The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1909-12-24
VSTORS DECLARE
COUNTY ASYLUM
WORST IN STATE
LENDERS or BOARD STATE CHAR.
TIES ROAST LOCAL IN
sTITUTIoN.
Kindred YEARS BEHIND TIME
sgpsrintendent And Commissioners
Are Not to slame-county Is Re-
spcasible For Present Conditions,
say the Board Members.

The worst in the state"
This IS the statement of members
:, the Board of State Charities who
inspected the County Asylum on Wed
,esist. and the statement is slightly
..aed by the addition OF the words
that we have so far visited"
E P Anderson, secretary of the
BOARD OF State Charities, and Rabbi
Leventhal, a member Of the Board,
both distinguished Nashville clergy
men came down from the capital city
Wednesday morning, visited the coun-
~ asylum during the day and returned
home the same evening. The visit
here was due to the criticism of the
local correspondent, and the visitors
aid not hesitate to say that DR.. Mack
had not painted the picture in colors
any blacker than was deserved.
we have no words of criticism for
Mr.. and Mrs. Irvine. who have charge
Of the asylum, nor for the asylum CON-
uissioners," said Rabbi Lewenthal.
Mrs. Irvine is kind-hearted, COM
passionate woman, and l sincerely be-
Eeve that she is looking after her
charges with a really motherly care.
Mr.. Irvine is also doing all within his
ou ora tho nounrnfocfououe ~aA,
to be doing as well as could be ex-
pected under the circumstances.
The fault is with the county. To
think that Maury county, one of the
vealthiest and most cultured Of the
state, would be content to take so lit
tie interest in her unfortunates is al
most unbelievable. 1t is simply dis |
grace People who have all the pleas
ures OF life, who are God-fearing and
progressive, should be more generous |
In their dealings with the poor and |
unfortunate. You certainly have need
for campaign of education"
At this point Dr. Anderson, secre-
tary Of the Board, took a part in the |
conversation. THAT building out
there would make us believe this is
the year 1910 and not 1910" he said.
Why, it is a full hundred years be-
hind the times, and Is the very worst
We have ever visited in the state.
There is no water, no adequate light
ing system, no adequate sanitation.
Not only should a more modern asy-
um be built but the building should
be brought nearer to the city so that
sanitation and water could be looked
after to better advantage"
Regarding the mingling of the sexes
at the asylum the visitors had nothing b
to say in praise of the institution.
There are two mulatto children there,
and we were told that neither of them I
was born at the asylum, although we
were told that mulatto children had
been born there" said Dr. Anderson. 6
While the present superintendent
takes every care to keep the races h
and sexes apart there is nothing to
prevent their mingling without his
knowledge 1t is a shame and dis j
grace that better buildings are not
provided and the blame is on the 2
shoulders or Maury county"
As to the jail the inspectors said q
lne faults OF construction were appar- b
ent The lighting is very poor and the g.
ventilation not good AS to the init
mate relations between the sexes they
said the grating door separating them al
was not enough, and that this was ad-
ml'ted by officials present No criti-
asm is made of the management, as
none was lodged against it by DR.. s
MACK but the construction is faulty.
The State Board has no authority in O.,
me premises except to recommend. m
Inelr report will be made to Governor
'd''erson in June, and later in the or
'ear VIII be made at the National
uee'ing. The following constitute
ne membership OF the Board:
=, 'Onn ", Bachman, D. D., President, W,
chattanooga, Tenn; e. p Anderson. az
'ecre'ary, Nashville Tenn. Gov. M. m,
y rauerson, Nashville, Tenn; James hu
!. orinan NJ. D., d. D., Nashville,
,'un W. r. Cole, Nashville, Tenn; mn
"0ol lsadore Lewenthal Nashville,
'"n'' John W. Bachman d. D., Chat
."oog1, Tenn. James Maynard, w
,'OA'lIe' Tenn; John J. Bishop, !