The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-01-30
THE BOARD OF CHARITIES
FIRST MEETING ATTENDED BY
GOVERNOR DURBIN.
Secretary Butler Presented Statistics
on Insane and Feeble-Minded
People Of the State.

The State Board of Charities held its
regular quarterly meeting yesterday at the
Statehouse Governor Durbin was present,
it being the first meeting of the kind which
he has attended. The conditions Of pub
tent by the board.
Secretary Butler then presented sta
tistics showing that there are in
the State 4.429 insane persons, and In the
State and county institutions S5S epileptics
The condition of feeble minded women in
county poor asylums was discussed. the
secretary reporting that there are now $50
dependents of this class IN such institu-
tons. Reports of visits to a number of
State institutions were submitted. also a
statement of their population and per
capita cost for the past year. The secre-
tary stated that he had received numerous
requests for Indiana laws, from States
desiring to organize board of State chari-
ties and to improve the condition of their
institutions. In his report the secretary
spoke of the work of the boards of county
charities. There are now forty-six of these
organizations in the State, and they are
very helpful in those localities where they
are active. Attention was called to i'm
provements in county institutions. Ex-
tensive repairs are to be made in the Jail
at Connersville, the Knox County Council
has made an appropriation for new Jail,
and the commissioners Of Vigo and Floyd
counties have under consideration the mat
ter of repairs or new buildings. At Port
land, in Jay county, there is under con-
struction what is expected to be the model
small jail OF the State. Appropriations
have been made for the erection of new
poor asylums in Pike and Orange counties.
In Adams county, the contract has been let
for a $4,000 building, and in Benton coun-
ty the new poor asylum is well along to
completion. st. Joseph county will soon
erect new poor asylum, which will be
In the State. 1t was found by the board
that not only were better improvements
being made in the various counties for the
care OF their dependents, but that it was
payers, and that not a little of this was
because of the cooperation of the county
officials with the Board Of Charities and
by adopting its ideas.
In county poor asylum recently visited
there was found a feeble-minded girl, fif-
teen years Of age, who was born in the poor
asylum of another county. Not long since
she gave birth to an illegitimate child. In
another. poor asylum was found feeble
minded woman, who has borne three illegi-
innate children. In the same institution
is feeble-minded man, who was born
there forty years ago, and has been an
expense upon the county ever since. The
secretary said that instance after instance
of this kind could be given, and that when
we understand that the annual cost of
maintenance is about 500, we can realize
what 1t means to a county where, by lack
OF proper oversight. it is possible for such
things TO be-
The report of the State agent covered
the work of the quarter among dependent
children. Thirty-seven children have been
placed in family homes in that time. and
seventy-seven applications for others re-
ceived. There are about $500 children out
in family homes subject to visitation by
the board. and approximately 1900 in the
orphans homes, total of about 1000 chill
dren who are public wards.
A minute was adopted and ordered spread
on the record, appreciative of the work
of Governor Mount in connection with the
board, and as a memorial to his earnest
efforts in the cause of the detectives and
unfortunates of the State.