Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1884-07-19

Report of the POOr-House Commissioners
To the Hon. County Court OF Montgomery
County Tennessee:
The undersigned beg leave to re-
port a. committee appointed at
the last term to visit the poor house
for the pun pose of inspecting it, with
instructions to report upon its con-
ditiOn, that we have endeavored to
fully comply with the spirit and
intent of the order. We persuaded
the Hon. G.. w. Tyler, as county
judge, and Mr.. r. ID. Moseley. the
county court clerk, to accompany
us, to assist in ferreting out any
irregularity chargeable 10 the pres
emf or past management. Our visit
was made at a time when we were
not looked for by any person COLI
nected with the institution and we
are therefore confident that no
preparation was made beforehand
in anticipation OF our visit. We
found twelve inmates. Three white
women, seven white men, one COL
ored woman with a child about
three years old. Only two OF these
person and the child are Of sound
mind. The imbeciles are harmless.
1t Is necessary, however, to watch
over these, and to exercise good
judgement firnness, and much pa
thence without harShness in order 10
properly control them. We believe
that Mr.. Burney possesses all these
qualities and exercises them in a
most satisfactory manner.
NNn S1cnnntnd tho VArOpn ioOSs ffIllxy
A fe,C stones were displaced in re-.
pairing the foundation OF the house;
they are gone, where, your COM
mittee are not informed, they were
not essential either for the comfort
or usefulness of the house. Your.
committee would have advised the
keeper to "stop washes" with them;
perhaps it was done. One live tree
was cut down by the former keeper
to insure the safety of the inmates of
one of the houses. We think twas
wisely done. The other trees
charged to have been cut were so
decayed as to be dangerous. They
should have been cut down. We
are satisfied that no waste has been
committed.
We saw the women's clothing
and considered it ample. The
houses were neat and the inmates
were evidently made 10 be cleanly
in their habits, and nothing indIca--
ted Il want of cleanliness. We think
they should be furnished with new
beadsteads and bedding because the
old ones are much worn and are
not as fresh looking as they should
be,
We were unable by inspection or
to discover any bad man.
agement on the part OF the commits
siOners or the keepers, and do SO re-
port. We will state, however, that
one of these poor old women COM
plains for want Of Il bible, pair Of
Spectacles ami Il wash bucket
another wants tO hear preaching
now and then and To have another
room built in order that the cook
woman may have place TO keep
her soap. Perhaps II we had sought
To draw them out, we might have
heard statements Of imaginary
wrongs, all without foundation, the |
coinage of diseased brains. We |
will state that the entire premises !
show the effects Of hard work and |
good management. The crop i'm az
good condition Cir not better) than
any to be seen on the roadside. A |
splendid garden. But the soil il
hin and the farm rolling; in a Ue,y
short time there will tie nothing but |
5ullies. There are no cross fences |
and stock cannot be raised on it.
We beg leave TO suggest that the
court consider. the pr0priety OF
thelocatibn. II this should |
not be done, we think another house !
should be built not only because it |
would add largely To the comfort of |
the present inmates but it is abso- |
lutely necessary 10 provide room for |
new corners.
|. p. HOWARD,
HI. r. RODGERS,
c. d. BAILEY,
Committee.
We inspected the premises in !
with two Of the above |
at their request, and DO |
here endorse our approval OF the |
report because they wish us to do so.
Il. ID. MosELEY,
f.E-sa G.. w. TYLER.
T1rr ,,oxt apqsion of Rofhal Eo-