Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-12-15

superintendent. He was appointed by
the Marion County commissioners.
Leo K. Fesler, county auditor, stated
that other grand jurors have reported on
the bad condition of the buildings at the
poor farm.
"The thing that is needed" Mr. Fesler
stated, '1s to bring all county institu-
lions, with the exception Of the Jail and
Sunnyside, under one management and
on one tract Of ground. Cleveland, Ohio
has such a system and it should be in
stalled here"
GRAND JURY FINDS ALL
IN HARMONY WITH NAME.
The following IS the entire report Of
the grand jury on conditions as found at
that institution:
"On Dec. we visited the poor farm.
so-caIled, and must say we found every
thing in harmony with the name. We do
not find any one IN particular respon-
Bible, but believe il the result OF years
of carelessness and neglect. It is GER
tainly an indictment of politically man
aged institutions. We quickly came to the
conclusion it would be gross waste to
attempt to reform the place on anything
like a respectable Lasis.
Tine county mas on an average I'D
wards uuartered here, which cost the tax
payers last year S35, 400, TO maintain to
I saw nothing Of the investment in the
farm. . This farm contains IA acres OF
land lying between the Lafayette Pike
and the Charlottesville road. The build
ing where the male wards are Quartered is
old and dark and in bad repair. At the
end Of each dark hall, and there are
several Of them there are either ascending
or descending steps to different floor
levels making IL unnecessarily dangerous
THE institution IS full to capacity, with
applicants awaiting admission and while
the building is four stories high the
upper two stories are locked up and used
only for storage on account Of the fire
hazard There are no fire extinguishers
OF sprinklers and the lower two stories
are not safe from fire. We are Informed
the county spent last year something
like 100000 for bug medicine which was
brincipalIy used in this building.
FARM VALUED FROM
$500 70 5000 AN ACRE.
at has a conservative value OF $500 to
seo0 an acre because of its proximity to
the city, and there is not farmer in the
county who would not agree that II is
foIlv to attempt general farming on such
high-priced land with profitable results.
The annual interest charge alone on the
Investment will run around $50 an acre
and IL taxes had TO be added 1t would
make the overhead much greater. We
cannot understand why general farming
should be practiced at sll in connection
with this institution. 1t IS the observa-
ton of your grand jury from the char
acter Of the inmates that what is most
needed is something more IN the nature
of an Old Folks Home, modest but
comfortable. A plot Of ground Of forty
20 fifty acres we deem amply sufficient to
provide building and recreation space
and ground for the truck gardening
There Is not a thing produced on this
farm aside from what may be called gar
den truck that could not be supplied
from other sources at less cost. When
this institution is relocated as it will
surely hare to be, 1t should be accessible
by electric railway. If the State would
relieve US Of our insane wards, we could
use the Julietta Home for this purpose.
less people and the conditions. under
which they are maintained, you would
readily agree with your grand jury that
there is an urgent necessity for reforma-
tion.
THE previous grand Jury recon-
mended certain improvements to the
building used for female wards which we
IN turn desire to indorse. The building
itself, while Of comparatively recent con-
struction, is designed more on the or
unfortunate mother. One has to chin the
window sill TO see out. Regardless Of
the ultimate removal Of the institution,
We recommend that these windows be
tOWeIeu now. All the 1000 USED Dy Lne
inmates Of this building is carried in open
carts, distance the length Of a city
block. Unless other quarters are pro-
Ttded IN the near future we are con-
rronted with the necessity OF providing
additional room to take care OF the over
crowded condition, and provide accom-
modations and hospital facilities which
are now woefully lacking.
ASKS REPORT ON
DIET FOR SICK.
"We understand the county employs
what Is termed county nurse, and we
recommend that your honor, If within
your power, direct this nurse TO perl
odically visit this county institution and
report the condition OF the sick and make
recommendation for their diet. To our