Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-01-09

| or state Legislation to prevent ldlOcy.
| The president of the state board of
public charities was authorized to. APP
point such committee. / commend its
report to the careful consideration of
the General Assembly.
Cottages for Soldiers and Wives.
The Grand Army of the Republic,
department Of Illinois, has recon-
mended the erection at the Soldiers
and Sailors Home. at Quincy, of two
cottages and hospital building for
the care of the old soldiers and their
wives. The cost of these buildings and
their equipment would be $4,000. l
recommend that this sum be appro-
priated for the purpose indicated.
There is now statute providing that
counties may erect cottages for sol
diers and their wives at Quincy, but
thus far. only one county has taken
steps to do so. 1t seems impractical
for this expense to be met by counties.
Under present conditions when an old
soldier who is married cannot make a
living and is admitted to the home at
Quincy, his wife is forced to become
dependent upon charity and in some
cases is sent to the aims house. The
people of Illinois should deal with this
question generously and meet the re-
quest for an appropriation. This will
be one of the last services that Illinois
can render to the veterans and the
last testimonial which we can give to
show our appreciation of their valOr.
sacitices and services.
State Library for the Blind.
There are in Illinois 5000 blind per
sons not in state Institutions | rec
ommend an appropriation Of $1,000 10
buy books for the free use of these
urfortunates. Other states, notably
New York. have such libraries. The
state school for the blind at Jack
sonville is ready to donate 400 volumes
as the nucleus of this library. The
United States has recognized the need
Of assisting blind persons by frankin@
books to and from the residences or
such persons. The library for the
blind should be established at the
Jacksonville institution.
Penal Institutions.
The attention of the general assem-
bly, is directed to the condition of the
cell house for men at the Joliet pen
itentiary An investigation has been
made. under the authority of the state
board of charities, which shows that
there arc 900 cells. in which are con-
fined POO male prisoners. 1t is neces-
sary, therefore, TO put two prisoners
in many Of the cells, which are only
. feet long. : feet high and feet
wide. affOrding under such conditions
but 10 cubic feet of air space per man.
The amount of air space insisted upon
by law in the poorest lodging houses
in our large cuties is 10 cubic feet
per person. The minimum normal
amount is LOCO cubic feet per person,
with facilities for renewal three times
per hour The normal amount of car
bonic acid gas (Which is the measure
of contamination of air. is 3 volumes
in 10000. While the prisoners are alb
sent from the cells. the average con-
termination is 9 volumes. Two hours
after their return, the average volume
of carbonic acid gas varies fro II 10
TO l. IL in different cells. Three and
one-haIf hours after their return from
dinner, and with the roof ventilators
closed to approach cold weather con
81 $40 volumes. times the normal.
These conditions are most favorable
to the spread of tuberculosis and are
not only a menace to the health of the
Inmates of the penitentiary, but also
to the general health of the communi-
ty.
recommend to the general assem-
bly, the careful consideration of the re-
port of the commission making the in
vestigation with a view to determining
the best means of remedying the con-
ditiOnS described.
Illinois State Reformatory.
The last general assembly appropri-
atod $4,000 for the purpose of estab-
fishing a manual training school at the
state reformatory. The sum was in
adequate to meet the requirements of
that institution There are now 2T5
boys taking the manual training
course The school should be en-
Iarged to accommodate at least 800.
Two or three additional shops also
should be established there. This
will not require the outlay of money,
beyond that necessary for the purchase
of materials. as the work can be done
by those trained in the trade schools,
and in the manual training department
Of the reformatory.
In addition to the literary, moral and
religious training of the inmates the
plan for industrial training pursued in
the reformatory consists in giving the
boys practical education, teaching
them to do something that somebody
wants done, and is willing to pay good
wages for having done. This result
can only be accomplished by making
the school system, the manual training
and the trade school de-
partment intensely practical. At
present there are in operation il the
manual training school department. a
forge shop, foundry, machine shop.
wood working or joinery shop and a
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