The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1907-03-01
LICENTIOUS PRACTICES AMONG THE INMATES.
COFFEE, CORN BREAD AND BACON CONSTITUTE DIET
Committee Declares System Obsolete and Responsible For
Deplorabe Conditions.-Recommend Sale of Coun-
ty Farm And Establishment of a Modern
Poor House Near Columbia.

for the other inmates are dilapidated
and about all they should not be.
The beds and bedding appear sufi-
cient Several new straw ticks were
noted. Blankets and quilts are sup
piled, but no sheets. Chinches were
discoverable on nearly all the beds.
The rooms are heated by CRATES.
The inmates were examined apart
from any other persons than the CON-
mittee. In taking their evidence, due
allowance was made for the unfriend-
ly attitude usually assumed by this
class toward any in authority over
them. Their testimony was also
viewed in the light of their mental
infirmities. There were five or six
inmates whose intelligence lent SUI
perior value to their replies.
From what we esteem to be en-
tirely trustworthy information, Sc
cured from the inmates, we make the
following summary:
That fuel, bedding and clothing is
supplied in fairly sufficient quantities.
That the regular diet consists Of corn
bread and bacon Coffee is allowed
for breakfast and dinner, and biscuits
are sometimes served for breakfast
Vegetables raised on the farm are
used in season. though the amount of
these seemed a rather small factor In
the dietary Poultry raised on the
place is the private property of Mrs
Woody.
We inspected the dining rooms at
the dinner hour. Corn bread, bacon,
white beans and coffee constituted the (
meal. Beans are not regular part of
the diet. Rarely, rice is served. At
Christmas some extras are given. At
Easter. eggs are distributed. Coffee,
bacon and corn bread, however, might
be said to constitute the whole dietary
OF the time
Chinches overrun the houses In sum-
mer, and are never absent. Body lice
abound from time to time. About
three weeks ago special efforts were !
made to get rid OF vermin. We saw
no body lice.
There was no lack of proof to es !,
ablish the fact that Illicit relations ,
lot unfrequently occur between the !.
exes. There have been at least three
births during the last few years, the
Mothers having been inmates for over !.
en- months prior to the births.
AS to the treatment accorded the .
inmates, a statement of our findings
hould be prefaced with the comment :
hat under the adverse conditions ex- !"
sting, and with the meager help at :.
and, the task of enforcing discip- =
ne must be exceedingly difficult.
low to successfully control half-wfts,
lots, the insane and malingerer is a
roposition, the attempted solution OF !,
hich has taxed especially trained =,
inds.
II the facts as found fail to tally !,
ith enlightened sentiment Of today. =
g belive the fault lies rather with the
'rpetuation Of an effete system than =
It'll whomsoever happens to be su- ~
i''
whether or not, under the circum "a
ances. whipping is necessary to Sc =
re discipline might be argued, more 40
less convincingly, pro and con. AT TN
y rate. whipping and confinement in w
9 'RoundiHouse" are among the I'M
'cipiinary measures practieed. II Co
Continued on Page Three. ro'