The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-09-11
STATE CHARITIES BULLETIN.
improvements Made in the State In
situations.

In its quarterly bulletin issued yesterday
the State Board of Charities reviews the inn
provements now being made at the various
state institutions under appropriations of
the last Legislature The most important
of these are the building operations at the
two prisons. Concerning them the bulletin
says:
Indiana ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS for
hospital, $12 600; for chapel and SchOolroomS,
81, coo; for electric-light plant $1,000; for
power and dryhouse, 5000; for bathhouse,
81 500; for lease of farm and equipment
necessary to cultivate the same, $1,000. Al
this writing the new hospital is in process
Of erection, and the electric-hghting plant
and power house are almost completed. The
other improvements provided for will be
made rapidly as possible. Important re-
pairs have been made which add much to
the healthfulness and convenience of the
institution. In equipping the new bathhouse
the old and unsatisfactory tubs will be re-
moved and shower baths installed. Expert
ence has long ago demonstrated that shower
baths are so much superior to tubs for use
in public institutions AS vet no definite
steps have been taken TO lease farm, but II
is intended, as soon as possible, to secure
institution. This will be cultivated on an
extensive scale by the inmates of the Re-
formatory. Nearly all the inmates are en-
poyed in the Reformatory shops under con-
tract at this time. This reduces the num-
Der available for work upon the improve
ments which the State is making ana
necessarily delays progress.
State Prison.-Approprlatio for new hos
pital, $11.500; for chapel, $1,000; for general
repairs $40 600: for water works, $4,000; for
plumbing and heating, 5000; for INSECT
laneous improvements, $500: for architect
and superintendent Of construction. 5000
The large number of prisoners in this in
stitution whose labor is not contracted for
has enabled the prison authorities to make
rapid and satisfactory progress with the
improvements contemplated. The new
chapel is completed with the exception or
seating and inside finishing. Work is being
actively carried on upon the paw hospital.
A new building, which is TO contain large
schOOlrOOm. 4 reception room in when
friends will visit prisoners. sitting room
for officers and a deputy wardens office.
is far on the way toward completion. A Sec
ond story is being added to the prison Of
fees, which will provide better official quar-
tiers for the warden, and some necessary
rooms and offices for the board of directors.
A new barn has been built. A great amount
of painting has been done, and more will
be done. Three hundred and sixty cells have
had their walls thoroughly scraDed ana
cleansed. and have received coats of fresh
paint and the remaining cells, $50 in num-
Der. will be improved in the same manner.
IMPROVEMENTS IN BATHS.
1.-THE old tubs have been removed from
the lighthouses and shower baths have
been put in. Fifty-three small stalls or
closets have been erected, and that num-
Der of prisoners can now battle at the
same time. The stalls assure a certain
amount of privacy which was impossi-
BILE under the old arrangement. The i'm
provement in cleanliness, speed and decency
is so great that the prison officials are Won
dering how they managed to get along so
many years with the tubs. Plumbing and
important sanitary conyeniences Will be in
troduced in many of the cells the
money appropriated will pay for. A large