The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-09-02

the results of our investigation have met
with the approval of the court and the
law abiding section Of this community. we
shall feel more than repaid for the per-
sonal Inconvenience and sacrifice to which
we have all been subjected by service on
this jury. 81
Institutions Inspected. ~
I'm acco, dance with custom we have in
spected the county jail, the central police
station, the county poor farm and the city
work house. The Jail we found to be
well Kept and In a scleanly condition. Its
sanitary condition Is excellent and every
attention necessary to the proper care and
comfort of the inmates appears to be
given. We were particularly pleased to
ma good library for. their use We
found the asphalt floors in a portion of the
JAIL corridors to be in bad condition, due
Pl"oapiy TO improper construction and to
the frequent scrubbing necessary to keep
Them clean. We would recommend that
su"h places be Immediately repaired. The
general management Of the Jail appears to
be hrst class in every particular.
Inc central police station. or city
ntA Hl'. l" IN an exceedingly unsatisfac-
tory ana unsoritary condition. The air
!h tN2 cell rooms on the first floor is very
ioui' ana In the winter must almost be in
tolerable. In the cell rooms in the
women's ward and in those used for male
prisoners On the main floor, the air Is bet
ter out could be considerably improved.
Inc flooring Of the stable on the first
floor is in a Very bad condition and should
be renewed without delay. The tramp
room Is located In the basement imme-
dhsaly under it. anu there is a considera-
Bile leakage tn, oLgh the defective floor
mentioned The air in this basement Is
exceedingly foul and musty, and in the
winter when the room is full Of tramps
must be extremely unhealtbful. The UNI
satisfactory condition Of the station is due
largely to it's location and Immediate
surroundings
THE police management of the station
appears to be systematic and efficient. A
proper record Is kept Of the attendance
OF the force and Of the arrest and dispo-
sitfon of the prisoners. We noticed the
absence Of the duplicate record Of ar
rests and complaints concerning which
we have expressed considerable criticism.
Under the late administration the original
record OF arrests and complaints was
made In pencil in one book, and the entry
could be changed. If desired by the Off
GERS by final record kept In ink In a
| separate book. This reprehcnsible prac-
ttce has been abolished, and only one book
Is now used and the entries therein are
made In ink.
Fans Recommended.
Large fans operated by electric mo-
tors should be placed In one or more out
side windows Of the building, and suitable
inlets should be made for the admission Of
as pure air into the building as can be
obtained in that vicinity. The cost of
installation and of the current will not be
large, and we believe the sanitary benefits
| resulting to the unfortunate inmates and
to the police attendants therefrom will
more than Justify the expense incurred.
We heartily recommend that the present
! location of this station be abandoned as
soon as a more suitable building can be
secured.
THE county poor farm was examined
by us on the 18th day Of August. A
| thorough inspection was made and every
thing was found to be in a satisfactory
condition. The food furnished to- the in
| mates was found to be wholesome and no
complaints whatever were made. The
buildings and grounds are kept scru-
| pulously clean and neat, and the system
Of plumbing and ventilating is especially
conlmendable. .'@
~. Workhouse Conditions. -, -. -.
| The buildings Of the workhouse were
| found to be in satisfactory condition; and
all their parts were, very clean. The farm
seems to be run in an economical manner
and should be source of income DURING
the present year. The building used fol
the laundry and as apartments for the
women Is constructed of wood. In case
Of a fire at night there would certainly be
a large loss of life. We recommend tha1
a new brick building be at once erected
The farm should be fenced in, as it /:
| impossible under present conditions t.
work a large number Of the prisoners
without maintaining a number Of guards
to prevent them from escaping We hav,
made comparisons of cost of salaries
etc., between this and state institutions O
a similar character, and find that the cos
OF running the workhouse is about tn
average. Respectfully submitted,
"-Hovey c. Clarke, Foreman"