Asheville daily citizen., 1893-03-27
BUNCOMBE'S INSTITUTIONS
REPORT TO THE STATE
BOARD OF CHARITIES
Extracts From the Reports sent
tn she Department by NHessrs. H.
w. Patton, J. H. SAWYER and H.
M. PRRSe.

tn tine Department bS Messrs. II.
w. Patton, J. r. SAWYER and H.
M. Pease.
THE CITIZEN has been shown the re-
ports of the institutions of Buncombe
county to be made to the State Board OF
Charities by Messrs. T. w. Patton, Jas.
p. Sawyer and L. NJ. Pease, the commit
tee for this county, extracts from which
will be of general interest.
The Mission hospital is reported as
having been conducted with marked sue
cess during the past year. The compile
tion of the new building, with capacity
of 40 patients, is referred to, and the ne w
operating room is said to be "the most
completely equipped of any in the South
ern States.''
The Children's home is reported as
having legal charge of Sc children, of
whom IS have been placed in respectful bic
homes, and from whom satisfactory re-
ports are regularly received. The COM
mittee ''emphasizes one feature of the
law, on which the homes success, we
think, will entirely depend, to wit: That
the board of directors shall in part be
composed OF women" The cost per
month for each child was less than So 20
per month.
Of especial interest are the remarks OF
the committee on the condit ion OF the
county jail. as follows:
I'VE have made a thorough eXanna-
tion of the jail of Buncombe county, and
take great pleasure III tt testifying to the
good and faithful service of the jailOr.
So far is in his power by care 3nd
attention, the building is kept in good
order. and I he prisoners made comtOrta-
BILE We are likewise glad to report i'm
provements made by the County Com
ing at Federal court, of which i'll our
last report we complained, has to a great
extent been avoided. While we rccOg-
nize joyfully these signs of inlpro Vcnent,
we still note painful evidence that furt her
change is demanded III the interest of
humanity. Thus we regret to see in one
small cell 7X9 feet, three women. one
white and two cClored, one of the latter
being insane, for whom We have no more
suit BILE place of confinement. We also
regret to report that in the steel clad
cells (14x1S feet 2 stories there are %
men of whom 3 are white and 2 col
ored. We especially remark that cOnfine-
mentt tor long period of time of this
numbe of men, in so limited space,
tends terribly to the naturalization, ~e
might say 'unhumanizing' of those
who have been created in the image OF
God. Moreover we consider the close
int recourse with hardened criminals an
injustice to many innocent men and
youths from which their own interest
as well as that of society they should
certainly be protected. We would also
add that this crowding of pris ,ners adds
greatly to the danger of their keeper, as
they are thus enabled to consolidate all
their powers OF mind and body in devils
ing plans tor escape, and in efforts o
make it successful Within the last week
such an effort has been made, w hiCh we'll
nigh resulted fatally to the TAILOR and in
escape OF the prisoners, both of these
calamitieS being prevented only bv the
cool bravery of the jarlor's wife.
I'VE would earnestly recommend that
the Governor be requested to urge upon
our mem bers OF Congress, that the Fed
eral government should bear portion
of the expense of erecting proper jails in
those of our counties which are required
to provide cells for Federal prisoners.
This might be done, bv the Federal gov
ernment agreeing to pay fair per ca pit a
considerat ton for cell room provided f, r
each of its prisoners which in some cases
tnOtably in this cOuutv) would pay in
terest a sufficient amount of county
bonds to meet half the expense OF a suita-
bic prison.
"Should such a change we have above
lnt1mated be deemed cxpedlent IN this
county. the present Jail could be utilized
to great advantage as a work house, by
making certain slight changes. not at
tended with serious COST
Regarding the county aims house the
committee says:
I'VE gladly report that find this in
Stitution managed in a wav credits BILE
to our county, every eftOrt DelnS made
to promote the comfort, health and hap
PineSs of the unfortunate people who, OF
necessity, have become charges upon the
public, and at the same time to prevent
imposition from those lazy ones who are
able and who should be required to sup
port themselves"
The Normal and Collegiate institute Is
referred to in the following terms:
"AH cOnven1ences are provided to pro-
mote practical instruction in bookkeep-
ing, stenOgraphy and typewriting
Those who prefer TO become teachers are
thoroughly trained in the Normal de
partment, while all are made efficient IN
millinery, cutting making and repairing
of garments, in scientific and practical
cookery, and in all other household
duties.
1--WE most especially delight to ON
mend the absolute cleanliness W h1ch
eyerywh here prevails, and have never had
the pleasure before to enter a kitchen
such as saw there.
THE charge for these great advan-
tages, including board, tuition and wash
ing, being only $1Oo per annum' or $25
per annum for tuition alone, we teel
that the institute properly comes within
the scope of our duties, cOmnli tee
OF the board of public charities, and we
can only wish that all of our brother
committeeman throughout the STATE
may, each in his own county, have a
pleasure similar to that we haye this
day enjoyed"
Of the Home Industrial school. under
the superinI endence OF DR.. Pease, MeSSrS
Patton and Sawyer say:
1--WE entered several OF the class rooms
and found the instruction to be most
thorough and practical. The cleanliness
of the whole building was most bea u tt
full and the kitchen, in which cooking
is done by a weekly detachment OF the
scholars, was as tidy as any other Por
ton; and the most remarkable feature o
the whole consists in the fact that this
hi inc in letters.