The San Francisco call., 1896-04-04
DR.. Ruggles Pleased With the
Result of a Searching
Investigation.
HEALTHY AND CONTENTED TOTS
The Institution Is Protected Against
Disease and Its Inmates Are
Given Good Food.

VALLEJO, CAL, April Sit is not
often that Governor Budd gives considera-
ton to anonymous communications re-
garding the management of public institu-
tions, but on the receipt of an unsigned
letter day or two ago, containing all sorts
of charges against those in charge at the
Good Templars' Home for Orphans, To-
Gated at this place, he at once indited a
letter to President c. A. Ruggles of the
State Beard of Health. who lives at Stock
ton, directing HIM to investigate as to the
truth or falsity of the charges and report
his findings forthwith. The doctor re-
celved the letter in Stockton last evening,
and early this morning he arrived IN
Vallejo unheralded and unbeknown TO any
one at the home. He was driven TO the
institution and there produced his au-
thoritv from the Governor TO make rigid
inspection of the place, not only as re-
garded the sanitary conditions but every
thing relating to the management of the
home.
Judge Thompson, one of the trustees OF
the home, and Mrs. Kellogg president of
the board of lady managers, and Mrs.
Carpenter, secretary OF the board, hap
pened to be at the home on an official
visit, and every facility was accorded the
medical inspector in his researches.
Serious charges had been made in the
anonymous letter, of which Judge 1homp-
son secured copy, the writer declaring
that the board of lady managers was dere-
lict in Its management; that the sick were
not being properly cared for; that the sick
and the well were bathed in the same water !;
j
infectants or precautionary measures had
been used to check it; that the home
had not been cleaned for years, and the
girls were being neglected, though in what
particular the letter did not state. With
all of these pointers TO guide him in his in
spection, DR.. Ruggles went from the bot
tom TO the top of the building; examined
into the sanitary condition of the house
and the surrounding premises; talked
with the girls and boys; inspected the
food, the culinary department and the
medical department; and at the conclusion
OF his investigations he, in unqualified
terms, expressed agreeable surprise and
pleasure at the perfect manner in which
he had found the home and its affairs to
have been conducted. To CALL CORE
spondent he stated that he could not make
his report public prior to its being sent to
the Governor, but his manner and infer
ences led to the belief that the anonymous
communication had been sent by some one
trying TO iniure the management and the
interest of the home to further his own
ends.
There has been no such misman agement
or dereliction OF duty on the part of those
at the home as the letter to Governor Budd
indicated. The board of trustees and the
board of lady managers make monthly
visits to the home and watch with interest
everything that is done by those employed
at the institution. The children all ap-
pear healthy and are well fed and clothed
far better than many children with par
ents to look after their welfare.
DR.. Ruggles left for his home this after
noon, stopping over night at Martinez.
While here he was the guest of DR.. L. Car
penter, the physician at the home, who
aided him in the researches. Before leav-
ing the home DR.. Ruggles was requested
by Judge Thompson and Mrs. Kellogg, on
behalf OF the trustees and board of lady
managers, to extend their sincere thanks
to Governor Budd tor taking the interest
he did in thus sending the president of the
Board of Health of the State to make a
personal inspection and examination into
the home affairs, as they believe the result
will rebound to the credit and benefit of
the institution.
The home is maintained by the Good
Templars, with the aid of the State.