Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1886-03-17

turned in time to catch the 9.45 east
train, and were landed In Harrisburg
n time TO admit one OF the company
sending dispatches relative to the
visit to city daily newspapers. The
following statement was sent from
Harrisburg that night TO the Phila-
delphia Record: Governor Pattison' S
visit to-day TO the McAlisterville Sol
diers' Orphans School, in Juniata
county, revealed a state Of aif.lirs in
some aspects worse than those
schools previously visited, though, in
other respects, notably discipline. it
was better. The bathing arrange
ments are very meagre, especially the
provision for the girls, fifteen pals
and three or four molasses barrels
having been utilized. Considerable
preparation had been made for the
visit. Five new beds were recently
placed In a room that had been par
titioned of from a recitation-rcom.
The old beds were PIT nn elsewhere,
and, of course, lessened the number
of children who otherwise would have
slept three in bed. When meas
urement was made Of the mattresses
on which three children still slept it
was found that they were about the
width Of a birth in a pullman sleep
ing car or the width OF an ordinary
car seat. Two boys slept in bed
twenty nins inches wide. There Was
an insufficient supply OF sheeting and
bed covering. All the beds had been
recently filed with fresh straw In
an upper attic, where seventeen boys
are slowed away nightly. it was as
certained that there were only one
hundred and thirty cubic feet Of
breathing space to each child, though
the laws of health require hve hun.
dred cubic feet. The worst bedroom
In any of the Orphans Schools was
encountered when the visitors enter
ed the hole In which bed is provid
ed for the two boys who attend to
fires There were three breaks in the
wall, through which the wind rushed;
the plaster had fallen off iii five or
SIX places, and the bedding was so
filthy that tie Governor was shocked
at the appearance of tie compart-
ment- The clothing was found to be
insufficient, there having been de-
lay III providing the winter suits fer
which measurements had been made |
in November of last year. No un
was provided for the |
boys, though they wore the same suit |
N winter and summer. Many OF the |
Boys were without combs, seven tow
ais were used by one hundred and |
.orty boys in washing, an average of
;ne towel to twenty boys, and the |
story OF pinching economy which
,ame fIom Mount Jov was partially
'epeated at McAlisterVille The cook
aid poor butter and cheap flour were
provided for the children's table, and
he excused her failure to put sugar
n the coffee by saying that the little
mes did not want it. In the small
ecitation.rooms the desks of the
eachers were fixed up from the stands
{ sewing machines. The out houses
nd drainage system were found 10
e inferior.
4 number of the children had sore
yes, and inquiry developed The fact
bat some time ago there wereanuln-
er of cases Of typhoid fever By
irection Of Governor Pattison the
OF the State Board cf
[ealth will examine into this feat
re of the institution tomorrow.
The examination OF witnesses was
ut short by the refusal of the prin
pal officers of the institution to tes
fy. Principal Sherwood, Matron
IcKillop and Physician Weidman de-
lined to make any statements under
nth or to permit any examination
I the accounts OF the institution.
Male Attendant Smiley aud the
box were the only persons summon
1 who would make their statements
nder cath. From this course of the
Management it is evident that the
Squeers Syndicate has repented Of
s request for a thorough examina-
on.