd. The grand inquest finds pleasure
in expressing its satisfaction with all il
saw. Order, cleanliness, and system
seemed to prevail everywhere this mos,
worthy institution does the county honor,
no less through its management than in itl
completeness with which 1t answers the
purposes for which it was intended. The
inmates at present are 154 men &c
| women 8 male and female children, a
total Of 34l. Here, a. at the prison, the
labor Of tho able. bodied inmates 10 largely
employed, lessening the cost Of mainten-
auce very considerably. Steward Brook
deserves credit for his carefully systema
tiEed management.
The hospital, under the charge Of DR..
MscCreary, the resident physician, was
visited and every ward inspected. The
unfortunates kept here seem to be hu.
manly cared for, aud the system of
discipline adopted seems to be we'll calcu-
lated to promote the welfare and comfort
Of the inmates. Through the efforts OF
DR.. MacCreary, the corridors have been
adorned with prints and pictures which
exercise happy influence upon the resi-
dents. The number OF inmates at present
is 6S in the hospital department proper; 81
in the insane department, OF which s5 are
males and 46 females, and 20 in the color.
ed department., . total OF 189.
The other noble charity of the county,
the Childrsn's Home, was also visited.
Here 104 children OF various ages were
found, Of whom "a were boys aud "a girls.
IL Is not easy 70 conceive of more happy
and contented family than the matron, Mrs.
Hamaker, has in charge. Their oomtor
| and we'll being seems to be studied
throughout, and We feel assured the same
| excellent results that have so far marked
the career OF this home will be felt under
her future management. Cleanliness pre-.
va;ta in dana IN anS nd thara ;a n os