The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-10-28
Detention Hospital in Modern
Quarters Soon. :.
State Board of Health Report
ArOuses Action.
MRS. BUHDY MAKES REPORT
Admits Conditions Not Suitable
fer Children.
Blames Naughty Topekans for
Much of Trouble.

shawnee county will have new
detention home within the next three
months. Mrs. Flora Bundy. matron at
the home. 409 Harrison street, said
she had been notified today. Mean
Tune, Mrs Bundy stated, she must con-
t1nue to do the best she can in the
admittedly inadequate quarters fur
nlshed by the county for its love babies
and delinquent children. The deten-
ton home was the subject of criticisrn
Monday in report by the state Board
of health "a
Upon completion of the new county
home and hospital north OF Topeka
one of the buildings now used by the
county's poor will be refitted. refur-
nished and made modern in every re-
spect. The children now in the build
ing at 400 Harrison street will be re-
moved to the country.
Mrs. Bundy admitted frankly today
that the quarters used TO house, the
children are not suitable. Yet, she
pointed to the actions of Topeka ave-
nue. residents when the county COM
missioners attempted to rent a build
ing near the fair grounds to be used
as a detention home. These residents,
Mrs Bundy stated, put UP euch a howl
that the county was obliged to aban-
don the plan. A similar attempt met
with the same protest when an eff
building at Second street and Western
avenue for detention home.
Orphans Home Into 1t?
The attack by the state board of
health on the evex of the removal of
the home to new quarters is looked
upon by Mrs. Bundy as rather I'M
called for. In her opinion it is largely
due to the efforts of members of the
board of directors of the Topeka
Orphans Home to put the board of
county commissioners in as emba rraSs-
| ing situation as they found themselves
after the state board of health in
vestiSated the Topeka Orphans Home.
With the home lacking modern con-
veniences and designed for anything
excepting a retreat for mixed kids
Mrs. Bundy. challenges the board of
| health or any other organization to
find fault with the housekeeping and
| general upkeep of the quarters under
such handicaps. A trip thru the home
| today from attic to garnet revealed
| everything clean. Yet, the old floors
| with huge cracks in them, the old
! walls and other antiquated features of
| the place spelled instantly the truth
! of the .statementhy the state board of
| health and by Mrs. Bundy> that it is
t.unfit for the purposes FOR which it is
| utilized. t .l.l
No Immoral Conditions r.
Mrs. Bnndy <resents the. implication
| IN the ,isboard's report that Immoral
conditions exist. The. prevention of
these conditions has been her primary
! care from. the. first and she is con-
stant1y changing the beds of children
and ceaselessiy and successfully. she
| believes, made the existence of these
conditions impossible. ~ sss.
| Binder her present contract Mrs.
| Burldy gets so cents a day for each of
| the children and this money must sup
ply them with food. In addition, she
| draws, a salary of $50 month with
| heat. light and water furnished by the
county. The furniture. with a few ex-
ceptions is her furniture and when
| there is a large number of children in
| the home as has been the case lately
| there is crowding and a few discom-
| forts. But these conditions. she claims,
are the fault of the quarters and not
the fault OF herself.
| Fhe county commissioners are doing
| the best they can to bring the home
up to the standard demanded by, the
| board of health. Until the children
are housed in new, modern quarters
| fitted with facilities specifically~need-
ed for a detention homeS the state
| board of health can always find fault,
taccording to Mrs Bundv