The Farmington times and herald. (Farmington, St. Francois Co., Mo.) 1902-1905, 1904-04-22
Board Of Visitors Report on Jail.
HARRINGTON, April IS, 1904.

PENNINGTON, April IS, 1904.
To the County Court, St. Francoi.
County.
Gentlemen: The Board of Visitors
TO the Eleemosynary Institutions under
appointment OF the Circuit Court desires
to repor, to your honorable body as fol.
lows:
We have visited the county Jail with
in the past few months and made 4
careful inspection of the same. There
was some complaint among tho prison
ers as to the ra'ions supplied them.
There :s, of course, always complaint
of this kind in the majority of similar
institutions, but In order to guard
against any and all abuses that might
arise under the system of paying to the
keeper of the Jail so much per meal,
permitting him to be the sole judge Of
the character and quality of the same.
we would suggest that you require
some report as to the kind and quality
Of food furnished. This suggestion is
made without any reflection whatever
upon the present keeper.
There also seemed to be some neg
Iect IN the matter OF cleanliness Of bed
coverings. We would suggest that
such be regularly washed. Disiniect-
ants should be freely used 10 the Jail
and precautions taken to prevent the
accumulation OF vermin. We believe
that this has been neglected TO some
extent.
As to the equipment of the Jail. there
is need for Encouragement OF the heat
ing plant. As it is now, 1t is not in
frequent that the cage room is cold
At the best it can be properly heated
only at a waste Of fuel.
Permit US to also call to your a,ten-
ton the arrangement of the water sup
ply. As this is taken from the city
mains it is in sufficient quantity and
pure. 1t is, however, first drawn into
Il large tank and then redrawn as need
ed by the prisoners. We would sug.
ecst that this be remedicd so that water
can be drawn directly from the mains.
The purchase of short length OF hose
aud nozzle would permit the ready
washing out of the Jail.
In the judgment Of the board the
fail is poorly arranged for the care of
female prisoners The sheriff has done
the best possible under the circumstan-
ccs in combining women in the room on
the south side of the lower floor Of the
Jail building. There should be pro-
yidcd without delay for that room the
following: An iron or other suitable
bed, several chairs or stools, and facli-
ties for washing. Some arrangement
should be made in the matter of SAM
tary equipment. As the room is now,
there is no suitable place for tho sim
plcst needs We would suggest that
you give this your immediate attention
For the perfect management of such
Nh institution there should be provided
some way of separating the old and
new offenders; the complete separa-
ton Of both sexes and races and the
separation of the more youthful offend.
crs from those who are older. Under
the present arrangement this is prac-
ideally impossible, 1t is called to your
attention that at some near time in the
future you may take up the matter for
consideration
We are indebted To The sheriff for
every facility for inspecting
the institution
Respectfully submitted,
j. l.. liAw, Chairman.
Mrs NJ. w. HUFF.
MRS. MERRILL PrrKIN.
GEo NJ. WILSON.
e. f.. UIckoK