Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1905-01-26
AWFUL CONDITION.

county Of Audruin. But the peo.
pie and taxpayers must know the
conditions and then we must get
together and fix things.
Bravo for the present grand
jury. They made report Monday
afternoon and they did not mince
words If what they say of cOndi-
tons ut Audrain's public institu-
tions does not look we'll published
to the world, then we say again,
lets fin things,
Audroin county is rich and out
of debt, and there is no excuse for
the poor accommodation, unhealthy
conditions and filth and dirt at the
Poor Farm and county jail. The
managers Of these institutions have
likely done their best under the
circumstances but the trouble lies
elsewhere. Water and soap are
cheap; we can at least have that.
Let 5 fix things.
Some Of the findings Of the
grand jury are startling, to say the
least. Here is their full report:
10 the Honorable Circuit Court 81 Aud
rain. State Of Missouri:
In compliance with your inStruc-
tions we beg leave TO say that we
went to the County Poor Farm of
this county on the 18th inst, in IA
body, and thoroly inspected same.
Our finding we report, tO.wit:
We found the manager, Mr..
John w. Rutter, convalcScing
from serious illness, but the insti-
tuition was under management of
other help. Twelve persons, one
bright little thirteen year old
white boy, two white men of so
years. and several more as old or
older, besides two negroes, all
twelve being males. And let us
say here that it was an inc0ngru-
Gus sight to see this little boy-at
one time possibly some mothers
precious child, among such sur.
rOuudings, innocent Of wrong do
ing, aud who had no part in his
sad, pitiablc condition, 50 thoroly
Handicapped in the race Of life, be-
ing largely prevented by environ
ment to become Il useful citizen.
The houses, toutsidc the one
occupied 10y the manageO, are five
in number, small aud hardly
large enough for GGH, but mostly
cut up into two roofs. They are
lily constructed and without any
regard whatever to ventilation on
sanitary features, being wholly I'M
fit for the purposes intended, The
furniture, if may be 50 designated,
is very mcagre aud of the crudest
kind. Some of the inmates said
that the bedding was individually
theirs-briuging same with them
when they became its guests.
The inmates, with two eXcep-
tions. 1.-TWO old men, one formerly
a citizen of considerable wealth
aud reputc), were found to be in a
horribly filthy condition. Likewise
the roomsC) aud beds Of some of
them las awful as it is truel
wreak with human eXcremeut. We
mean that this is literally state
ment Of fact, aud repeat it lest its
sad aud horrible state hc not fixed
in your mind, that some of these
beds and rooms occupied by these
poor creatures ale befOuled as tao
hog would do it placed in like CIR
cumstances. To say How come
you so!" is not applicable. 1t is
the duty, we think, Of the people
Of our rich and prosperous county
10 arise, and, by their vote, author
ize the erection of a new aud up.
to-date Home, adequate for the
purposes of caring properly for its
uufortunates.
To tell of the horrible state we
found existing. at the CountyHOuse
fails us, it would be loathsone in
the extreme. But with all the
eaFnestness Of interest and heart
that we can command we urge that
immediate steps be taken TO rem
edy this plight. aud remove the
dark blot from the escutcheon of