The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1902-07-22
REPORT
OF the County Board Of
Visitors
To the Jail. Infirmary and
ChiIdren's Home.

Rev. c. r. Sargent and Rev. II.
Bigley, of the County Board OF visitors,
toured the county institutions Thurs
day.
Their first stop was made at the
Children's Home. They found that
the Superintendent and Matron, Rev.
Charles Farnsworth and wife, are at
Lakeside. but the five assistants vel
coined and opened all the doors to
them.
There are 81 children at the Home,
among them three bozrders from Ft.
Wayne and three from Hardin county.
One death occurred during the year,
that OF Annie May Ball, some six
weeks ago.
The school which closed May Is is
taught by Miss Ethel Corwin, who
gives good satisfaction. Chapel services
are conducted by Rev. Mr.. Fsrnsworth
every Sunday afternoon, including
Sunday school, and the educational and
spiritual welfare of the inmates is care
fully looked after.
Twenty children were placed in good
homes during the year, four Of them
going out of the county. One of the 20
was returned.
Mrs. Van Meter, the nurse, has
filed her position 10 years, which
proves that she Is competent and faith
full. Miss Meredith is her capable as
sistant.
The Visitors found the building in
first-rate order from top TO bottom and
|complimented the management highly.
The premises all over are neat and In
order. An excellent dinner was parta-
ken of at this institution.
At the Infirmsry, Superintendent
Black and wife greeted the Visitors
warmly and escorted them through the
various departments. Here 10 inmates
were found, 35 men and 35 women.
There are four insane, three epilept' cs,
and q number OF frail old people.
There were four deaths last year. but
while the number OF inmates was greater
there was less sickness and fewer
deaths than during the year pre-
ceeding.
This institution Is the one needing
attention from the Commissioners for
the reason that an urgent need OF more
room exists. The Board OF Visitors has
made this recommendation several
times, and q new home for the Superin-
tendent has been suggested. This
would give the residence now occupied
| by him for inmates and relieve the con-
gested condition.
The insane and epileptics should be
kept separate altogether from the other
Inmates. Some OF these people are
horrible sights, and the fact is, there
are some creatures At the Infirmxry
which belong to State institutions, and
should be turned over to them.
Superintendent Black makes the best
OF bad situation, however, and keeps
Everything about the Infirmary In fine
order. One convenience granted this
institution recently Is q commodiou.
barn.
The Lawn is we'll kept and flower be
decked and the most Is made OF the
farm that it can produce.
Religious services are conducted Out
doors At frequent intervals during the
Summer.
The improvements at the jail since
r. s Kerr has been Sheriff are many
Inside and out, conditions are bettel
and it would not be possible to make 9
complaint after q careful survey OF tbs
place.
There have been 25S prisoners in the
Jail during the past year, IA women AMI
pa men. There were IL insane among
them. Seven were sent to the Peniteu
tiary and II to the Work-house.
Only two Visitors m, de the trip, ow
ing to the fact that absence, illness, an,
business detained the other members
The Board is faithful in part, at least
in the discharge of its duties, and in
terested in the welfare Of the institu
tiOns of its Jurisdiction.