The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1885-05-14

ing on Lincoln Avenue, between Mon
fort and Bruce streets.
Music LcssOns..On Piano and Or
gan, or Vocal Instruction, go to Mrs.
May Grouse Holmes. Residence, High
St., End door west of Barron st. [f5-ly
OFFICIAL REPOR
CL irritable and Correctional In.
stitutiOns.
To to Honorable, the Court of Common Pleas
of Pre6N County, Ohio:
The committee of visitors appointed at the
fall term of your Court for the purpose of Wis
iting and inspecting the charitable and cor
rectional. institutions of the county, has the
honor to report as follows a to the discharge
of its duties up to this date:
THE COUNTY JAIL.
This building, or at least that part of it
which is appropriated to the confinement of
prisoners, was built nearly fifty years ago,
while that part used for the residence of the
Sheriff and his family is comparatively a new
building. Considering the great age of the
prison part, and the fact that at the time of
its construction very little was known by
practical architects of the Importance of sani-
tary science and the necessity of sewerage
and ventilation; subjects which at this time
are considered by all scientists and intelligent
citizens of the most vital Importance to a
proper construction of all buildings, and es-
p~ecialIy to buildings of this character. And
from these unfortunate defects in the original
planning and construction of the building it
cannot, without a very great expense, be made
or improved to such a degree as to give it the
Santtarr odront on nf a mora madam hnIl6-
ing. What we find most important and great
ly needed is an improved water closet and
priyy. The one now in use is a source of fill
thy and noxious smells that pervade the en-
tire building, and is consequently greatly Diet
rimental to the good health and comfort of all
the inmates If it is not practicable at this
time to furnish a new and improved prlvy,
then by all means we urge the Importance of
a thorough and immediate overhauling and i'm
proving, by larger pipes. better traps, &C., for
correcting its many defects. The vault is on
ly another and additional nuisance, as there
is no drainage whatever to it, and the pipes
leading from the floor to it are SO small as to
be almost entirely useless for the purposes
for which they are intended. The vault should
be at once well drained. by a sewer and the
pipe from the floor enlarged sufficiently to
convey all excrement by it to the sewer. To
improve the ventilation, we that
all the windows of the prison part of the build
ing, consistent with the safe keeping of the
prisoners, be enlarged and that the grating
thereto be placed with the edge and not the
fat side of the bars facing to the inside and
outside of the building, so as to permit the
passage of as much pure air as possible. The
window on the west side of the prison is used
by all classes of people wishing to commune
cate with the prisoners, and through which
firearms, tools and implements for aiding the
escape of prisoners, can be conveyed with i'm
punity. We urgently recommend that this
..rIoY h. a,,ra hy rnna- rr,f.,,~ Nr pfhar
means, SO that it could not be used by the
outside friends or ~accomplices in aiding the
escape of criminals. In consequence of leak
age from the roof, the plastering, in many
places, has dropped off the wall, and should
be repaired Immediately. We are glad to say
cared for and as comfortably and securely kept
by the present Sheriff and his good wife and
assistants, as the condition of the building
and its fixtures will admit.
THE INFIRMARY.
The central part of this building was erect
ed nearly a half century ago, and the other
parts have been added as the wants of the in
digent required. Like the Jail, at the time of
the planning of the original or central part of
the building, no attention was paid by the
architect to the Importance of drainage and
the necessity for ventilation; and at this time
it would be almost impossible, without an
enormous expense, to make it a well ventilated
and we'll drained structure. The building is
well heated by a new and improved steam
heater and the rooms are kept warm and com
Portable, and ventilation can be much improv-
ed by a few additional windows. But what is
most urgently needed at this time is thorough
and complete drainage of the entire building,
and especially of the two adjoining buildings
used for the confinement of the violent and in
sane inmates.
Underground sewers with pipes and improv-
cd trans largo annuph tn carry off all pffpn-
sive matter, should be added to the main and
adjoining buildings, and all vaults and water
closets should be thoroughly drained and kept
clean by the same means. Thus the sanitary
condition of the institution could be very
much improved. The next important want is
a new and larger kitchen with a new and
larger range for cooking purposes: and also
two large tanks for cold and hot water. An
other great improvement would be two bath
rooms-one for the males and the ether for the
female inmates-with hot and cold water, tow
| els and soap. While the bath tub on the sec
| ond floor should be reserved for the exclusive
use of the Superintendent and his family.
Almost every Imfirmary in the State is al
this time crowded with its incurable insane
and ours is not an exception to this rule
And as these unfortunates, by law, are not
entitled to admission to the State Insane Asy-
lums, and as it is impossible, in many instan.
ces, to give them the care and treatment thai
is to be had in the State AsylumS, your com,
mittee would respectfully urge the Importance
and advantage of a State Institution for the
| special benefit of this class of lunatics. But
our State has built and organized an Institu'
ton for the care and improvement of feeble
| minded youth, and to this Institution we re-
| spectfully recommend that the two imbecilt
Davis children be sent as soon as possible
They are entitled to and would be greatly
benefited by the teaching of that institution
The industrious inmates should be encour.
aged to labor by proper rewards, and thos,
possessing ingenuity or mechanical skill
should be stimulated to invent or manufacture
articles that are useful or ornamental; and
proper room should be set apart for the sale o
such articles and the proceeds should be Civ
en- to the manufacturer.
AS a polluted water supply is a very com
mon source, of disease, often causing epide
mics of cholera, dysentery, diarrhe, &C., an,
as the well furnishing the water used 70
drinking and culinary purposes, is in DANCE
of pollution from it's proximity to one of tn
large privies, we would suggest the necessit-
of constructing a capacious ~cistern, larg
enough to supply the wants of the inmate
with pure rain water for drinking and culina
ry purposes, and that the water from the wei
may be used for cleansing, &c.
1t is with much pleasure that we call you
attention to the good repair and condition i
which the building and grounds are kept an
the good order and quiet department of tn
inmates; and to this favorable condition W
give due credit to the intelligent and patien
care and attention of the Superintendent an
are fully competent, that they do perform a
the duties pertaining to the office of Superin
tendent in a conscientious and satisfactor
manner.
THE ORPHAN C~H1LDRENS' HOME.
IT., b,;lJ;o- Sc olponof pau- orl IA