The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1893-12-14

| UhNtLEMEN:-A uitueI II
StructiOnS given Us by your honorable
Board, we visited the county Jail and
poor-house, or county home.
THE JAIL.
We visited the Jail and recommend:
l. That berths or hamm0cks be pro-
vided, as was originally contemplated,
in each cell, and that the number of
prisoners in each cell does not exceed
the number of berths, so that the
prisoners will not be compelled to
| sleep on their floors
| 2. That the furnace and heating ap-
paratus be thoroughly GVcrhauied and
| repaired; in its present condition
| there is an unnecessary waste of fuel.
| ). Should il be impossible in the
near future to build the additional
cells, heretofore recommended, we
would suggest one inside door on the
| second floor, both for the safety Of the
prisoners and the convenience OF The
| jailer.
f. We found one cell occupied by
| two prisoners. We see no objection
! to this use of the jail by tile town
prisoners when the Jail is c0mpar&-
lively empty, but whenever the eI-
tire numoer of berths is needy for
county prisoners, aS IS now the case,
we think the town prisoners should
be taken elsewhere.
pair and should be replaced in such a
manner that the prisoners cannot in
jure or destroy their usefulness.
6. We take pleasure to note the uni
form cleanliness Of the floors and
halls of the building, but the cOndi-
tion of the prisoners themselves can
be greatly improved by compelling
more frequent and liberal use of bath
and wash tubs, for the person, the
clothing and the blankets o: the
prisoners; this is particularly appli-
cable to the blankets of the town
prisoners.
By the purchase of few suits of
clothes the jailer could compel the
more liberal use of water on the
prisoners and probably prevent the
spread Of contagious diseases in the
future.
I. We found the jail comfortably
heated and the prisoners with an
abundance of wholesome food.
THE COUNTY HOME.
We were agreeably surprised at the
condition of the buildings and inmates
of the Home.
We noted the following facts:
l. With pnSSiOly two exceptions, the
rooms are comfortable and well
lighted.
2 The inmates appear satisfied and
formed they have a change of under
wear and plenty of bed clothes, food
and wood.
B. We found in the granarY enough |
wheat to last the Home almost, if not
quite, till next crop; probably 100
bushels OF corn; ii number OF fatteniBg
hogs, and enough pigs for next years
pOrkerS; there seems to be an abuad-
ance of hay for cows and mules;
Nfslf albn
for winter use, while chickens, ducks
and turkeys are numerous.
4. We were informed that WOrkmen |
had been employed to make some /
needed repairs, and that all the rooms |
will be WhlteWashed, as is customary
about this season of the year.
5. In several instances the inmates
are too much crowded, and we sug |
gest the following additions and alter
atiOns:
(a) The erection of one additional |
building for kitchen, laundry and +!
dining-roOm Tor both races.
10y Additional table ware, and a
rule that all inmates take their
meals at the same time and when
ever possible, together.
(c) BY the erection of this addition
al building the superintendent
could re arrange the inmates: it is
now almost impossible because of
the crowded condition Of the
rooms.
(d) Two ventilators could to advan-
tage be placed in the 'Inram
House" and the house thereby re-
lieved of it's unpleasant odors.
(e) A bed should be placed in the
''1nram House, for the man Bal
lard. He is perfectly harmless,
but should not be allowed by him
self in a room with an open fire.
6. We noted the idleness of the in
mates Some are physically and men
tally unable to do anything and these
the taxpayers will cheerfuIly support,
but others who are able to work, at
least part of the time, should be pro-
vided with tools and material, so that
they can contribute something to
their support.
7. II is impossible for the superin-
tendent to do farm work, and at the
same time profitably employ the in
mates of the Home, we suggest there
fore that the superintendent be au-
thorized to employ such assistance 4
from time to time as he can prsftably
use.
Respectfully submitted,
III. e. FRIES,
PETER A. WILSON, Com.
r. L. Cox