The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-01-26
TEMPORARILY AT THE RE-
QUEST OF THE BOARD
PENDING THE SETTLEMENT
BY THE BOARD AS TO THE ELEC-
TION OF HIS Sue
CESSOR.
COUNTY JAILs AND PooRHoUsEs.
State Board of Corrections and
Charities Spent Some Time Dis
cussing Them Yesterday.

Untll the board OF corrections and
charities can select successor to Sec
rotary II. H. Hart, it will request the
latter to continue in the harness. This
request was preferred yesterday and
gracefully complied. with by the pres
ent secretary. There was no discus
sion Of the selection of a successor in
yesterdays meeting, it was given out,
but informal eaucuses will be held I'M
til the consensus of opinion of the
board is determined.
1t was determined that at the next
meeting the board would go to Me-
nomonie, Wis, to inspect the insane
hospital there, which is considered an
excellent example of the successful OPP
Grafton of the county plan of caring
for the insane. as it is known. The
board is believed to be faVorably in
clined to this method of avoiding a re-
vival Of the old Anoka-Hastings hos
pital imbroglio. So the visit has no
little significance. Secretary Hart sub
mitted his quarterly report. He has
visited the two southern hospitals and
the three penal institutions. He says:
AT st. Peter hospital new dining
rooms are nearing completion, admira-
bic in arrangement, economical, con-
venient and comfortable. The plumb
ing is the best institution plumbing,
Mr.. Hart says, he has ever seen.
Rochester hospital will soon have cleo
trio lights for the first time, the last
state institution to get them.
Mr.. Hart continues:
At the state training school the new school
ately, the heating apparatus has proved to be
Inadequate. At each visit to this institution
| am impressed with the Importance of eff
fecting the separation of the girls depart
ment from the boys department. The build
ing now occupied by the girls could be well
utilized for the care of the younger class of
boys, who ought not to associate with those
who are older and more hardened.
At the state reformatory there seems to be
gradual improvement In the work done.
Most Of the inmates are employed either on
the farm, the domestic labor of the institu-
ton, or the erection of the new cell wing
which is now covered and will probably be
ready for use during the coming season.
This building is an admirable illustration Of
the work that can be done by convict labor.
The superintendent of this institution, and
the board of managers seem to hold the view
state institution ought to be paroled within
year or year and half Supt. Houlton
said: THE inmates have an idea that they
will be paroled in about twelve to fifteen
months, and if they are detained longer than
that they become disconnected and dscour-
aged" 1t seems to me that If such an idea
prevails 1t ought to be removed. l do not be-
leve that any inmate should be paro.ed who
does not give creditable evidence to the board
of managers of being fit to go at large and
likely to lead an upright life.
Eight county poor houses were visited, be-
longing to the following counties: Anoka
Dakota, Douglas, Lyon; Murray. Nicol:et,
Olmsted, Pipestone, Rock and st. Louis.
The Anoka county commissioners propose
to keep the county paupers, On farm, rent
ed, with the privilege Of purchasing. For
sixteen years the county poor house has been
maintained in a private house, the owner
being paid by the week for the care Of the
poor. This plan answered very well while
the number of paupers was small, but the
number is now large enough TO call for a
permanent poor house
The Dakota county poor house was visited
with the trustees Of st. Croix county Wis,
who were looking for a model for new poor
house. This is the best county poor house
in Minnesota.
ven1ent and inadequate
The Lyon county poor house is very poor
and and badly arranged building, but mod
erate.y well kept.
The Nicollet county poor house is entirely
inadequate.
The new Olmsted county poor house is a
very great Improvement over the old one.
The commissioners made the mistake Of try
ing to utilize an old brick house which was
already on the ground and is attached to
the building as aJrear wing. 1t would have
been much better had that old house been
entirely discarded; but the new building is
commodious. well lighted, and fairly well
ventilated.
The Pipestone county poorhouse had no
paupers. 1t is unfit for use, being small, in
| convenient and in bad repair, without pro-
vision for separation Of the sexes, bathing or
ventilation.
The Rock county poorhouse is rerented to
the overseer, who boards the paupers by the
week. There were three inmates. The coun-
ty pays more boarding it's paupers in its own
house than it would have to pay for suitable
board in private families. The water pipes
have frozen up and burst, so that the bath
] w rcn1n No
ptrience of this house confirms the wisdom of
| the advice Of the board against building it.
| The st. Louis county poorhouse is much
| less crowded thanformerly. Good plans have
been adopted for a new poorhouse, but the
| financial condition of the county forbids build
| ing at present. The old pesthouse is being