Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1909-02-03
COMMISSIONER MOVES Dimes
COUNTY REPRESENTATIVES,.
CONTINUED from page -

We have followed our practice Of
former years in keeping the county
property in complete repair. The tails
and county home are in absolutely
perfect condition, and we see no prob
ability OF any extraordinary expense
on these institutions in the near future.
During the past year new heating
plants have been installed in the New
London jail and the county home. The
heating system in the Norwich Jail has
also been thoroughly overhauled and
greatly improved. These expenditures
have been quite large and Of an ex
traordinary nature.
The court house at New London will
soon call for some repairs and a coat
of paint. This was deferred last year
owing to the uncertainty surrounding
the court house question in that city.
The County Home.
The county home is at the present
time filled to the limit of its capacity.
The number of inmates in the home
has practically doubled during the
past decade. There are now ninety
five children housed there, and with
matron and assistants there is an ag-
gregate of ninety-nine persons under
its roof. No one dreamed when this
important institution was established,
only few years ago, that such large
aggregate Of neglected and dependent
children could be found within the
limits of our county who needed the
shelter of such a home. There are
today a total of two hundred and
twenty-six children directly under its
control and for which the county is
responsible The county home build
ing, which was originally a dwelling
house, has been enlarged three times
It is of rambling construction and
while the commissioners feel the ne
cessity Of additional accommodations
they are not prepared to recommend a
further enlargement of this building
They feel that If the necessity arises it
would be better for the present to
board a few children in other homes
until the expenditures to which the
county is now committed are out of
the way. The question can then be
taken up and settled, either by further
addition to the present structure or by
the erection OF a building adequate for
future as well as for present needs
The possibility of a fire in the
county home has always been a source
of uneasiness to the commissioners, it
being a wooden building and consid-
erably removed from the center of
population. We believe that that
danger has now been reduced to a
minimum. Since the Introduction of
electric lights, three years since, there
have been no matches allowed in any
part of the house except the kitchen,
and there they are under lock and key.
We have fire extinguishers in the
house and private fire alarm box also
installed there. 1t is the intention Of
the commissioners to place a fire es-
cape on the building at a very early
date. We consider this to be neces-
sary under the present crowded con-
ditiOns existing there, as we have had
to finish off part of the attic for use
as a dormitory. and feel that every
safeguard should be taken in the in
terest of the children.
The matron and her assistants are
capable and conscientious women,
deeply interested in their work and
successful in meeting the large re-
sponsibilities involved in the care of
so many small children. No small
amount Of credit is due to Mrs. Mitch
ell. the secretary of our board of Wis
itors. for the interest she has taken
in the home To her watchful care
and deep interest in the county home
work is largely due our state wide rep
utation Of having the best record of
any home in the state.
Court House Appropriation.
On Nov. IS, 1905. at a county meet
ing. a vote was passed which provid-
ed for an appropriation on the part of
the county Of 100000 for Norwich and
$500 for New London court houses.
Action was delayed until last year.
when work on the court house addition
at Norwich commenced The building
is now nearly completed. 1t will be