The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-02-03
A MODEL INSTITUTION.

Ohio C1unty'e lhueutHN SF"Ut ~ 'HS
Pooplo-A Readable Description OF the
Bu,IdlnEa and Management.
Ohio county has the best accommoda-
tons for her poor Of any county in the
State Of West Virginia. Not many oil
the taxpayers ever saw the handsome
Infrmafy buildings, and but few know
how well the inmates are taken care Of.
a representative OF the IsTELIIeEScER
~as shown through all OF the depart
menta Of the Infitm4rV by Mr.. Foreman,
tue efficient and obliging Superintend-
emit, Who explained the daily routine
and the methods OF caring for this IN
fortunate class OF humanity. The In
Urinary Is situated at Elm Grove upon q
farm OF about 100 acres. The buildings
are all Of brick, modern 10 their archi-
lecture and stand upon somewhat Of an
eminence. In front are beautiful sloping
grounds, divided by drives and flower
beds. The main building contains the
superintendent residence, which con.
sists OF nine commodious rooms in the
drst wing, the male and female wards,
kitchen, diniDg.room and laundry.
This building is heated by steam. The
wards are comfortable, clean and coy.
The. males are given the use OF room
fJr q smoking room. Their allowance OF
tobacco is four ounces per week. Some
VI the more confirmed users Of the weed
run out OF tobacco before the week has
expired and are compelled to beg Of the
others or depend on the leniency Of the
superintendent for an additional allow.
ance.
The water for the use Of the Infirmary
is piped from q never failing spring on q
neiphboring hill and is pumped into
huge tank In the attic, thus making a
sufficient pressure to force the water
4 through the pipes into the various de-
partments. Thus a supply OF the purest
crystal water is furnished year in and
year out. The rations allowed the in:
, mates consists Of sufficient variety OF
/ plain, wholesome food. Many OF the
poor families throughout this county
live on poorer fare and have less Of 1t.
The culinary rooms, dining room and
laundry were found in apple.pie order
|. and supplied with all the necessary con-
a yeniences. The supplies for the Inarm'
/. AIRY are purchased in large quantities
and placed in large storeroom. A peer
into that showed provisions sufficiently
= plentiful to last the sixty inmates fol
' some time yet.
+ Notwithstanding the dreary and mo
!. notonous life which stern poverty com
i pels these people to lead, they nearly al
!; seem happy and cheerful. At present
/ the inmates are mostly males, pas
|, middle age. During severe winters the
/. Intrmary is generally pretty well stock
ed with tramps, who find business baC
ION the road" But when the time ar
rives for work on the farm, during tbs
II spring season, the tramps seek another
Ie cline" The superintendent says hi
/. has not had single unruly or obstinate
D. 'boarder" duiisg his administration
70 The building is, however, supplied Will
,e q prison room or cell, the walls OF which
/. show holes, now plastered up, where
/: demented inmate had vainly sought hi
{. escape.
d Tho hospital is separate two.stor.
J. building, few rods defiant from tn
main building. A nurse is employed
who has charge Of this department. A
this time the hospital contains five pa
.r tients, one OF whom is the Italian VIII
n was found in the basement Of the Publ
Ia Building not long since. He is slowl.
a recovering. II has been said that thi
n man is not a citizen OF the United States
II but he Is taken up in his filthy condi
+. ton and cared for by the county.
d The cots and rooms in the hospita
ia arc made even more comfortable AM
"a cheerful than those in the main build
ing.
One man, confined to cell in th
hospital, is demented and has been Il
+. the Institution for many years. ii
a was a soldier In the late war, and once
d man of prominence, but his face noV
d shows no trace of intelligence. His cas-
e is strange one. He is only bereft o
d his reason one day at time. Ever.
p other day, he seems perfectly sand traC
table, and on the alternate day, withou
any apparent cause, his mind leave
him, and he remembers nothing OF tn
2 events Of the day previous.
u A dairy is run on the farm, which
!, supplies the institution with all tht
70 milk and butter needed and sufticien
. for the Market to assist in detraying tht
expense of running the dairy. The cit
liens OF Ohio county should be prout
!, OF running such an institution, whert
y the helpless poor are so we'll kept. It ii
o model OF progtessiveness and thor
9 oughness. Mr.. Foreman made asucCesl
Y Eoi his administration as Superintendent
Q but OF course, the present Board Of Com
2 missioners being Democratic by large
y msjority and he Republican, he wal
. not candidate for re election yesterday