The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-12-22
THE CITY AlMSH0USE.
REDMOND NEEDS AN ENTIRELY
NEW INSTITUTION.
How the old One Appeared-Di-mai sur
roundings-Place for Executing Crimi-
nal. Changes Suggested--A Farm
Workshops, Hospital and Reforma'ofy'

1
roundings-PIace for Executing Crin'i-
mails - Changes suggested--A Farm
Workshops, Hospital and Reforma'ory
II msy be too late now 10 assign reasons
why the authorities Of RichmOnl maze !
great mistake i'm building their present
aimshOuse: why 80 much money was en-
pended without any hone Of return H"h'
the outlay, and why 80 inappropriate sl,,
uation should have been selected for n. Still
"A few "reminiscences in this direction. by
way Of suggestion. may serve 20 show why
this locality has been the home Of our poor
long enough. and why something else.
something more useful and profitable should
he substituted i'm its place. The land no"
occupied by the handsome md capaciOus
building and grounds Of the almhou,e
should have been added to the neighbOrine
cemetery. when 1T became necessary some
wears AGO 10 enlarge the latter. This would
have afforded opportunity Of improving ana
boautif,ing the bare ILLS ami rugged Slopes
by constructing vaults and eNcaNatins
t0mbs 10 front upon terraces formed along
the northern decliyities beyond. Ihere are
other and peculiar reasons why such I'M IN
siitutiOn should never nave been esiapilsneu
where ID now stands.
That entire neighborheod has its meiah-
choly and unpleasant associations. Nheh
the gloomy looking predecessor Of the pres
ent structure stood unadOrned either by ma
turc or the hand Of man upon the bleak
summit of that hill. il presented an eN-
trcmelv fOrbdding aspect. II was large,
ugly brick house, exposing 10 the -Outh a
high cable. upon the apex Of which stood,
cut against the sky. the image of man
made of sheet iron. holding in his right hand
an unified hammer. This figure answered
the purpose OF a weather-csck. ana turned.
creaking upon its rusty JOINT WIN every
change Of the wind. sending constantly ont
unOn the air its harsh and grating COM
pisinis. u assumed also 10 symbolic Ia
Dor. but this was "lucus a non lucendo.'
The indcfatigabe consumption OF wasted
hour. was tie most cXactlng work ever
done within its walls. The same
ueichbOrhOod was at That time noted
for the degraded character of lis
pouulafiOn. with whom the inmates Of
The almshouse were unfortunately allowed
free intercourse. Consequently they were
neither morally or physically benefited
thereby. Ia this same vicinity was the chlei
place for the public execution ol criminals.
II was q sort Of Iyburn, upon whose grave
u.s. summit the gibbet and lis victim could
lp seen for miles hy crowds 81 spec
ION. More than this. the location was then,
and is now. made particularly Objectionable
iu that IL Is almost surrounded by Gene
ferries. Near 10 are the remains Of the Pot
fcr's field and IL has not been very long
since tbe CHASTITY remains of the neglected
dead were ruthlps.ly exposed to view by the
spade and the pick.
70 be. the prey Of poverty with all ITS ac-
c0mpanying Ills its sins and its sorrows II
otiife enough for human trial. If possible
IN, environments should be so arranged ~
10 mitigate the troubles. The proximity oi
graves and tomh--tOnes and other dOleiul
suggestions cannot be calculated 10 do thls'
The dead have ~ little use for the poor as
fine latter have for them. II is more appr0-
priatclv intended tbat these should become
The special companions and care Of the liy-
inc. with whom we are ted they are ever 10
remain They can Doe made useful to them
selves and TO Others, ana therefore notWith-
standing their poverty. be comparatively
happv. How this desirable end may be
reached will appear further on.
When the city of Baltimore was some
what LARGER than Richmond i now one 81
her leading merchants failed in business,
and soon after died. He had been "a man oi
taste. culture, and enlarged views. During
his days Of prosperity he had purchased a
considerable tract Of land several miles out
side he city. which he improved and upon
which he erected a handsome residence ~
"a country retreat. At hi. death this place
was sold, and was bought by the city and
county of Baltimore conformity The beau
tinl residence, lately the abode OF luxury
and wealth. was now about Go become tbe
hahitation Of paupers. I'm almshouse had
long been needed in town whose limits
Were rapidly hlling up with varied ana
alien population. In due time arrangements
were made 10 accommodate moderate
OF inmates. As these increased new
building, had tO De- erected. and the institute
lion went on 60 tIoW plOpOrti0nateiy with
the in ,rease of the city. WI it'll this Increase
came other municipal demands and qucs-
lions of policy connected with the cltN gov
eminent. Among the most important OF these
was the disposition Of certain classes OF
public offenders who could not DC called
criminals. bat who. nevertheless. required
attention and control. prunkards, walls,
small thieves. both male and female. COM
posed This class for the most part. II had
been tie custom 90 provide for such IN the
ordinary l0ckups Of the city. bui they had
become TOO numerous % bc thus accOmmO-
dated. and 10 was determined % send them
out tO The new almshouse. The difficulty
now arose as tO how they were 10 be en-
ulotea. The public authorities could not
afford 10 support crowd of oilers. This
would he encouraging Yagfahcl. and ih the
end wandering 90 The increase Oi crime. II
WAS determined, therefore. 90 arrange sy~-
tenn of Labor. and require each inmate "a do
such work ~ would SIT Ais or hef capacity.
luis was the beginning oi one Ot the best IN
siituti0u- that now exists i'm the country.
Many wears after, and when the Baltimore
4 Do ItuI
the pride of it's founders. the writer was
one Of sis medical lntcrnes who were al
lowed 10 wall. ihe wards of It's hospital for
the benefit Ofcliulcal instruction Here was
evidence Of the importance IT had already ac-
quircd as place for the pursuit Of medical
Its other features were equal
Ia implrtaut. The original residence OF the
late owner had been converted into home
for inc superintendent and bis family, and
for the accommodation OF the young doc
tors. Thanking this a. "a centre were tho
hospitals, 20 divided and separated
as 10 receive conveniently the inmates. the
female, being ON one side and the males on
the other. In the basement Of these were
wards i0r Mnatics ant incurabes. and
proper apartments Tor tie reception Of Yio-
lent lnehuutcs.
Beyond these in one side were the child
rcn's wards in a detached building, and in
another direction still the apartments for
lNing-m women. 70 these were added opera
ting rooms and chambers for special cases
requirng some particular treatment.
outside the range OF the hospital build
ine. were the shops, where work Of all sorts
was done suitable 10 the mental and physi-
cal capacity of the laborer. These included
black smith. WheelWright, carpenter. and
shoe shops, and the handling Of the material
incidm. 20 snch Industries.
4 large mill operated by stream OF water
afforded cmplo, ment % still another class.
while surrounding this populous and busy
community Il large and highly cultivated
farm employed the services Of men, women
and children in such capacity ~ they
could be best used. in fact. there was not
an idle person in this entire establishment,
except The very iutrm aud the lunatics;
and even the feeble and cunning figures of
thcs. unlOritnaies wee nO~ aud then EN-
Moved. ifit were possible 10 do so. IL was
considered that every body was happier il
kert employed. The mind Of the pauper was
diverted from his troubles. the invalid from
his suierings. and the vicious from his
wicked prOpeusities. 4 community Of feel
ing resulted from a system 10y which certain
duties were eXactcd from all, without dis
tincti0n. and the consciousness of being of
some importance cngendereu degree Of self