The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1892-12-22


The Board of Visitors for the charitable
and correctional institutions oil stark
county respectfully submit tnelr annuni
1892. ,
This committee as at present constituted
under the statutes as amended Marcn ~,
1892 WAS appointed by the Common FIehs
court AT its May term, 1892. ,,.
Since it's appointment tue comnluee
has made two visits 70 ne us All Snd
inflrmary and also inspected tne ciy
prisons Of Alliance and Canton
cHILDREN's HOME.
The committee, at each of these visits,
found the Bairmount Children's Home IN
ali respects we'll kept aud cared Tor, anu
the rules and regulations OF the statu'es
fully carried out. The moral training OF
the children 10 given careful attention. anu
nroner deportment in all parts OF tue
institution strictly enforced. A.
The superintendent and matron Mr'
and Mrs, Southworth seemed 70 tne com
mittee TO be we'll qualified for the posi-
tions they respectively occupy, anu sppea ea,,
20 be conscieutiousty discharging every
duty required OF persons haVIng
control OF thoss OF tender age
dependant upon public charlhes' anu
their assistants in tne worn s7pIneu W De
we'll chosen and competent % HI tne po-
sitions they occupy. ,,,,, to,r
changes that they WUu.d recommend IN
this 10 stitution, but oue or Two are OF
very great importance, ann We tnereioTe
earnestly urge and recommend tne IoI>
lowing improvements whIcn hnoulu eeF>
taiuly betnade at al early date.
Ths frat and most important ia the Inn
proyemsut of tue present hospital iacll,
iIies. The building in use a. hospltal
is an old building, without ouy cellar OF
base meut under 1t, IL damp, ahu ehurely
unfit for a well person to occupy, wnnou'
thinking OF placing on invalid child in it,
It's condition is such that tue physician AZ
the Home has absolutely prohloted us
use. Further, II 10 located 30 near the
buildings occupied by the otner cnlluren
as to practically prevent tine lsoiation ol
the sick children, which is certainly one
m the desired purposes of q hospital.
The necessity of placing the hospltal
building in good condition, has recently
been made manifest by reason OF preVas
lence of diphtheria in the instltuNon'
There is no doubt in the mind OF the sup
erintendent in charge, nor OF TINS COM
mittee, that the epidemic might nave
been largely prevented had there been a
suitable building on the ground TO whlch
children who had contracted the disease
might hAve-been removed at once, anu
kept apart from other chiluren;
We would therefore earnestly recon-
mend and urge that the interests OF the
children as well as the expense that Will
be saved in the care OF them, demand
that this hospital building be elIper raised
up and renovated and basement bullt
under IL, with complete drainage, SO as 70
make il 1T for q hospital or else that q new
building be erected especially Tor tnls
purpose at some other place on the
premises.
The committee also takes exception TO
the method of lighting the institution.
The only kind of light in use there, we
observed, was carbon oil lamps. This may
do as light where there are few persons
10 be the cause of accidents or Otherwise,
or in places where no other liRht Is
accessible, but in an iEsttuuon OF tnls
kind where the lives OF so many little ones
are at stake, and where such valuable
properly is endangered By its use we would
supRest that this method Of lighting is out
of date and unsuitable. An engineer has
TO be engaged at the Home anyway. We
belieye that an electric light
plant could be placed oome-
where near the engine on the
premises of sufficient power to light every
part of this institution and that coupe
tent engineer could be employed who
..rould take charge Of the electric light
plant as well as the ether machinery IN
bis charge witho1 ut adding greatly to the
expense of the institution,
The committee further nnus tnat Inere
are q NUMBER OF lInDeCllo ahh lNlOhS
children ia the Home. We are Oh the
opinion that the effect OF this class upcn
children OF sound mind cannot be but lua
furious, and further that II is IN plain Vlo-
iation of the statutes authorizing lhe
erection and maintenance OF chlIdreu'1
homes and designating the classes OF
children entitled to admission therein. we
would therefore urge the removal OF this
class OF children TO institutions more suit
able for their condition al the earliest
ID Actic able time.
The committee further would recon-
mend that the buildings on shs PR LnlsSs
be improved by painting and whiteWash-
ing, of both of which they seem to be
greatly in need.
COUNTY JAIL.
The Jail Of the county we fad to be kept
in good condition, and the rules aud
regulations provided for its management
faithfully carried out.
The construction of this jail 10 such that
tits practically impossible for the Sherln
to separate the prisoners far enough
to prevent conversation pet"esh
children and females who may be con
fined therein, and male prisoners. Ihat
In fault that cannot be too strongly con.
demned and at present the sheriff Is not
able to make any change that would acr
complish this object. Common decepcy
would require that in a county OF the
wealth aud standing OF Stark, that an am
mex or addition be built to the Jail Tor the
sole use of this class OF prisoners. We
are also OF the opinion that the jail Is 100
dark and that Il would be proper to in
crease the amount of artificial light Ia the
corridors so that the prisoners could read
more easily IL they so desired. This would
ndd to the convenience OF the prison and,
by giving then the opportunity to read,
their time would be occupied and II would
be easier for the sheriff to take care OF the
prisoners.
We also doubt the propriety of feeding
the prisoners confined for punishment as
we'll as is now being done. The fact that
a prisoner is confined as punishment
for q crime or misdemeanor does not
justify the public authorities in depriying
enough light to read by II he desires II.
But the public also has it's rights, and IL
prisoners are furnished with food so much
better than many of them are used to
having in their regular daily life, II
becomes an incentive to the committing OF
petty offenses, and the instances are very
frequent in which prisoners have com
mitted such crimes and misdemeanors for
the sole purpose of being confined during
cold weather In the Jail at the expense OF
the taxpayers.
COUNTY INFIRMARY.
The committee has spent considerable
time in the examination and investigation
of this institution. There are here on an
average about 226 persona. They are
in oil conditions of body and mind, from
those perfectly well In both body and
mind to those Of the lowest possible con-
dition OF mental imbecility and bodily de-
he fEnIa hui