The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1907-03-22

the Superintendent; all of whom ac-
companied us on a brief tour of the
premises to designate the different
buildings.
We then left them at the Superin-
tendent's house, and separate and
apart from them, made a thorough
and systematic investigation OF all
the buildings and their contents. We
Intercepted the inmates and view
ed the grounds, and left nothing I'M
done in our opinion necessary for
correct report of conditions, which
are as follows:
There are at present, 81 inmates,
consisting Of II whites, male and
Z female, and rs negroes, IL male and
10 female, all adults. A very large
majority of these are OF unsound
mind and body-some are blind, some
are totally insane, some are idiots,
others are half-witted and all are in
firm with age or disease. We doubt
if more than two or three of these
could under the most favorable con-
ditions, provide the necessities Tor
themselves; and there is no 1ndl-
vidual whose affection by reason Of
kin or humanity is strong enough to
provide for them; consequently
Maury County has invited them to
her fireside and asked them to snare
her hospitality. She is one of the
fairest of all counties, is abundantly
blessed by nature and has greatly
improved nature by cultivation. she
feels able, and has volunteered, to as
sumo the burden. How has this self
adopted mother cared for her unfor-
tunate children? If she has fulfilled
her trust well, let no change be made.
If she has slept or has been thought
lessly negligent, let her awake and
remedy the error.
The true and impartial story of her
present efforts are as follows: SIX
separate frame houses of two rooms
each have been provided to live In
The rooms in each building are separ'
ated by a partition in which there is
double stack chimney. Some OF
these rooms are in good repair,oth
ers much to the contrary. Many OF
the chairs are as infirm with age as
their occupants.
The beds and bedding are suffi
cient. each bed is supplied with straw
and feather ticks and feather pillows
Blankets and quilts are furnished In
sufficient quantity, and also sheets
when desired by the inmates.
Chinches abound. Although it was
evident from indication and report
that recent efforts at their extermln
alton had been made by the use OF
disinfectants and otherwise. They
are in the walls and cannot be eradi
Gated.
It appears that of late, special Ell
forts have been made to rid the place
of body lice, which formerly troub
led the inmates. These efforts seen
to have been practically successful
as we saw no evidence of their ex
istence.
There is ample yard room between
and around the house.
The physical and mental condition
of the inmates should be remembered
when considering the following facts
Water for all purposes is carried
from a spring which is across the
pike and about 100 yards from th'
most distant and so yeards from the
nearest building.
The washing is done by the IN
mates as is also the cooking. No hell
whatever is employed for these pur
poses.
The Kitchen and dining rooms arr
centrally located and is one building
with two rooms and an ell. One II
the dining room for the whites, an
other is the kitchen and the ell Il
the negro dining room.
The inmates rooms are probabl!
on an average of so yeards away A
all seasons inmates go through tn
weather to their meals, except whel
too sick, then their meals are takeI
to them by their associates.
There are cracks in the floor AM
the building is otherwise out of re
pair. No arrangement is supplied TO
heating in either dining room. !
cook stove is in the kitchen TIL
rooms are not large and the table
do not appear of sufficient length t.
-. nannnI Darn