Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1886-11-23
REPORT OF BOARD OF VISITORS
For the Charitable and DarreetiOnal
Institutions of Belmont County,
Ohio. November, 1, 1886.

Institutions of Belmont county, OhiC
has the honor to submit its report TO
the year ending October 81, 1886.
In pursuance of re-appOintment, tn
Board organized by choosing the Rev
Thos. Balph chairman, and Miss Jan
Edgerton secretary.
During the year there wer5 six officia
visits made to the Intirmary, and fv
to the Cbildren's Home The count
Jail and municipal prisons were ais
inspected.
CHANGES OF ADMINISTRATION.
The death of Mr.. Charles Coffland, a
the beginning of the year, created va
cancy in the superintendency of tn,
Infirmary, which was filled by the ap
pOintment of Mr. John Sidebottom. Nj
and Mrs. Joseph Green, superintendent
asd matron of the Children's Home
were superseded by the election of MI
and Mrs. Peter Giffen, who took chargr
of the Home at the 1st of April.
The work of the past year has been
labor of love. Much good remains year
ly to be done. While some advaDtag
has resulted from the system of inspec
tion, and the committee believes ther'
has been improvement in management
of the public institutions of the county
yet the system is defective, in that
has no authority to enforce needed re-
forms. Its function teiug Gnly advis
CRY, the advice given has been unheeded
and evils or defects continue, notwith'
standing the fact that attention ha:
been called to them in each annual re
port. In this connection, attention i;
again called to the inadequate supply
of milk at the Home. At none
of the visits was the table sufficiently
supplied with fresh, sweet milk, "the nat
ural food for children" 1t is the Opin-
ion of the medical member of the com
mittee that the pale, bloodless condition
of the smaller children may be largely
due 10 this cause. IL is worthy of con-
whether the purchase OF
milk for the institution woald not be as
cheap, if not cheaper, than the produc'
ton of it at the Home farm.
Attention is again called to the moral
of the Infrmary. That this
has intellectual, moral and
religious wants that ought to be suppii-
ed, no sane man will deny. But no
systematic provision has been made to
meet these wants. There is no reading
matter furnished, except few Bibles.
No room furnished where any one can
sit down to spend an hour in reading
and meditation. There is rarely Sab
bath service. There are Christian men
and woman in the institution, who are
memberS of the various Christian
churches of the county, but who are
here as destitute of the consolation of
the Gospel as if they had been removed
10 heather land. Here lies the great
want of this institution. Attention is
again called to this matter, and some
suitable provision is again recom-
MUNICIPAL PRISONS.
The lookup at Barnesville was in
ilthy condition. 1t is sufficient as to
form and construction, but its appear
ince indicates that it receives little or
40 attention. Every consideration of
official enterprise, economy and humans
ty demands that it be kept in better
condition.
The prison at Bellaire was not found
n as good condition as last year. The
water supply is sufficient to make it one
If the best municipal prisons in the
county, if it only receives the necessary
,fficial attention.
The Others remain II uch as they were
asst year, and greatly need reconstruct
on and improvement in the care which
hey receive.
THE COUNTY JAIL.
1t is regretted that the continuance of
be old Jail must be reported. The num-
yer of prisoners yearly incarcerat9d, the
character of the present structure, the
lifficulty under which the officials labor,
md the impossibility of that order and
so much desired, all demand
he speedy construction of the new Jail.
None of our public buildings more i'm
,eratively demands early attention than
bis one. 1t is said that our Jail is the
worst constructed one now in the state.
t is only cage, and only BY the unceas-
ng vigilance of the sheriff is it safe
age. This stigma upon the county
hould early be removed. The sheriff is
o be commended FIR the cleanliness
md healthfulness of the institution.
THE INFIRMARY.
The general management of the Infir>
nary is commendable. The superin
endent has been diligent in the dis
.harge of his official duties. The main
is clean, well ventilated, and in
,Ood condition. While this is said, it is
insisted that more care be given to the
,eds. especially in the hospital,
hat they may be freed from
7ermin with which, at times, they are
infested. The removal of more than
wenty of the insane to the state asy-
um, at Athens, has lesseDed the burden
n the insane department, yet there are
i sufficient number remaining, together
With the care of the hospital, to give
employment to d trained male and fe-
male nurse. A change in the mode of
lining the insane is recommended.
They should dine seated at table
Their comfort would thereby certainly
,e enhanced, There is an absolute de-
nahd that the water closets be improv-
ID. The one in the insane department
8 so foul that the wonder is, it does lot
)Teed pestilence. There is need that a
ODStdlI SIT6du1 VI WdJ0T NDW through
t to carry off the excrement. In this
oul atmosphere the insane live eat and
leep. They ought not to be subject to
uch vile Odors. Something must be
lone to increase the supply of water,
which now admits of the cesspools being
looded only twice week. There are
me hundred and forty five i'll the insti-
ution. The rate of mortality seems to |
De high eighteen deaths during the
ear. There should be more care given
o the infant department in the summer
aeSon, las the eXhalati0ns make the atmoS |
'bere very impure. The difficulty of keep
ng everything in perfect order in 50 large |
lfamily is recognized, and the suggestions
re not made in the spirit of fault lind
ng. There could be Improvement in |
zig pens, if they de kept near the house,
s they are now. The odOr from them |
S very offensive. No suggestion can be |
made in reference to the reduction of |
he expense of the institution. The |
ommittee have no means of knowing |
he relative expense of the seyeral de- |